This was the laugher the Padres needed.

A string of uninspired offensive performances had prompted their manager to declare they needed to enjoy themselves more after Friday night’s loss to the worst team in the major leagues.

On Saturday, the Padres had the kind of game that lifts spirits.

Home runs by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill contributed to a flood of early runs, as the Padres scored in each of the first four innings before cruising to an 11-3 victory over the Rockies.

The victory allowed them to gain a game on the team directly in front of them in the National League wild-card race and would at least keep them where they were in relation to the NL West lead. They hold the fifth of six NL playoff spots, 3½ games behind the Cubs, who lost earlier in the da

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