# Padres Shut Out Astros to Win the Series
The San Diego Padres continued their impressive run by shutting out the Houston Astros 4-0 this afternoon at Petco Park. The victory was marked by an outstanding performance from starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who kept the Astros hitless until the sixth inning.
Cease nearly went the distance, pitching 8.1 innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out five batters. The Padres’ offense made the difference with home runs, starting with Manny Machado’s solo shot in the sixth inning to put the Padres on the board 1-0.
The home run parade continued in the eighth inning with three consecutive homers – Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado again, and Donovan Solano sealed the 4-0 victory. Tatis, who hit his 19th home run of the season, shared his excitement about being part of the moment, saying, “It was definitely something special to be part of that. It was a beautiful moment I enjoyed with my teammates, and hopefully, there’s more to come.”
With a record of 87-66, the Padres hold the top wild card spot, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets by 2.5 games. The Padres will take a break on Thursday and return to action on Friday, September 20, when they host the Chicago White Sox. Joe Musgrove is scheduled to pitch for San Diego, while Garrett Crochet will take the mound for Chicago.
## Additional News: Yankees and Rangers Go Head-to-Head in Crucial Series
In a pivotal matchup, the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are set to clash in a series that could significantly impact the playoff race. Both teams are battling for wild card spots in their respective leagues, making every game critical.
The Yankees come into the series with a 79-74 record, while the Rangers are at 81-72. New York will rely on ace Gerrit Cole to set the tone in the first game, with Texas countering with their own star pitcher, Jon Gray.
The series promises high tension and excitement, as both teams are determined to secure their postseason berths. Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized the importance of these games: “Every game is a must-win for us at this point. We need to be at our best and take it one game at a time.”
Keep following TJGringo.com for the latest updates and recaps on this thrilling series and more MLB action.