Machado slugs two HRs -- including a slam -- as he gears up for Classic

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Manny Machado looks ready for the World Baseball Classic.

The Padres’ star third baseman slugged his first two home runs of the spring in an 11-10 loss to the Reds on Thursday, including a booming 422-foot grand slam off the batter’s eye at Goodyear Ballpark.

Machado is slated to play one more game on Friday before he leaves to join Team Dominican Republic ahead of the World Baseball Classic. It’ll be the third WBC for Machado, who also competed with the Dominican Republic in 2017 and ‘23.

“It’s going to be fun, man,” Machado said. “We’ve got a bunch of superstars that are going to go out there and compete and play for our country. There’s no better event, to go out there and put on that uniform, represent your country. A lot of fans support us. To go out there and do it for them, it’s special.”

Machado will be joined by Padres teammates Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wandy Peralta on Team Dominican Republic. It will be Tatis’ first World Baseball Classic, after he missed the 2023 edition while serving his suspension for a positive PED test.

Friday’s game against the Rockies marks the final Cactus League game for both Machado and Tatis before they leave to join Team D.R., which plays a two-game exhibition series against the Tigers in Santo Domingo on March 3 and 4.

The Padres’ other World Baseball Classic-bound players are slated to leave early next week -- Xander Bogaerts (Netherlands), Mason Miller (USA) and Ron Marinaccio and Alek Jacob (Italy).

“It’s an exciting time for them,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “It’s a tournament, and getting to play for your country -- it’s something that you can’t really replicate here in Spring Training.”

With such an early departure from Padres camp, Machado has insisted on taking a few extra at-bats early this spring -- which was part of the reason he was still in Thursday’s game taking his fourth plate appearance in the sixth inning. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and San Diego trailing, 9-5.

Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft hung a slider, and Machado demolished it for a game-tying grand slam, halfway up the batter’s eye. In his first at-bat, Machado also tied the game, with a two-run shot into the left-center-field bullpen.

“Body feels good,” Machado said. “That’s the most important thing. … Just continuing to get at-bats.”

Machado, who entered the game hitless in seven plate appearances, finished 2-for-3 with a walk and six RBIs.

“He’s been working with his swing a little bit, getting in the right spot,” Stammen said. “Today it clicked.”