Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Walk-Off Sacrifice Fly Lifts Padres Over Reds 4-3 in Extra Innings – Game Recap & Highlights (September 8, 2025)

Tuesday, September 9th, 2025

San Diego Padres Secure 4-3 Extra-Innings Victory Over Cincinnati Reds

The San Diego Padres earned a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds in ten innings, thanks to a clutch sacrifice fly from Fernando Tatis Jr. that brought home Jake Cronenworth and electrified the home crowd.

Tenth Inning Drama

Padres fans witnessed a dramatic finish as the game entered extra innings tied at three. Reds reliever Nick Martinez, a former Padre, began the 10th inning but made a costly throwing error on Freddy Fermín's bunt, allowing Cronenworth, the automatic runner, to advance to third. Fernando Tatis Jr. then delivered a deep fly ball to left field, easily scoring Cronenworth and sealing the walk-off victory for San Diego.

Jackson Merrill Helps Padres Rally

Jackson Merrill played a pivotal role in the Padres’ comeback, smashing a two-out, two-run triple in the sixth inning to tie the game. Merrill’s shot came off Brent Suter, after the Reds’ center fielder TJ Friedl nearly made a running catch near the warning track but couldn’t hold on to the ball.

Reds Jump Ahead Early

The Cincinnati Reds grabbed an early lead behind TJ Friedl’s leadoff home run, Elly De La Cruz’s RBI single in the third, and a solo homer from Austin Hays in the sixth—all coming off Padres starter Yu Darvish. The Padres faced a 3-0 deficit before mounting their late comeback.

Pitching Performances

Reds starter Nick Lodolo was impressive, holding the Padres scoreless through five innings while allowing just two hits. The Padres finally broke through after Lodolo exited, capitalizing on a sequence of hits and a walk to produce runs. Yu Darvish lasted 5 2/3 innings for San Diego, giving up three runs on six hits. Wandy Peralta (6-1) earned the win for the Padres by getting the final out in the top of the 10th inning.

Standings Impact

San Diego’s win keeps pressure on the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers while strengthening the Padres’ hold on a National League wild-card spot. The Padres remain one game back of the Dodgers in the division race and are three games ahead of the New York Mets for the second wild-card slot.

Key Stat

Yu Darvish has now allowed at least one home run in each of his last seven starts, an ongoing trend watch for the Padres pitching staff.

Key Moment

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s walk-off sacrifice fly delivered San Diego’s seventh walk-off win of the season and their third in extra innings.

Up Next

The series continues Tuesday night with Reds right-hander Zack Littell (9-8, 3.81 ERA) set to face Padres right-hander Michael King (4-2, 2.81 ERA). King is expected to return from his second stint on the injured list due to left knee inflammation.

In summary

The San Diego Padres rallied from a 3-0 deficit to claim a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in extra innings. Key performances from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill powered the comeback, while the result bolstered San Diego’s NL West and wild-card hopes. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and critical late-game plays defined this intense matchup and set the stage for an exciting continuation of the series.

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