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Luis Castillo allowed just one hit over six innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed to pick up a win over the Marlins on Saturday.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first career walkoff homer against Kenley Jansen in the bottom of the ninth as the Padres beat the Angels 6-4 on Tuesday.
The 430-foot homer, which also played Elias Díaz, was Tatis’s 11th of the season. Tatis also walked and scored in the Padres’ two-run rally that tied the game in the eighth. His 11th homer puts him in a tie for eighth in the majors. He’s also eighth with his .963 OPS.
Dylan Cease fanned 10 while allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings Tuesday against the Angels.
Cease was pulled with a 2-1 lead after walking a batter with two outs in the seventh and then watched as the Angels went on to score three runs in the frame. It left him with his sixth no-decision in nine starts. Still, he set a season-high for strikeouts for the second straight outing. He has a 3.06 ERA and a 40/12 K/BB while going 0-1 in his last six starts.
José Soriano limited the Padres to a pair of unearned runs over seven innings in a no-decision Tuesday.
Both runs came in the fifth inning, which featured errors by Jo Adell and Logan O’Hoppe. Neither of those technically cost the Angels an out, but they allowed runners to advance, and the second run scored on a squeeze bunt from Martín Maldonado. It was Soriano’s sixth straight start without a win, and he remains 2-4 with a 3.46 ERA. He’ll pitch in Sacramento next time out.
Kenley Jansen took a loss after giving up a two-run homer in a tie game Tuesday against the Padres.
The struggling Jansen walked Elias Díaz and then gave up a game-ending homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. He’s still a perfect 7-for-7 in save chances this season, but he’s given up four homers and eight runs this month. That said, his closing gig is probably safe until he blows at least one save. It’s not like the Angels have anyone else they want to take over with Ben Joyce on the IL.
Matthew Lugo hit a two-run homer in his lone at-bat off the bench Tuesday against the Padres.
Lugo hit for Kyren Paris in the seventh and then stayed in to play center afterwards. If the Angels actually trust him in center, then there wouldn’t be any harm in giving him a look as a starter for a spell. After all, Paris is currently seven for his last 70 at the plate.
Aaron Gordon had a quiet night, finishing with 13 points (6-of-13 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one three-pointer in the Nuggets’ loss to the Thunder on Tuesday.
Gordon was mostly held in check on the offensive end, finishing with his fewest three-point makes of the series, the second-lowest scoring output, and no production from the free throw line. While Gordon has made several big plays down the stretch of games this postseason, he was notably quiet in Game 5, making his line feel even less spectacular. He’s performed well in Denver’s two home games this series and will need to empty the tank on Thursday in Game 6 to help the Nuggets keep their season alive.