DETROIT (AP) — Jorge Alfaro capped San Diego’s three-run 10th inning with a two-run single, and the Padres beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Luke Voit finished with three RBIs for San Diego after he was hit by a bases-loaded pitch from All-Star Gregory Soto (2-5) in the 10th. After Matthew Batten struck out swinging for the second out, Alfaro drove in Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado with a single to right.
“That was a huge night for Jorge,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “He’d never caught (Padres starter Mike Clevenger) before, but they made sure they were on the same page all night. He saved the game by blocking some pitches in the dirt in the eight and ninth, and he drove in three runs.”
Cronenworth was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, and Machado reached on shortstop Javier Báez’s throwing error.
“We are pretty beat up in the bullpen, and (Soto) was so efficient in the ninth that I felt good about putting him back out there,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I really liked matching him up with Cronenworth and Manny, but we didn’t get the outs.”
Detroit got one back on Jeimer Candelario’s RBI double in the bottom half. But Nick Martinez retired Willi Castro on a fly ball to center, earning his fourth save.
“I don’t think I’m the hero,” Alfaro said. “This was a game where we knew we had to come out and get the win and we all stepped up and did what we needed to do.”
The big 10th helped end San Diego’s 38-year quest to win a game in Detroit. The Padres lost the final three games of the 1984 World Series at Tiger Stadium, were swept in a three-game series at Comerica Park in 2007 and lost 12-4 on Monday.
“It has been hard for us to get a win anywhere lately, but we’re trying to fight our way out of this tough stretch,” Melvin said. “That makes…
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