SAN DIEGO – The only thing missing is pitching.
power? Tatis led the game with a single home run, his 11th career home run. to hit? He doubled up and worked on foot. Speed? He stole two bases. defense? He hit an excellent slide catch in right field and was rock solid otherwise.
Well, the Padres led by five runs, and no one was going to test Tatis. right?
The thing is, Amed Rosario didn’t really test Tatis. He just rounded first base very aggressively. Tatis started a throw towards second. Then, halfway through the completion, he saw Rosario drop back to the first strike and tweak and take it down. Rosario came out. Tatís bowed to the fans in right field, who sang him chants of “MVP!”
“This is the first match where I feel like I put everything into one match,” Tatis said. “There are things you can’t control. But I’m just grateful that it happened.”
The first time he put everything into one game? Try the first time anyone Do it all in one game like this. The bottom line of Tatis is absolutely ridiculous. It is also unprecedented. He hit three extra base hits, scored two runs, stole two bases, worked a walk and capped it off with an outfield assist.
Tatis is the first AL/NL player in the modern era (since 1901) with this streak. He joins Tony Gwynn as the only player in franchise history to hit a homer, steal two bases, and record an outfield pass in the same game.
“We have players who can carry the team on their own,” said Padres designated hitter Nelson Cruz. “Today was a great example, watching Tatis do all the things he does. Today he went through all the tools.”
In fact, the Padres have several superstars who are capable of holding their own on offense. They simply didn’t get these superstars clicking at the same time. Until now, that is.
Tatese went deep in the first. Manny Machado followed suit in third place. Juan Soto did so in the sixth. The night was 10 months in the making. When Soto arrived in San Diego the previous August, he famously wished “other pitchers good luck.” Wednesday night was the first time the three went deep into Petco Park.
“If we can do it, we have no limits,” said Tates. “This team is very talented. Everyone knows that. We know that. It’s a matter of coming together.”
Michael Wacha pitched 6 innings 2/3 without a score, and the bullpen was excellent, as always. These two lines have become the norm. But what if the Padres could really have their big bats at the same time?
“That would be a lot of fun,” Soto said. “We’re getting there.”
Soto has looked like the summit of Soto for over a month now. Machado, since returning from the injured list nearly two weeks ago, has rediscovered himself. Xander Bogaerts batted . 412 since returning from his wrist injury over the weekend.
But no one in the entire sport has been hotter than Tatise lately. Since the beginning of June, he has chipped a ridiculous .417/.491/.896 with five homers and five steals.
“He’s turning out pretty good,” manager Bob Melvin said with a wry smile, offering the year’s best tribute.
Upon his return in mid-April from a PED suspension, Tatis wasn’t the same old one. He wasn’t wreaking his usual havoc on the bases, nor was he flaunting his elite blend of strength and athleticism.
But make no mistake, he worked for all of it. work hard. On the surface, Tatis’ transition to right field feels like a smooth one. Heck, he was already in the Gold Glove conversation at a position he didn’t really play before this season.
Behind the scenes, it wasn’t that simple. At times in spring training, his defense wasn’t pretty. The skeptics were heard by Tatiz.
“You just fed me,” said Tatis. “She gave me more gas. Whatever she wanted to put her in, I feel like she made me better.”
Tatis’ 10 defensive tackles are the most among major league players with Kevin Kiermaier – one of the best defensemen of this generation. It cuts .283/.341/.561 with ten steals. He sets the tone at the top of the line-up for a team that suddenly looked rejuvenated, having won five out of six.
“It’s amazing, especially here at home in front of our fans,” Tatis said. “This is what I am capable of.”
able to have nights like this – a night that literally no one else has had.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”
