Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept

HOUSTON (AP) — Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a tiebreaking solo home run and scored all of San Diego’s runs as the Padres avoided being swept with a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday night.

Tatís sent the first pitch he saw from Tayler Scott (1-2) 427 feet to straightaway center to give the Padres a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

Tatís scored from second on a Mauricio Dubón error in the first, and he led off the third with a triple before scoring on an RBI single by Gavin Sheets.

The Astros tied it with two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Dubón and a Yordan Alvarez sacrifice fly.

Luis Arraez was carted off and taken to a hospital for evaluation after a first inning collision with Dubón on a play at first base. Arraez’s face appeared to collide with Dubón’s arm or elbow, and the Padres designated hitter lay motionless in foul territory next to first base for several minutes.

After being tended to by trainers from both teams, Arraez was placed on a backboard and carted out of the stadium.

Dylan Cease yielded two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in five innings for the Padres. Alek Jacob (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save.

Starting pitcher Framber Valdez surrendered two runs on seven hits in six innings for the Astros.

With two outs and the tying run on second in the eighth, Jason Adam struck out Victor Caratini to end the inning.

The Padres have scored 20 runs in the seventh inning this season, the most runs they have scored in any inning.

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (2-1, 1.50 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday night, while San Diego RHP Randy Vásquez (1-1, 1.74) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series in Detroit.

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

Houston Astros' Cam Smith (11) scores a run on Yordan Alvarez's sacrifice fly against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros Jake Meyers (6) reacts after his double against San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Cam Smith (11) singles against San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) reacts after San Diego Padres' Oscar Gonzales ground into a force out during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) tags San Diego Padres' Xander Bogaerts (2) out at second base as Oscar Gonzales ground into a force out during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. reacts after his home run against Houston Astros relief pitcher Tayler Scott during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. reacts after his home run against Houston Astros relief pitcher Tayler Scott during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Isaiah Evans scored 21 points and had a critical 3-pointer with 1:15 left to help No. 6 Duke beat No. 24 SMU 82-75 on Saturday.

Evans slipped to the left side for the 3-pointer off a feed from freshman star Cam Boozer to make it 76-70, a repeat of the play that sent Duke past Florida when he hit a late 3 here in December.

Patrick Ngongba II tied his career high in scoring with 17 points for Duke (15-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), while Boozer had 18 points — including muscling up his own interior basket to give Duke a 73-68 lead shortly before Evans' big shot.

Duke shot 49% and won its 25th straight home game.

Jaden Toombs had 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting to lead the Mustangs (12-4, 1-2), who started the week by entering the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 season before losing at Clemson on Wednesday.

The Mustangs had to play this one without leading scorer Boopie Moller, a 20.6-point scorer who was a game-time decision because of illness.

But SMU scored the game's first 11 points and gave Duke fits all day, shooting 56.6% and thrice getting within one possession in the final 4 1/2 minutes. The Mustangs' biggest problem was turnovers; they had 21 that led to 21 points for the Blue Devils.

At halftime, Duke marked the 25th anniversary of the program's 2001 NCAA championship, with former NBA players Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Jay Williams joining retired Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski at midcourt during the presentation. Boozer's twin sons, Cam and Cayden, both play for Duke.

SMU: The Mustangs host Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

Duke: The Blue Devils make their first cross-country ACC trip when they visit California on Wednesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Duke's Dame Sarr (7) is fouled by SMU's Jaden Toombs, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)