Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Vásquez, Tatis lead the Padres to a 3-0 win over the Tigers to avoid sweep

Vásquez, Tatis lead the Padres to a 3-0 win over the Tigers to avoid sweep | iNFOnews.ca
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, 28, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Randy Vásquez and two relievers combined for a two-hitter, and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an RBI single and his stolen base led to another run as the San Diego Padres beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0 Saturday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Vásquez (1-0) struck out eight and allowed two hits — a single and double by Colt Keith — in six innings, with three walks. Kyle Hart struck out three in two perfect innings and Mason Miller, who took over as closer after Robert Suarez signed as a free agent with Atlanta, walked one and struck out two in the ninth for the save in his season debut.

The Padres got to Jack Flaherty (0-1) in the third and fifth innings, getting enough offense to avoid being swept in their opening series for the first time since 2018 against Milwaukee.

San Diego had three straight two-out singles in the third, with Tatis’ base hit to right bringing in Freddy Fermin. Tatis, dropped from the leadoff spot after the first two games to No. 2, stole second. Second baseman Gleyber Torres couldn’t handle the throw from catcher Jake Rogers and the ball skipped into center field for an error, allowing Jake Cronenworth to score.

Flaherty walked three straight batters with one out in the fifth and made way for Brant Hurter, who gave up Jackson Merrill’s RBI fielder’s choice.

Flaherty allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, while walking four and striking out two.

Up next

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (4-11, 3.85 with San Francisco in 2025) makes his season debut Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at Arizona.

Padres: RHP Walker Buehler (10-7, 4.93 combined with Boston and Philadelphia) makes his Padres debut at home Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against San Francisco.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Vásquez, Tatis lead the Padres to a 3-0 win over the Tigers to avoid sweep | iNFOnews.ca
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado throws out Detroit Tigers’ Gleyber Torres during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Vásquez, Tatis lead the Padres to a 3-0 win over the Tigers to avoid sweep | iNFOnews.ca
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

Bernie Wilson

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles