(Reuters) — Manny Machado hit a tie-breaking three-run home run in the tenth inning to lift the visiting San Diego Padres to a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
Joe Ross (0-1) threw the tenth for Texas, walking Samad Taylor to place runners on first and second. Machado then crushed a 408-foot blast to give the Padres a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Mason Miller allowed Wyatt Langford’s two-out RBI single, but struck out Brandon Nimmo to secure his National League-leading 20th save.
Walker Buehler threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run, five-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one for San Diego, which had dropped three of its previous four.
In place of Nathan Eovaldi, who was scratched from the start with knee soreness, MacKenzie Gore tossed six innings for Texas, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six and walking a pair. Langford had two hits and drove in two, while Jake Burger hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who have lost six of their last eight.
San Diego struck first in the third as Fernando Tatis Jr. laced a one-out double and scored on Machado’s RBI double two batters later.
Texas threatened in the fourth, as Langford worked a one-out walk. Nimmo then singled, but center fielder Jackson Merrill threw Langford out at third. Buehler then retired Ezequiel Duran to end the frame.
After Gore allowed Merrill’s leadoff single in the fourth, the Texas starter retired the last nine San Diego batters he faced. Gore needed just nine pitchers to toss a perfect top of the sixth.
The Rangers broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Jung and Langford hit back-to-back doubles to even the score at one.
Against San Diego’s Jason Adam in the seventh, Jarred Kelenic singled and Burger launched his 13th homer of the year to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Texas reliever Cole Winn allowed Tatis’ double and Taylor’s bunt single. Machado’s groundout then cut San Diego’s deficit in half.
After Xander Bogaerts grounded out for the second out, Tyler Alexander entered for the Rangers, surrendering Merrill’s game-tying single.
Adrian Morejon (6-1) earned the win, striking out five across two scoreless frames.
