Fernando Tatis Jr. homers, drives in 3 runs as Padres beat A’s 8-3 in Bob Melvin’s return

OAKLAND, Calif. — The celebratory San Diego Padres pushed José Azocar by means of the clubhouse in a laundry cart whereas squirting honey in his curly hair after he lastly hit his first dwelling run.

Manager Bob Melvin took it in far in another way within the quiet of his workplace, relieved to have the nerves behind him coping with the feelings of his return to Oakland.

Fernando Tatis Jr. homered within the first, added a two-run single within the second and set a profession excessive for hits whereas taking part in in his four-hundredth profession sport, main the Padres previous the Athletics 8-3 on Friday night time after they all wished to win for Melvin.

Azocar hit a three-run shot within the ninth for his first profession dwelling run, in his 269th at-bat.

“It’s a good moment,” Tatis stated.

The A’s confirmed a video tribute after the primary inning for Melvin, their winningest supervisor who spent almost 11 seasons guiding the A’s earlier than departing to handle the Padres after the 2021 season. He hadn’t been again for almost two years.

PHOTOS: Fernando Tatis Jr. homers, drives in 3 runs as Padres beat A’s 8-3 in Bob Melvin’s return

“Obviously very appreciative,” Melvin stated. “It gets a little bit surreal. You don’t expect something like that.”

Tatis surpassed his earlier profession better of 135 hits from 2021. He additionally joined Juan Soto and Manny Machado with at the very least 25 dwelling runs – turning into the third trio in San Diego historical past to take action in a single season. They be a part of the 2001 Padres of Phil Nevin, Ryan Klesko and Bubba Trammell and the 2019 group of Hunter Renfroe, Machado and Franmil Reyes.

Seth Lugo (7-7) allowed three runs on 5 hits, struck out seven and walked one over six innings, surrendering a second-inning homer to Shea Langeliers and an RBI double to Ryan Noda within the third. Brent Rooker hit his twenty fifth dwelling run within the sixth.

“Getting him that W, that’s really nice for him, he’s been around a long time and done a lot for this sport so I’m happy for him,” Lugo stated about his skipper.

A’s starter Sean Newcomb (1-1) threw a wild pitch within the first that allowed Juan Soto to attain and was achieved after three innings tagged for 4 runs on 5 hits.

Noda was ejected within the eighth by plate umpire Dan Iassogna for arguing the strike zone. Oakland (46-101) is one loss away from matching final yr’s whole.

The A’s started their ultimate homestand of the yr spanning 10 video games earlier than ending at Minnesota and in Anaheim in opposition to the Angels.

SLUGGING CATCHER

Langeliers hit his career-best twentieth dwelling run and have become the primary A’s catcher with 20 since Ramón Hernández had 21 in 2003.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Ha-Seong Kim was checked on at second base after a sixth-inning steal however was OK to remain within the sport regardless of turning his ankle. Melvin hoped he might play Saturday. … INF/DH Ji-Man Choi got here off the 10-day injured record from a left ribcage pressure and following a seven-game rehab stint with Triple-A El Paso. … The Padres positioned DH/INF Matt Carpenter on the IL with irritation in his proper elbow.

Athletics: OF JJ Bleday, sidelined since Aug. 14 with a sprained left knee, hit stay batting follow for the primary time – and he did so in opposition to rehabbing RHP Austin Pruitt (strained pitching forearm). “The goal is to get him back and to finish the season here with us,” supervisor Mark Kotsay stated about Bleday.

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