SAN DIEGO (AP) — Randy Vásquez and two relievers combined for a two-hitter, and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an RBI single and his stolen base led to another run as the San Diego Padres beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0 Saturday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Vásquez (1-0) struck out eight and allowed two hits — a single and double by Colt Keith — in six innings, with three walks. Kyle Hart struck out three in two perfect innings and Mason Miller, who took over as closer after Robert Suarez signed as a free agent with Atlanta, walked one and struck out two in the ninth for the save in his season debut.
The Padres got to Jack Flaherty (0-1) in the third and fifth innings, getting enough offense to avoid being swept in their opening series for the first time since 2018 against Milwaukee.
San Diego had three straight two-out singles in the third, with Tatis' base hit to right bringing in Freddy Fermin. Tatis, dropped from the leadoff spot after the first two games to No. 2, stole second. Second baseman Gleyber Torres couldn't handle the throw from catcher Jake Rogers and the ball skipped into center field for an error, allowing Jake Cronenworth to score.
Flaherty walked three straight batters with one out in the fifth and made way for Brant Hurter, who gave up Jackson Merrill's RBI fielder's choice.
Flaherty allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, while walking four and striking out two.
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (4-11, 3.85 with San Francisco in 2025) makes his season debut Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at Arizona.
Padres: RHP Walker Buehler (10-7, 4.93 combined with Boston and Philadelphia) makes his Padres debut at home Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against San Francisco.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado throws out Detroit Tigers' Gleyber Torres during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, 28, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
The Denver Summit and the Washington Spirit played to a scoreless draw on Saturday before a record National Women's Soccer League crowd of 63,004 fans at the home of the NFL's Denver Broncos.
In other action around the league, the Utah Royals held on for a 2-1 victory over the Boston Legacy; and the Portland Thorns downed the Kansas City Current 2-0; the Seattle Reign beat Racing Louisville 2-1 in Spokane, Washington; Bay FC dominated the North Carolina Courage on the road 3-1; and the San Diego Wave defeated the visiting Chicago Stars 2-0.
The Summit (1-1-2) broke the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last season in a Bay FC match at San Francisco's Oracle Park.
Denver goalkeeper Abby Smith and Spirit counterpart Sandy MacIver each made two saves to preserve their clean sheets. It was Smith's second straight shutout.
The Spirit (0-1-3) have yet to win this season.
Olivia Moultrie converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute and the Thorns went on to defeat the Current 2-0 at Providence Park in Portland.
Moultrie, 20, became the youngest player to score 20 league goals, breaking Sam Kerr’s record set in 2016.
Reilyn Turner added a goal for the Thorns (3-1-0) in the 63rd minute.
The Current (1-3-0) continue to struggle without two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga, who is out for the season with a hip injury.
Thorns forward Sophia Wilson made her first start of the season in her return from maternity leave.
Tatumn Milazzo returned from a one-game red card suspension to score her second goal of the season and help the Royals beat the winless Legacy.
Milazzo scored on a tap-in in the 33rd minute to give Utah (1-2-1) the lead. Mina Tanaka drew a penalty in the 49th minute and Lara Prasnikar converted to go up 2-0.
Aissata Traoré scored in the 72nd minute to close the gap for Boston (0-3-0).
Maddie Mercado and Nérilia Mondésir scored first-half goals to lead the Seattle Reign (3-1-0) to another win at One Spokane Stadium.
In the 10th minute, Mercado scored for the second consecutive game. Initially, her shot was saved by Racing Louisville goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer, but it slipped through her hands and rolled into the goal.
Mondésir added a goal in the 42nd minute for her first of the season.
Late in second half stoppage time, Louisville rookie Macy Blackburn scored her first professional goal to close the margin.
Louisville (0-2-1) has allowed two goals this season.
Bay FC (2-0-1) had three first-half goals to hand the Courage (1-1-1) their first loss of the season.
Alex Pfeiffer opened the scoring in the 20th minute on a left-footed shot past Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Keira Barry scored her first NWSL goal to double the lead 2-0 in the 30th.
Dorian Bailey headed home the third goal in the 34th minute, with an assist from Pfeiffer.
Manaka Matsukubo scored in the 65th.
It was Bay’s first road win since a 1-0 victory over North Carolina last April 19, which was their only victory away from home last season.
Rookie Lia Godfrey scored for the third straight game to give the San Diego Wave (3-1-0) their third straight win.
San Diego outshot the Stars 12-0 and had 60% possession in the first half.
Godfrey opened the scoring in the 56th minute
Melanie Barcenas came in as a sub in the 62nd minute and scored 10 minutes later.
The Stars (1-3-0) did not record their first shot until the 70th minute.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Washington Spirit forward Claudia Martinez, left, heads the ball as Denver Summit FC midfielder Devin Lynch, front right, and defender Megan Reid cover in the second half of an NWSL soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Summit FC forward Melissa Kossler, right, tries to head the ball into the net as Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan covers in the second half of an NWSL soccer match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Summit FC forward Yazmeen Ryan, right, drives past Washington Spirit defender Lucia Di Guglielmo in the second half of an NWSL soccer match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
