CHICAGO — The Padres took another step toward securing their place in the postseason on Sunday afternoon — and a major step toward solidifying their rotation.
Right-hander Michael King worked five-plus scoreless innings, before the Padres held on for a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Rate Field. San Diego can secure its place in the postseason with two more wins — or one win and a Cincinnati loss.
King’s start marked his best outing since he returned from the injured list earlier this month. He wasn’t quite at his dominant best. But it was a marked improvement on his last start, in which he allowed a career-high eight runs to the Mets at Citi Field.
King struck out four, walked four and allowed four hits on Sunday. He allowed the first three White Sox hitters to reach base in the sixth before Adrian Morejon — probably the most valuable reliever in the Padres’ ‘pen this season — escaped the jam.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his 23rd home run of the season and the 150th of his career, giving the Padres a 3-0 lead in the third — and that run would ultimately prove decisive.
