Stott and Realmuto homer, Walker makes a slick play as the Phillies win 8-6 to sweep the Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Bryson Stott hit two two-run homers, J.T. Realmuto also connected and Taijun Walker made a slick behind-the-back catch in his season debut to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 on Sunday for their first road sweep of the season.

The Phillies overwhelmed the Padres with nine homers and terrific starting pitching in becoming the first team to sweep San Diego this year. The Padres haven't seemed to recover from blowing a late five-run lead at Colorado on Thursday and losing 10-9. Although they briefly had the lead Sunday, the Padres lost their season-high fourth straight game.

After starting 0-2, the Phillies have won 19 of their last 27 games. They've swept three of their last four series and are a season-high nine games over .500

“Feels like every day, every night, it's a new pitcher shutting down an inning, it's a new hitter driving guys in,” Stott said. “That's what you need as a team, is one through nine, just winning all types of different games. ... It feels like everyone is kind of clicking."

Walker (1-0) opened the season on the injured list with right shoulder soreness and was activated earlier Sunday from a rehab assignment. He pitched into the seventh after Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez each went eight innings in the first two games.

Walker was chased by pinch-hitter Luis Campusano's three-run homer with one out in the seventh that pulled the Padres to 7-6. Walker also allowed Jake Cronenworth's two-run shot in the third. The right-hander allowed six runs and eight hits, struck out four and walked two.

“Everyone's pitching well and the team's rolling,” Walker said. “I just want to be part of it and be out there with the guys. I just want to go deep in innings and do my part. I don't feel I did that all the way today, but the offense did really well, the defense did well and the team's hot right now. I got the first one out of the way.”

José Alvarado pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in as many opportunities.

Stott, the No. 8 hitter, had his first career multiple-homer game. He connected with one out in the second for a 2-0 lead and again with two outs in the fourth for a 4-3 lead. Stott has three this season. Nick Castellanos walked ahead of Stott both times.

“It's always good to put some good swings on the ball, especially when you have a few games in a row when you feel you're a little off or something like that," Stott said.

Stott grew up in Las Vegas and said he'd make trips with family and friends to watch big league games at San Diego and Anaheim.

“I remembered the balls at night weren't really flying but good thing I hit them in the daytime, I guess," he said.

Stott jammed a finger on his right hand while stealing second base in the eighth but said he’s OK. He scored on Johan Rojas’ double.

Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the sixth, his second of the series and fifth overall. All three homers Sunday came off Michael King (2-3). Realmuto added an RBI single in the seventh.

In between Stott's homers, Walker made his slick catch and blew the lead. With Xander Bogaerts aboard on a leadoff single in the second, rookie Jackson Merrill hit a shot back to the mound on a curveball and Walker turned slightly and reached behind his back to make the catch. He then doubled Bogaerts off first. Merrill looked perplexed as he took off his helmet and headed back to the dugout.

“I didn't have time to turn and get it so I just kind of stuck my glove there and I was just as surprised as everyone else that it was in there,” Walker said. “It was a good play. It was a double play. Double plays are always good.”

Walker surrendered the lead in the third on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s RBI double and Cronenworth’s two-run homer, his fourth.

Stott regained the lead for Walker and the Phillies with his fourth-inning homer.

King allowed six runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked three.

ROSTER MOVE

To make room for Walker, RHP Ricardo Pinto was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Phillies: LHP Cristopher Sánchez (1-3, 2.96 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels, who will counter with RHP Griffin Canning (1-3, 7.50).

Padres: RHP Matt Waldron (1-2, 3.96) is set to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against LHP Nick Lodolo (2-0, 2.12) and the Cincinnati Reds.

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

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Michael King, front right, during a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter)

Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto, left, celebrates with Alec Bohm after his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott, center, celebrates after his two-run home run with teammate Nick Castellanos (8) during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker throws a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter)

GENEVA (AP) — The Abu Dhabi investors in Manchester City and Girona have been offered divestment options by UEFA to let both compete in the Champions League next season by complying with integrity rules for teams that share owners.

Girona has made a stunning run to a guaranteed top-four finish in Spain’s La Liga, with three key players either loaned or sold via Man City’s influence including Brazilian star Sávio.

