SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs and drove in five to boost the San Diego Padres to an 11-9 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night that forced a deciding Game 3 in their NL wild-card series. Tatis’ father played for the Cardinals for three seasons during his 11-season big league career.
Wil Myers also homered twice and Manny Machado connected.
The Padres are the first team in postseason history with five home runs from the sixth inning onward in a game.
It was the 23rd comeback win of 2020 for the famously close-knit Padres.
Game 3 will be Friday, and both staffs figure to be strapped after the clubs combined to use 17 pitchers. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright allowed two runs and six hits before being chased after 3 1/3 innings.
RHP Jack Flaherty (4-3, 4.91 ERA regular season) is scheduled to start Game 3 Friday. The Dodgers finished off the Brewers Thursday night, so the Cardinals Padres game is now scheduled for a 6:08 start Friday.