SAN DIEGO — Joe Musgrove pitched six strong innings and Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0 for 4 in his first game back since June 21 as the San Diego Padres beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0 on Monday.
Luis Arraez had two RBI singles for the Padres, who edged ahead of Arizona and into the NL’s top wild card spot.
Tatis was activated from the 60-day injured list after being sidelined with a stress reaction in his right thighbone. The star right fielder received loud ovations during the pregame lineup announcements and when he ran out to his defensive position to start the game, gesturing to the fans along the way.
He grounded out twice, fouled out and struck out.
Tatis won both the NL Gold Glove Award and Platinum Glove Award in 2023, his first season playing right field.
Musgrove (5-4) was making his fifth start since a 2 1/2-month stay on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. He held the Tigers to three hits while striking out eight and walking two.
The first two batters in the fourth reached before Musgrove retired the side. He put two runners on with two outs in the sixth before striking out Colt Keith.
Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his 31st save.
Tigers opener Tyler Holton went two innings before Brenan Hanifee (0-1) took over. Mason McCoy beat out an infield single with one out in the third and advanced on Hanifee’s throwing error, and then scored on Arraez’s single to right.
Arraez hit another RBI single in the eighth and Manny Machado added an RBI base hit.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: Manager Mike Shildt said RHP Yu Darvish (right elbow inflammation) and SS Ha-Seong Kim (right shoulder inflammation) are making progress, but the team hasn’t decided what the next steps are for them. … While Tatis was activated, OF Bryce Johnson was optioned to Triple-A El Paso and DFA’d José Azocar. … LF Jurickson Profar got his first day off since June 22.
UP NEXT
MLB wanted the Padres to take Monday off to break up a long stretch of games, but the team wanted to play on the holiday and take Tuesday off. Tigers RHP Keider Montero (4-6, 5.17 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday night, while the Padres haven’t named a starter.
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