Fernando Tatís Jr.’s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept

HOUSTON (AP) — Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a tiebreaking solo home run and scored all of San Diego’s runs as the Padres avoided being swept with a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday night.

Tatís sent the first pitch he saw from Tayler Scott (1-2) 427 feet to straightaway center to give the Padres a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

Tatís scored from second on a Mauricio Dubón error in the first, and he led off the third with a triple before scoring on an RBI single by Gavin Sheets.

The Astros tied it with two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Dubón and a Yordan Alvarez sacrifice fly.

Luis Arraez was carted off and taken to a hospital for evaluation after a first inning collision with Dubón on a play at first base. Arraez’s face appeared to collide with Dubón’s arm or elbow, and the Padres designated hitter lay motionless in foul territory next to first base for several minutes.

Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept | iNFOnews.ca
San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. reacts after his home run against Houston Astros relief pitcher Tayler Scott during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

After being tended to by trainers from both teams, Arraez was placed on a backboard and carted out of the stadium.

Dylan Cease yielded two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in five innings for the Padres. Alek Jacob (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save.

Starting pitcher Framber Valdez surrendered two runs on seven hits in six innings for the Astros.

Key moment

With two outs and the tying run on second in the eighth, Jason Adam struck out Victor Caratini to end the inning.

Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept | iNFOnews.ca
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) tags San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts (2) out at second base as Oscar Gonzales ground into a force out during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Key stat

The Padres have scored 20 runs in the seventh inning this season, the most runs they have scored in any inning.

Up next

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (2-1, 1.50 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday night, while San Diego RHP Randy Vásquez (1-1, 1.74) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series in Detroit.

Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept | iNFOnews.ca
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) reacts after San Diego Padres’ Oscar Gonzales ground into a force out during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept | iNFOnews.ca
Houston Astros’ Cam Smith (11) singles against San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept | iNFOnews.ca
Houston Astros Jake Meyers (6) reacts after his double against San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept | iNFOnews.ca
Houston Astros’ Cam Smith (11) scores a run on Yordan Alvarez’s sacrifice fly against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

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