Rays Edge Padres 7-6 in Late-Inning Thriller at Tropicana Field

Late Rally Sets the Tone

The decisive moment arrived in the seventh inning, when the Tampa Bay Rays erased a three-run deficit to take the lead. The surge began with a single by Juan Soto, who scored on an error by second baseman Rengifo, driving in two runs. The Rays continued their pressure, eventually taking a 7-6 lead that they held into the ninth. The game concluded at Tropicana Field on Saturday, August 29, 2026, with an attendance of 25,621.

Scoring Sequence

The Padres struck first in the first inning when Hicks singled to center, scoring Diaz. San Diego added a run in the third inning off a Harris double, and Aranda hit a 453-foot home run to center. In the sixth, France hit a 351-foot home run to right, scoring Machado, before Caminero hit a 426-foot home run to center. The Padres tied the game at 3-3 before the Rays' seventh-inning explosion.

Pitching Performance

Kevin Kelly earned the win, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Bryan Baker closed the game, pitching 1.0 inning, allowing 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. On the mound for San Diego, Walker Buehler pitched 5.0 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Adrian Morejon pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 1 hit, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Yuki Matsui pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout.

Final Records

The Tampa Bay Rays improved their record to 81-54. The San Diego Padres fell to 72-64. The game featured exactly three home runs, with no other extra-base hits recorded in the official scoring plays provided.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816723