PHOENIX (AP) — Manny Machado had three hits and four RBIs, Randy Vásquez threw six scoreless innings and the San Diego Padres jumped out to a big early lead in a 9-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
The Padres won for the ninth time in 11 games, moving one game behind the D-backs for the third and final National League wild-card playoff spot.
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San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) makes a catch at first base for an out against Arizona Diamondbacks' Lars Nootbaar (21) during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., left, socres a run ahead of a tag by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vásquez throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, left, scores a run as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann, right, loses the baseball during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Jackson Merrill had three hits and two RBIs, while Jake Cronenworth also had a three-hit night. Vásquez (7-6) gave up just two hits and walked one while striking out one.
The Padres jumped all over All-Star Eduardo Rodríguez in the first inning with leadoff hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. starting the game with a double to left. Machado followed with an RBI double before Merrill and Xander Bogaerts added run-scoring singles for a 3-0 lead.
San Diego extended its advantage to 6-0 in the second, partly because of Arizona's sloppy defense. Jase Brown reached on a bunt single when there appeared to be confusion on who was covering first base and Ketel Marte's error on a grounder led to a pair of unearned runs.
Rodríguez (10-4) gave up a season-high seven runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings, though only five of those runs were earned. The left-hander was coming off one of his best outings of the season, when he pitched eight innings in a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arizona's Nolan Arenado and James McCann hit two-run homers in the seventh off Germán Márquez to cut the deficit to 8-4. Geraldo Perdomo added two hits.
Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (0-1, 5.23 ERA) will start on Wednesday against RHP Casey Mize (4-6, 2.70), who is making his San Diego debut.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) makes a catch at first base for an out against Arizona Diamondbacks' Lars Nootbaar (21) during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., left, socres a run ahead of a tag by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vásquez throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, left, scores a run as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann, right, loses the baseball during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
NEW YORK (AP) — George Lombard Jr. saw a sweeper over the middle of the plate, sent the 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence and made his highly anticipated big league debut even more memorable.
A few hours later, Lombard was exchanging memorabilia with the fans who caught the first home run ball of his career.
After being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier in the day, Lombard gave the Yankees a two-run lead in Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals by hitting a 392-foot shot off Hunter Dobbins in the fifth inning.
Lombard rounded the bases as his parents cheered and hugged in the stands. His father, George Lombard Sr., is the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers and a former major league player himself.
“It was really cool,” the younger Lombard said. “Being a close game, it was a big run. So it was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won’t forget.”
The 21-year-old Lombard became the first Yankees shortstop to homer in his major league debut. After the game, the touted prospect met in the hallway outside the clubhouse with the fans who caught the ball. He signed hats and traded a bat for the ball while posing for pictures.
Lombard was the 14th player in franchise history to hit a home run in his big league debut and first since Jasson Domínguez went deep in his initial plate appearance against Justin Verlander in Houston on Sept. 1, 2023. The group also includes injured captain Aaron Judge (2016) and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1946).
At 21 years, 63 days old, Lombard became the sixth-youngest Yankees player since 1985 to make his debut and the second-youngest shortstop in that span. Derek Jeter debuted May 29, 1995, in Seattle at 20 years, 337 days.
Lombard also started inning-ending double plays in the second and fifth.
“Obviously, a great first night for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The home run was great. The defense was tremendous.”
In the second, Lombard ranged to his right to field Blaze Jordan’s grounder and made an off-balance throw to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. In the fifth, Lombard ranged to his left, fielded Nathan Church’s grounder behind second base, stepped on the bag and made a clean throw to first baseman Ben Rice.
“It’s one of those plays that you practice,” Lombard said. “I’ve made that play countless times in practice. Just getting to the game and it’s your body kind of takes over.”
Lombard wasn't the only player to make his Yankees debut Tuesday night. Newly acquired outfielder Heliot Ramos went 0 for 4 but made a nice catch in left field with two runners aboard in the sixth after being acquired from the Giants before Monday’s trade deadline.
To make room for Lombard and Ramos, shortstop Anthony Volpe and Domínguez were optioned to Triple-A, where Volpe is expected to see time at second base.
On Monday, general manager Brian Cashman implied the Tigers and Orioles asked for Lombard in potential deals for Tarik Skubal and Adley Rutschman, who were acquired by the Dodgers and Red Sox respectively.
Lombard, a first-round draft pick by New York in 2023, began this season by hitting .312 in 20 games with Double-A Somerset. After getting promoted to Triple-A, he batted .268 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 56 games.
Lombard’s time in Triple-A was interrupted by a left finger injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. He batted .377 in 14 games after returning and went 4 for 5 with three RBIs in a 13-3 win over Iowa on Sunday.
Ramos joined the Yankees after hitting .264 with nine homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games for the Giants.
“When I first found out about the news I started shaking a little bit because obviously I didn’t know anything else,” Ramos said Tuesday afternoon. “But then I realized, I’m like, man, I’m going to be a New York Yankee. Like, that’s crazy.”
Ramos is expected to see the bulk of his time in left field, where he started 64 games for the Giants this season. He did not make any errors in 111 chances after leading National League left fielders with nine errors last year.
Besides adding Lombard and Ramos, the Yankees promoted Yerry de los Santos from the minors to replace Angel Chivilli in the bullpen.
Chivilli was optioned to Triple-A after allowing three homers in the eighth inning Monday, including Alec Burleson’s third of the game. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 15 appearances for the Yankees, who acquired him from Colorado in January.
In five appearances for the Yankees, de los Santos has a 1.04 ERA.
This story has been corrected to show that Lombard started a double play in the second inning, not the third.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, and George Lombard Jr. smile after a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Austin Wells, right, celebrates with George Lombard Jr. Lombard's home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' George Lombard Jr. runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' George Lombard Jr. hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
