Padres Rally to Beat Rays in Ninth After Letting Three-Run Lead Get Away

Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres delivers a decisive ninth-inning sacrifice fly against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sept. 1, 2024. Chris O'Meara/AP Photo

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Xander Bogaerts hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4–3 on Sunday after squandering a three-run lead.

“We don’t like to give up leads,” Padres Manager Mike Shildt said. “It’s not very common for us. [But when] we do get in a position where we need to fight back, we do.”