Fernando Tatis Jr.'s HR backs Dylan Cease as Padres top Royals

Fernando Tatis Jr. broke open a close game Saturday with a three-run homer and the San Diego Padres evened their weekend series vs. the visiting Kansas City Royals, earning a 5-1 win.

Tatis broke a streak of 101 plate appearances without a homer, dating back to May 27, by lining a Taylor Clarke fastball an estimated 380 feet into the seats in left-center field with two outs. It was his 14th homer of the year, scoring Jose Iglesias and Bryce Johnson, who singled with one out.

Dylan Cease (3-6) picked up the win, allowing just three hits and a run in 6 2/3 innings, with three walks and four strikeouts. Noah Cameron (2-3) absorbed the loss, permitting two runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings while whiffing two.

San Diego initiated the scoring in the second. Gavin Sheets led off with a double to the wall in left-center and reached third on Xander Bogaerts' single. Jake Cronenworth then hit into a fielder's choice that scored Sheets.

The Royals tied it in the third when Drew Waters led off with a single and scored on John Rave's double to right-center. But they failed to capitalize on a chance for a bigger inning. Maikel Garcia drew a two-out walk, but Vinnie Pasquantino grounded out to second, stranding men at second and third.

The Padres countered in their half of the third. After Martin Maldonado and Tatis worked one-out walks, Luis Arraez poked a single into center that scored Maldonado, putting them ahead for good.

Kansas City missed on a good opportunity in the fourth when Jac Caglianone was clipped by a pitch with one out and Mark Canha singled. But Waters lined out and Rave flied out, starting a stretch that saw Cease retire 10 of the last 11 men he faced before Jeremiah Estrada relieved him in the seventh.

Bogaerts finished with two hits, giving him 10 hits in his last 12 at-bats dating back to Wednesday night. He was the only player in the game with multiple hits.

--Field Level Media