The Padres got a win before they lost Tuesday night.

If not for the return of the pitcher who started opening day for the Padres and was arguably their best pitcher a year ago, a loss would simply be a loss at this point in the season for a team in a playoff race.

But even before Tyler Stephenson’s two-run homer off Robert Suarez broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning and held as the decisive hit in a 4-2 Reds victory, something happened that practically rendered the final score a footnote.

Michael King was back on the mound for the Padres, and he was every bit as good as could be expected.

And there is no way to downplay how big a win it is that King would be healthy for the Padres as they approach October.

The right-hander, who was sidelined 10 starts into the season with a nerv

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