Machado becomes Padres career home run leader, Tatis goes deep as San Diego tops Seattle 7-3

SEATTLE (AP) — Manny Machado hit a two-run homer to become San Diego’s career home runs leader, Fernando Tatis Jr. added a three-run drive and the Padres slugged past the Seattle Mariners 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Machado’s 164th homer in a Padres uniform was a line drive to center field off George Kirby in the sixth inning and gave San Diego a 5-2 lead. Machado watched from home plate as the ball left the bat at nearly 109 mph.

Machado’s homer was his 26th this season and snapped a tie with Nate Colbert atop the Padres list. Machado has 339 career homers among Baltimore, the Dodgers and San Diego.

And he was able to get the ball back, hitting it to a part of the ballpark where no trades were needed.

“Huge, especially in the situation of the game, give us the lead there and give us a nice little cushion,” Machado said. “Definitely a special moment there for sure that I'll never forget.”

While Machado’s homer set a mark, Tatis put San Diego ahead. Tatis sent an opposite-field drive to right for a 3-2 lead with his first long ball since June 20 — prior to a lengthy stint on the injured list due a stress reaction in his right thighbone.

Machado added a two-run single in the seventh inning that clipped the back of pitcher Austin Voth and bounced into center field.

“You have guys that anchor your lineup and he's definitely that guy that anchors it, offensively, defensively,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said.

Yu Darvish threw five innings in his second start since rejoining the Padres. Darvish (5-3) allowed solo home runs to Cal Raleigh and Luke Raley but pitched out of a jam in the third inning after Seattle put the first two runners on. Darvish struck out Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena both looking sandwiched around fly out from Raleigh.

Darvish allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked none. It was his 201st victory combined in Major League Baseball and Japan's big leagues, tying Hideo Nomo for second among Japanese-born pitchers, two behind Hiroki Kuroda.

“Obviously he's a legend,” Darvish said of Nomo. “I feel like I'm not close to him at this point in time. Maybe the numbers are what they are but as far as a pitcher coming from Japan I feel like I'm not even close to him.”

Raleigh’s homer was his 30th this season, putting him in rare company as just the 12th catcher with multiple 30-homer seasons. J.P. Crawford added an RBI single in the seventh, but Jason Adam got Rodríguez to bounce into a double play with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Kirby (11-11) was tagged for five earned runs and has allowed 11 homers in his past seven starts after allowing just two long balls during a span of 12 starts earlier this season.

“It really came down to three pitches that I missed and five runs on the board,” Kirby said. “A team like that I just got to be more fine.”

Xander Bogaerts made his first start of the season at shortstop for the Padres. It’s a familiar position for Bogaerts having started more than 1,300 games in his career at shortstop and provides some clarity in the short-term while the Padres wait for regular shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to return. Kim has not played since Aug. 18 because of right shoulder inflammation.

Right on cue, the first two outs of the bottom of the first both went to Bogaerts — a pop out and a ground ball.

Padres: RHP Michael King (12-8, 3.10) snapped a two-start losing streak allowing one run in six innings in his last outing vs. San Francisco.

Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (7-2, 2.36) has won his past two decisions and allowed two runs over five innings in his last start vs. Oakland.

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San Diego Padres' Manny Machado celebrates at home after hitting a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, center, celebrates with Jurickson Profar, left, after they scored on Machado's two-run home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, right, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh, left, runs the bases after hitting a home run off San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish as second baseman Jake Cronenworth, right, looks on during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) celebrates with, from left, designated hitter Luis Arraez (4) Donovan Solano and Jurickson Profar after hitting a three-run home run the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby, right, looks on as San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. rounds third base after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) celebrates with manager Dan Wilson, center left, and J.P. Crawford (3) after hitting a solo home run off San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates at home after hitting a three-run home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, left, looks on during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado jogs the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. follows through after hitting a three-run home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby to score Donovan Solano and Luis Arraez during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado jogs the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers had hoped that Bryce Young would put an end to their ever-churning quarterback carousel when they selected him No. 1 overall last year.

But two games into his second season, Young has been benched and the Panthers are back to another journeyman quarterback. The 36-year-old Andy Dalton will take over the offense on Sunday when the Panthers (0-2) visit the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I’m really excited for this opportunity,” Dalton said with a big smile. “When I came here, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m excited about what’s ahead. It’s a tough situation. I’ve been on both sides of it and it’s hard for everybody. But for me, I’m looking forward to it.”

This may be Dalton's wish, but it wasn't the Panthers'.

They wanted — in fact, needed — Young to succeed after giving up four draft picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore to move up eight spots in the draft to get him. But Young is 2-16 as an NFL starter with more interceptions than touchdowns and the fan base has grown irritable and apathetic following the constant losing.

No team has a worse record (31-70) than the Panthers since 2018.

It's no coincidence Carolina's struggles began shortly after shoulder and ankle injuries caught up with franchise quarterback Cam Newton in 2016. The Panthers made the playoffs in 2017, but lost in the first round.

They haven't been back since.

And the quarterback issue has been an issue ever since.

The Panthers have tried a number of options along the way, including several reclamation projects.

They signed free-agent Teddy Bridgewater and traded for former top draft picks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Ten different quarterbacks have started for the Panthers since 2018, including Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Will Grier and P.J. Walker.

Dalton, now 36, started a game last year for Carolina as an injury replacement for Young.

The 14-year NFL veteran completed 34 of 58 pass attempts for 361 yards and two touchdowns, but the Panthers lost 37-27 at Seattle. Still, it was the best the offense looked all season.

Now Dalton gets another shot, this time in an offense under new head coach and play caller Dave Canales.

“I think the way we build things and the way we do things if you can get the ball out of your hands and make quick decisions and play with timing and accuracy and anticipation, all that kind of stuff," Dalton said. “There’s a lot of that in this offense.”

Canales said he benched the struggling Young because he felt Dalton “gives us the best chance to win" after Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Frankly, the bar isn't all that high.

The Panthers have been outscored 73-13 this season, including 53-3 in the first half of two games. Dalton is clearly viewed as a stopgap until the Panthers figure out what to do next at the quarterback position.

“After I watched the film, I had a thought in mind. We talked and I had to make the decision that was best for the team,″ Canales said. “I certainly take it personal. This is about building a culture, this is about building a football team that plays to a certain style, and that’s my main focus."

He added, “And above all, it’s to help the Panthers to win. So that’s what the decision was about."

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce didn’t know about the Panthers QB change on Monday until he was told by reporters.

“A veteran quarterback," Pierce said of Dalton. “We just had some meetings, but hmmm, I’ve got to go back to the drawing boards now.”

Dalton was all smiles on Monday.

“I think at this point in my career, I’m just thankful for an opportunity. I didn’t know if I was going to get it again. So, I’m fired up, I’m pumped to get a chance to do what I’ve done my whole career,” Dalton said. “I’ve been in this position before and I am able to have conversations and I think just the experience I’ve had in this league for a long time resonates with a lot of people, when I’m able to say certain things.”

AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sept. 24, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/ John Froschauer, File)