Tatis scores go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the 9th as the Padres edge the Pirates 2-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. sprinted home on a wild pitch by Pittsburgh closer David Bednar in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Padres past the Pirates 2-1 at rainy PNC Park on Saturday night.

Tatis, who exited Friday night's win in the third inning after taking a 93 mph pitch off his left forearm, led off the ninth with a double. He stole third and took off when a pitch from Bednar (0-3) to Xander Bogaerts skipped in front of catcher Joey Bart. The ball squirted to Bart's right and Tatis' slide just beat Bart's lunging tag to give the Padres their fourth straight victory.

Manny Machado hit his third homer of the season for San Diego, which won despite managing just three hits. Jason Adam (3-0) worked a perfect eighth. Robert Suarez walked Oneil Cruz with one out in the ninth, but Bryan Reynolds lined out to Bogaerts at short and Bogaerts doubled off Cruz at first to end it as Robert picked up his 13th save.

Pirates starter Bailey Falter dominated the Padres for seven innings. The left-hander limited San Diego to two hits and at one point retired 11 straight before Machado's blast over the left field wall with one out in the seventh tied the game.

Cruz singled home Alexander Canario for Pittsburgh's only run. Cruz also walked four times. Ke'Bryan Hayes had two of the Pirates' six singles. Pittsburgh did not record an extra-base hit while losing for the sixth time in seven games.

The Pirates had the bases loaded against Padres starter Randy Vasquez in the fifth only to have Canario — who came in batting .118 — strike out. Pittsburgh left 10 runners on base during Vasquez's five innings of work.

Padres manager Mike Shildt is now 27-5 all-time at PNC Park. Most of Shildt's success in Pittsburgh came when he was managing the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018-21.

The series wraps up on Sunday. Veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney (2-2, 2.50 ERA) gets the nod for Pittsburgh against San Diego's Stephen Kolek, a reliever who will be making his first career start.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Vásquez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, left, talks with umpire Mike Estabrook between innings of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz singles off San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Vásquez, driving in a run, during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, top, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter (6) during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, left, celebrates with Fernando Tatis Jr. as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Julian Champagnie had a career-high 36 points and the San Antonio Spurs survived an injury scare to Victor Wembanyama, rallying to beat the New York Knicks 134-132 on Wednesday night in a rematch of the NBA Cup final.

Wembanyama finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes before limping off the court with an apparent leg injury with under 11 minutes remaining. He returned to the bench in warmups in the final minutes.

New York's Jalen Brunson had 29 points, including a 3-pointer at the close of regulation after stripping Keldon Johnson of possession as he celebrated with San Antonio's bench. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordan Clarkson added 20 points apiece for the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak halted.

Wembanyama hobbled off the court unassisted with 10:32 remaining, heading to the locker room after injuring his left leg. He had soared to gather an offensive rebound over Towns and lost possession when he landed. Replays showed there was no contact, but Wembanyama’s left foot slid forward and his knee appeared to hyperextend.

Wembanyama returned to San Antonio's bench with 1:22 remaining, walking calmly and without a limp. It was a good time for the 7-foot-4 center to return. Wembanyama cheered from the sidelines as the Spurs held on to beat the Knicks to snap a two-game skid.

Champagnie scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, going 4 for 5 on 3-pointers, as San Antonio erased a double-digit deficit.

New York outscored San Antonio 28-27 in the second quarter, but it would have been much worse without Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 center had 16 points in the second period.

Wembanyama brought the sell-out crowd to its feet with a one-handed slam off an alley-oop pass from Castle that cut New York's lead to 54-50. The Knicks responded with a 17-2 run following a timeout and Wembanyama's exit, including 14 straight points to cap the surge.

Wembanyama returned to help pare the deficit to 73-63.

Champagnie hit back-to-back 3-pointers, capping a 16-2 run that tied the game at 86 midway through the third.

Wembanyama made his 300th career 3-pointer, becoming the fastest to do so among 7-footers and accomplishing the feat in 138 games. That beat the previous mark of 141 games by Utah’s Lauri Markkanen.

Knicks: Host Sacramento on Thursday.

Spurs: At Indiana on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox, right, tangles with New York Knicks players Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

New York Knicks guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (9) passes to Knicks center Ariel Hukporti as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, right, is fouled as he drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)