Intentionally walking a batter to face a hitter like Fernando Tatis Jr. is a bold move, and the Tigers found out the hard way as Tatis Jr. hit a walk-off base hit in the 10th inning as the Padres defeated Detroit 6-5 on Wednesday night.
Tatis Jr. (.277 BA, 811 OPS) got his first two hits since returning from the IL, finishing 2 for 6 and his second hit compled the comeback from a 5-0 deficit.
A healthy Padres offense was firing on all cylinders, despite a rough return from starting pitcher Yu Darvish.
Center fielder Jackson Merrill (.294 BA, 828 OPS) led the way for San Diego, going 3 for 5 with a three-run home run (22). The fourth-inning bomb by Merrill broke the Padres rookie RBI record, as he continued to display his power and ability to hit all over the field, taking a first-pitch fastball away for an opposite field blast to put the Friars within two.
Designated hitter Luis Arraez and first baseman Jake Cronenworth also produced for San Diego, with both players going 2 for 5.
Darvish (4-3, 3.51 ERA), who boasts a deep arsenal of pitches, had trouble locating his hard stuff and getting ahead. He missed badly in the first inning, leaving a four-seam up and in for a home run by right fielder Matt Vierling. A walk, base hit and a wild pitch brought in another run in the second, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead
With no command of his fastball that was already dropping in velocity, Darvish began relying on his off-speed pitches He at one point threw over 10 straight breaking balls.
The Detroit offense began sitting on his slow stuff, eventually knocking Darvish out in the third after another run was added. He gave up three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched, Darvish showed flashes of the Darvish that the Friar faithful know, striking out four Tigers.
After a two-run home run in the fourth inning off reliever Yuki Matsui, the San Diego bullpen was lights-out and kept the Tigers within striking distance. Six relievers touched the mound, combining for zero earned runs and seven strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Starting pitcher Keider Montero had early success against the San Diego lineup, especially with his sinker. After batting around a couple times the Padres figured him out and knocked him out in the fifth inning after third baseman Manny Machado slapped a two RBI base hit through the 5-6 hole to tie the game at 5-5.
The game stay tied for 4 1⁄2 more innings until the Tigers intentionally walked Arraez in the 10th to see Tatis Jr. with a runner in scoring position. Tatis Jr. pulled an inside slider for his decisive single in game two of the three-game series.
The Padres play Detroit in the final game of the series at 5:40 p.m. Thursday.
