Giants need win, help to reach playoffs after loss to Padres

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his 17th home run and the San Diego Padres beat San Francisco 6-2 on Saturday night, leaving the Giants in need of help to make the playoffs.

San Francisco fell to 29-30 and is tied with Milwaukee for the final NL playoff spot. The Brewers hold the tiebreaker, which means the Giants need to beat San Diego on Sunday and Milwaukee needs to lose to St. Louis for San Francisco to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Giants could also get in if the Brewers win and the Cardinals (29-28) then lose both games against Detroit on Monday.

''There's real frustration ... and rightfully so,'' Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. ''We know we had a chance to win today's game and we had a chance to win last night's game and we didn't get it done. That's super frustrating. We're better than that. At the same time we don't have much time. We have to come back tomorrow, get prepared for tomorrow's game and win.''

Tommy Pham and Mitch Moreland also went deep for the playoff-bound Padres, who are 7-2 against the Giants this season.

''I feel pretty good, especially with the ways the guys are just all around,'' San Diego manager Jayce Tingler said. ''Obviously winning helps, but we're doing it with a big body of work. You saw several pitchers throw the ball really well. Just a team effort up and down the lineup. A lot of production from a lot of guys and that's what we've done the majority of the season.''

Tatis homered on the first pitch in the fourth from Johnny Cueto (2-3), a 424-foot drive into the left field stands. Tatis hit a 458-foot blast on Friday night, the second longest of his career.

''His work's been good,'' Tingler said. ''He had an impressive BP today and then carried that into the game, which is great.''

Pham and Moreland homered on back-to-back pitches from Tony Watson in the ninth.

Brandon Belt had two hits and an RBI for the Giants.

San Francisco scored twice in the eighth after loading the bases, but Dan Altavilla got Evan Longoria to strike out swinging with two on to end the inning.

After the game, Cueto noted that the Giants clubhouse was quiet but that was normal.

''We just have to keep our head up and try to win tomorrow,'' Cueto said.

Craig Stammen (4-2) worked two scoreless innings in relief of starter Zach Davies, who allowed three hits in three innings.

The third hit allowed by Davies was bizarre. With one out in the third, Mike Yastrzemski hit a high popup in front of the plate and Davies walked slowly off the mound as the ball was in the air. No one appeared to call for the ball as it dropped between four Padres.

Cueto allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings and is winless in his last three starts.

''I think tomorrow will be all hands on deck,'' Kapler said. ''These guys will sacrifice. We've got good options to try to win tomorrow's baseball game.''

HEADS UP, JOHNNY

Cueto dropped to the mound after he appeared to get hit in the head by a ball thrown back by catcher Tyler Heineman in the sixth. Cueto struck out Manny Machado and turned his back when Heineman's throw grazed the pitcher's dreadlocks hanging from beneath his cap. Cueto went down and was on the ground for a few moments but stayed in the game.

GIANTS RELEASE SAMARDZIJA

San Francisco released veteran right-hander Jeff Samardzija, a day after he returned from a lengthy shoulder injury and rehab. The 35-year-old pitcher signed a $90 million, five-year contract with San Francisco in December 2015 but spent much of his Giants tenure sidelined by injuries. Samardzija said he plans to pitch in 2021.

EX-GIANT PENCE RETIRES

Four-time All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence announced his retirement Saturday following 14 major league seasons. The 37-year-old Pence posted on Twitter: ''Nothing can really prepare you for this part of your career when you have to say: I am retiring from baseball. Forever thankful and Gr8ful.'' A career .279 hitter, Pence had 244 home runs and 942 RBIs playing for Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Texas. The Giants released him last month.

YAZ AND WILLIE MAC

Yastrzemski was presented with the 2020 Willie Mac Award before the game. The annual award, named after Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, is given to the team's most inspirational player following a vote of Giants players, coaches, training staff and fans.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: Tingler said RHP Dinelson Lamet, who came out of Friday's game with biceps tightness, was feeling better and the team was encouraged that he would be able to start the wild-card series opener Wednesday night at Petco Park. ''That would be ideal. We've still got a ways to go there but that's kind of where everybody's heads are at right now,'' Tingler said. ... The manager said RHP Mike Clevinger, who has an elbow impingement, played catch Saturday and the feedback was positive. The team isn't sure when he'll be ready to start. Clevinger came out of Wednesday's start after just one inning and received a cortisone shot on Friday.

Giants: RHP Sam Coonrod was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. RHP Rico Garcia was recalled from the alternate training site.

UP NEXT

San Diego's Adrian Morejon (2-2, 4.86) pitches in Sunday's finale against San Francisco's Drew Smyly (0-0, 3.38) in a matchup of lefties. Morejon is winless since getting the decision in relief against the Giants on Sept. 10. Smyly is winless in four starts this season.

--

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports