Clutch hitting lifts Padres past Royals

Ha-Seong Kim's bases-clearing double led the visiting San Diego Padres past the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Saturday afternoon.

With one out in the fourth and the Padres trailing by a run, Kim drilled Alec Marsh's sweeper to the center-field wall, plating three for a 5-3 advantage.

Kim's decisive hit followed a controversial single by Jackson Merrill, who appeared to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Home plate umpire and crew chief Andy Fletcher overturned the play, instead ruling a foul ball off Merrill's foot. Merrill singled on the next pitch, loading the bases.

Kim also tripled as San Diego pounded Marsh (4-3) for five runs on seven hits, including four for extra bases. Marsh walked Manny Machado three times and hit a batter, completing five innings with three strikeouts.

San Diego starter Randy Vasquez (1-3) finished five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts to earn his first win since Aug. 11.

Vasquez was recalled from Triple-A El Paso prior to Saturday's game when Joe Musgrove was scratched from his scheduled start, going to the injured list with right elbow inflammation.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino traded run-scoring hits in the early innings as the Royals built a 3-2 lead.

Tatis hit a solo homer in the first, his team-leading 10th.

Pasquantino answered in the bottom of the frame with his seventh home run, a two-run shot into the right-field bullpen.

Luis Arraez then tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the third, but Pasquantino again put the Royals ahead with his two-out hit in the bottom of the inning.

Four Padres relievers held Kansas City scoreless over the final four innings.

Kyle Higashioka led off the ninth with his second homer.

The Padres have won five of six games and eight of their last 10 series.

Pasquantino had three of the Royals' eight hits. Kansas City has lost six of seven.

--Field Level Media