Manny Machado sparks big inning in Padres’ win over Giants

Manny Machado’s two-run double highlighted a six-run fifth inning Thursday afternoon for the host San Diego Padres, who overcame an early deficit to beat the San Francisco Giants 8-4 in the finale of a four-game series between the National League West rivals.
Machado also had an RBI single in the fourth to begin the comeback from a 2-0 deficit for the Padres, who won the final three games of the series. They are one game behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers heading into this weekend’s three-game series between the teams in San Diego.
Rafael Devers and Willy Adames hit back-to-back homers in the sixth for the Giants, who fell to 9-22 since the All-Star Break. Andrew Knizner (RBI double) and Heliot Ramos (run-scoring double play) staked San Francisco to a first-inning lead.
Giants starter Justin Verlander (1-10) retired the first nine batters he faced before giving up three straight hits to start the fourth, when Machado capped the opening outburst with his RBI hit. Xander Bogaerts lofted a sacrifice fly two batters later to tie the game.
The Padres sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth, when Ramon Laureano singled and Jake Cronenworth walked before both raced home after third baseman Casey Schmitt overthrew first base on Freddy Fermin’s bunt single. Bogaerts and Laureano added RBI singles later in the inning.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez each had two hits for the Padres.
Dylan Cease (6-11) exited after giving up the homers by Devers and Adames to start the sixth. He allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Verlander gave up seven runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA in five starts since earning his lone win July 23.
Luis Matos finished with two hits for the Giants.