Tatis, Cease go deep in Padres’ 5-1 win over Royals
Fernando Tatis, Jr. went deep for a 3-run shot in the Padres 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals. Dylan Cease pitched deep into the seventh inning for his fourth quality start of the season. (MLB.com)
Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Dylan Cease both went deep in the San Diego Padres’ 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on June 21.
Standing at the plate with two on in the seventh inning, Tatis turned on a low and inside sinker and sent it deep into the left field seats. The hit was measured at 107.9 mph off the bat. More importantly, it was a sign of life from a struggling superstar in a month-plus slump.
Turned on and DEMOLISHED!
Fernando Tatis Jr. belts this 3-run homer 107.9 MPH 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/2WtPjPcBtA
— MLB (@MLB) June 22, 2025
Tatis found the swagger he had been missing. Immediately after making contact, he leaned back in the batter’s box and watch the ball soar. It was just the second home run with runners on for the Padres at Petco Park this season.
Cease goes deep into seventh
Cease made his 17th start of the season for the Padres. He relied mostly on his fastball and slider, keeping the Royals to just one run over 6.2 innings. His fastball sat at around 97 mph and topped out at 99. He was hitting 98 well into the sixth inning.
Cease allowed three hits, struck out four ,and walked three. Kansas City’s one run off Cease came in the third inning, via an RBI-double by John Rave. The Royals threatened for more in the inning by putting runners at second and third. Cease got Vinny Pasquantino to ground out to second and end the threat.
Cease completed his fourth quality start of the season. Pitching deep into the seventh was much needed for the Padres. Entering the game, the bullpen had pitched 278 innings on the season. The season hasn’t yet reached the All-Star break.
Cease induced 19 whiffs in his 6.2 innings of work. He brought his ERA down to 4.43 and picked up his third win of the season.
A well deserved standing ovation for Dylan Cease, who allows just one run in 6.2 innings against the Royals.
Padres lead 2-1. pic.twitter.com/q8skPgfc4w
— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) June 22, 2025
Gavin Sheets continues to be the team’s most consistent hitter. He roped a double in the second inning, 100.8 mph off the bat, into left field. He later scored on a fielder’s choice RBI by Jake Cronenworth for the game’s first run.
Luis Arraez broke a 1-1 tie in the third with an RBI-single that scored Martin Maldonado from second. The Padres finished the game with eight hits. Cronenworth and Manny Machado were the only two players not to record a hit.
The Padres will go for the series win on June 22. Randy Vasquez goes on the bump, opposite of former Padre Seth Lugo. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.