Story perspectives

Padres beat Yankees 4-3, clinch series in two of three

9/7/2026

Summary

Padres Beat Yankees

The San Diego Padres beat the New York Yankees 4-3, clinching two of three games on September 6, 2026.
Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado each homered off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole in the first inning.
The loss left the Yankees at 81-62, trailing AL East leader Tampa Bay by four games with 19 games remaining.

Summary

Machado Sets Record

Manny Machado recorded his 11th consecutive 25-home-run season, setting a major-league record.
Roberto Ray allowed five runs in 2 1/3 innings, his shortest start in over two years.
Manager Craig Stammen said the Padres will use the bullpen aggressively, like in playoffs.
The Padres bullpen threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings on Saturday without high-leverage relievers.
Stammen highlighted Fernando Tatis Jr.’s defensive plays that removed runs as well as created them.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, the San Diego Padres captured the National League pennant, defeating the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS and advancing to the World Series. That postseason featured Tony Gwynn’s .350 batting average and the team’s 98 regular-season wins, the franchise’s highest total since 1974. Similarly, the 2026 Padres, propelled by Manny Machado’s record-tying 11th straight 25-home-run season, beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on September 6, mirroring past playoff grit. The parallel underscores how sustained power-hitting and clutch bullpen work, hallmarks of the 1998 squad, continue shaping San Diego’s quest for a first title.

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Padres Beat Yankees

The San Diego Padres beat the New York Yankees 4-3, clinching two of three games on September 6, 2026.
Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado each homered off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole in the first inning.
The loss left the Yankees at 81-62, trailing AL East leader Tampa Bay by four games with 19 games remaining.

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