SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice, including a 447-foot grand slam, and drove in six runs for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 Sunday to sweep a nine-game homestand.
The 22-year-old superstar sent Petco Park into a frenzy on a sunny afternoon when he drove a 1-0 pitch from Robert Dugger to the base of the batter’s eye in straightaway center field with one out in the seventh.
Knowing it was gone, Tatis took a few steps and, holding his bat by the barrel, flipped it aside before starting his trot.
It was his 13th homer this season and his second career grand slam. The first, last Aug. 17 at Texas, launched “Slam Diego,” a streak of four grand slams by the Padres in four straight games, a first in baseball history.
Tatis also hit a 441-foot home run into Petco Park’s second deck leading off the second inning and singled in the go-ahead run during a three-run rally in the sixth.
Tatis has 11 hits, including four homers, and 12 RBIs in four games batting cleanup since returning from the COVID-19 injured list on Wednesday.
The Padres took three-game series against St. Louis, Colorado and Seattle. Overall, they have won 12 of 13 games.
Yu Darvish (5-1) pitched seven strong innings to win his second straight start, holding Seattle to one run and seven hits while striking out five and walking none.
Tatis put a charge into the crowd when he homered in the second off Justin Dunn. It was his 200th career hit.
Dunn got that run back when he hit an RBI double off Darvish for his first big league hit.
Tatis’ homer was the only hit allowed by Dunn in five innings. With the score tied at 1, Dunn made way for Anthony Misiewicz (2-3) starting the sixth, and the lefty promptly allowed four straight hits, including Tatis’ sharp RBI single.
After Eric Hosmer singled to right to load the bases, JT Chargois came on and allowed a sacrifice fly by Wil Myers, with Tatis having enough speed to advance to third. Tatis then scored on Victor Caratini’s groundout.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Placed RHP Kendall Graveman on the injured list without giving a reason. To take his spot, RHP Wyatt Mills was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
Padres: Myers was activated after missing 10 games following a positive COVID-19 test that forced him to be removed from a game at Colorado on May 11. OF Brian O’Grady was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. … RHP Keone Kela, who had Tommy John surgery last week, was moved to the 60-day IL.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (1-3, 4.32 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at Oakland.
Padres: Haven’t announced a starter for Monday night’s opener of a four-game series at Milwaukee.
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