Girona, also part-owned by the brother of Man City manager Pep Guardiola, will go into the elite European competition for the first time. City won the 2023 Champions League title and will finish in the top two of the English Premier League.

But the teams have severely tested UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership that guard against collusion in games.

Failing to comply with UEFA’s rules with a proposal by June 3 should see one of the two teams, likely Girona, demoted to the second-tier Europa League. The team finishing higher in its domestic league takes priority.

According to a UEFA document seen on Tuesday by The Associated Press, two options are open to City Football Group, the Abu Dhabi-created operation with stakes in 13 clubs worldwide including 100% of Man City and 47% of Girona.

CFG could solve the problem by selling shares to an independent third party that reduces one ownership stake to below 30%, or transfer all shares in one club to a blind trust overseen by a panel appointed by UEFA.

The trustee could be picked by CFG in a UEFA-approved model that applied this season in a compliance deal for AC Milan, Toulouse and their United States investor Red Bird Capital.

The multi-club ownership issue for UEFA and CFG has loomed since Girona’s league-leading fast start in September.

UEFA declined comment all season pending Girona’s confirmed qualification in the Champions League this month. UEFA also did not comment on a possible pending issue with Jim Ratcliffe's ownership stakes and influence at Manchester United and Nice — both could qualify for the next Europa League.

On Tuesday, UEFA’s club finance monitoring panel wrote to soccer stakeholders to clarify updates to its multi-club rules for entry to European club competitions that were first drafted in the 1998-99 season.

Man City and Girona drew scrutiny for CFG having “decisive influence” over both because the Abu Dhabi operation holds at least 30% of the shares in both, and because of the clubs’ transfer dealings this season.

Girona seemed to meet the UEFA panel’s criteria for clubs that “transferred, permanently or temporarily, three or more players with the other club, directly or indirectly via related parties, during the season.”

Girona has two players on its squad who belong to other CFG clubs: Right back Yan Couto, on loan from Man City, and winger Sávio, on loan from French club Troyes.

Sávio is the revelation of the season in Spain. His dribbling and speed on the left flank have caused mayhem in opposing defenses. The 20-year-old has scored 10 times and is one of the league’s top assist-makers with nine passes for goals. Sávio's end-of-season permanent move to Man City that was reported in February should not be affected by any UEFA decision.

Couto has excelled in joining in the attack from his position of right back, delivering eight assists.

After completing a loan at Girona, Venezuela midfielder Yangel Herrera was sold by City to its sibling club last July.

Man City was bought in 2008 by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family.

The CFG was formed five years later, with Man City — by now a Premier League champion for the first time — acting as the flagship club in a worldwide portfolio that soon contained teams across multiple continents.

First came New York City in 2013, then Melbourne City in Australia’s A-League, Girona in Spain, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Sichuan Jiuniu FC in China, Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay and Mumbai City in India joined the group, which also had a “collaboration agreement” with Venezuelan team Atletico Venezuela.

CFG bought into Girona in 2017 weeks after it was promoted to Spain’s top flight for the first time. Pere Guardiola bought a stake that is now 16%.

In recent years, CFG has acquired stakes in European clubs Lommel in Belgium, Palermo in Italy and Troyes.

CFG's stable of clubs is one of the most extensive multi-club groups in a growing global trend that UEFA itself has cautioned poses risks to the soccer industry. Critics say it can enable collusion in games and the transfer market and help top-tier clubs distribute and disguise their costs to help comply with financial monitoring rules.

AP Sports Writers Steve Douglas and Joseph Wilson contributed.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Girona's Portu celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Girona and Barcelona, at the Montilivi stadium in Girona, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola talks to Manchester City's Matheus Nunes during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Barcelona's Jules Kounde, left, heads the ball ahead of Girona's Savio during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Girona and Barcelona, at the Montilivi stadium in Girona, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Girona players celebrate after Girona's Artem Dovbyk scored his side's opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Girona and Barcelona, at the Montilivi stadium in Girona, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Abu Dhabi owners of Man City and Girona given options to meet Champions League entry rules

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola waits for the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Manchester City at the Craven Cottage Stadium in London, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Abu Dhabi owners of Man City and Girona given options to meet Champions League entry rules