Musgrove goes 7 innings and Bogaerts homers as the Padres beat the Blue Jays 6-3

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joe Musgrove pitched seven innings for the first time since July 4 and Xander Bogaerts homered for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Musgrove improved to 4-0 against the Blue Jays, who picked him in the first round of the 2011 draft. The big right-hander from suburban El Cajon allowed solo homers to Davis Schneider and Ernie Clement but otherwise pitched well enough to improve to 3-2. He allowed three runs on five hits and struck out three, with no walks.

“I don't ever want to lose, but I feel like there is some kind of edge there, against the team that drafted me," Musgrove said. “I was excited to be with them and wanted to make my debut with that team and didn't get a chance to. I wanted to be good today for these guys more so than I wanted to beat them."

Musgrove was traded to Houston in 2012 and made his big league debut against Toronto on Aug. 2, 2016.

The Padres snapped a three-game losing streak and prevented the Blue Jays from clinching their first sweep of the season.

Musgrove was backed by some nice defensive plays, including two impressive catches by right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis won the Gold Glove Award last year in his first season in right field and then won the NL Platinum Glove Award as the best overall defensive player.

Tatis made a brilliant running, leaping catch of George Springer’s fly ball to the gap to end the eighth. In the second, he made a running, sliding catch of a long foul ball by Daulton Varsho.

“Routine greatness,” manager Mike Shildt said.

“It's part of the work. That's why we keep working hard. We don't take it for granted,” Tatis said. “When you're in the game no matter what, you're trying to play defense for that pitcher on the mound.”

The dreadlocked Dominican has been nicknamed “Air Tatis” for his leaping, twisting catches.

“It's amazing. It's an adrenaline rush that you cannot really put into words. Those little moments make all the hard work pay off," Tatis said.

“Really good,” Musgrove said of Tatis. “Just really good defensive plays all around today. Turned the double plays we should turn, the sliding catch down the line, the catch in the gap, just really good defense.”

Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

Bogaerts, who has struggled since signing as a free agent before the 2023 season, homered off Chris Bassitt (2-3) leading off the third to tie the game at 2. His only other homer this year was April 9 against the Chicago Cubs. He had gone eight games without an extra-base hit.

Bogaerts drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth and Tatis followed with a sacrifice fly.

Shildt said Bogaerts seems to be pulling out of his struggles.

“He's pretty much there,” the manager said.

The Padres jumped ahead 4-2 in the sixth when they loaded the bases against Bassitt and reliever Trevor Richards, and then scored on a bases-loaded walk by Luis Campusano and a catcher's interference call that put Tyler Wade on base.

Justin Turner was hit by a pitch with an out in the seventh and Varsho grounded sharply down the right field line, which a ball girl picked up, apparently not realizing it was fair. That put Turner on third and Varsho on second. Turner scored on Schneider's groundout and Musgrove retired Danny Jansen.

Schneider homered to left center with two outs in the second, his third, to tie the game at 1. It came one batter after Tatis' catch of Varsho's foul ball.

Clement led off the third by sending a fastball that was well above the strike zone into the second-floor balcony on the four-story brick warehouse in the left field corner for a 2-1 lead.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in a sloppy first inning for both teams. Jake Cronenworth singled with two outs and scored on right fielder Springer's two-base error for misplaying Manny Machado's single. Jurickson Profar walked and stole second but was picked off by Bassitt.

Bassitt allowed four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked three.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (1-1, 2.08 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Kansas City. The Royals will counter with RHP Brady Singer (2-0, 1.54).

Padres: RHP Dylan Cease (2-1, 1.99) is slated to start Monday night in the opener of a four-game set at Colorado. The Rockies will go with LHP Austin Gomber (0-1, 4.95).

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

San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts, right, celebrates with teammate shortstop Ha-Seong Kim after the Padres defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in a baseball game, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, left, slides in late to home after Jackson Merrill grounded into a force out as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen is knocked off the base, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt, left, celebrates with teammates before exiting during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jurickson Profar gets back to first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, holds on to the throw to first before tagging out San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts to a called strike while batting during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove works against a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove works against a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Xander Bogaerts watches as he flies out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Taylor Pendrith shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Matt NeSmith into the weekend in the 3M Open.

Playing in windier afternoon conditions, Pendrith made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and tapped in for another birdie on the par-5 18th. He had a 12-under 130 total at the TPC Twin Cities, playing the first 36 holes without a bogey.

The 33-year-old Canadian won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May in Texas for his first PGA Tour title. He tied for fifth last week in the Barracuda Championship in California.

“Today was pretty tricky with the wind, it was blowing pretty hard at times, so my speed was great all day and stayed really patient," Pendrith said. “I didn’t really have many good looks through the first hour I would say of golf and was able to stay patient and make a couple, made a couple longer ones, which was nice.”

NeSmith had a 64 in the morning before wind gusts topping 20 mph hit the course in the afternoon and early evening.

Seeking his first PGA Tour victory, NeSmith lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, his lone top-10 finish in 20 prior starts this season. He has missed 11 cuts.

“Patience is key out here whether it be to win golf tournaments, to make cuts, to try and keep your card to try and get in the top 30,” NeSmith said. “I think it pertains to each and every person out here. You never know when you’re going to get hot, you never know when good golf’s coming. Just kind of try and be patient, try and keep calmer heads and you never know what will happen.”

First-round leader Jacob Bridgeman had a 70 to drop three strokes back at 9 under with Andrew Putnam (66). Doug Ghim (64), Lanto Griffin (66), Alex Smalley (65) and Jhonattan Vegas (66) were 8 under.

“I felt like anything under par today was pretty good, especially in the afternoon,” said Bridgeman, one of the last players to tee off Friday. “The wind was blowing really hard in the beginning of the round, caught a little bit of a lull at the end, which was nice. But greens were kind of bumpy from all the traffic. … I stayed patient all day, didn’t really have a whole lot of great chances.”

The event is the second-to-last tournament before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, with some players near the 70-player cutoff failing to advance to the weekend. Nick Dunlap (64th in the standings), Luke List (71st) and defending champion Lee Hodges (73rd) missed the cut.

Jacob Bridgeman walks on the 10th tee during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Stewart Cink watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Kurt Kitayama watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Lanto Griffin watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Andrew Putnam watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Matt NeSmith walks off the 18th green after his putt during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Matt NeSmith watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Taylor Pendrith lines up his putt on the 18th green during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Taylor Pendrith putts on the 18th green during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)