The underachieving San Diego Padres have usually been criticized for his or her lack of fireplace this season. Nevertheless, on Wednesday night time, shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. offered loads with an electrical steal of house in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles.
With the Padres nursing a 4-2 lead within the seventh and two outs, Tatis caught Orioles reliever Cionel Perez napping on the mound. The left-hander centered on outfielder Juan Soto on the dish, and Tatis took benefit, bursting to the plate proper earlier than the pitcher’s windup.
And, maybe most spectacular of all, Tatis swiped house and not using a throw, as by the point Perez realized what was taking place, the Padres’ star had already crossed the plate.
Following the Padres’ 5-2 win over the O’s, Bob Melvin offered a hilarious comparability when speaking with reporters about Tatis’ exploits on the bottom paths.
“I child with him that he is a witch and he rides his broom across the bases,” Melvin mentioned through Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
Based on Francys Romero of MLB.com, Tatis is just the third Padre to steal house, becoming a member of fellow Dominican Republic natives Manuel Margot (2019) and Quilvio Veras (1999).
After lacking all of 2022 with an harm and a suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug coverage, Tatis’ numbers in 2023 have taken successful.
Tatis tallied profession highs in house runs (42) and RBI (97) in 2021, incomes his first All-Star choice. Nevertheless, in 2023, Tatis hasn’t regarded fairly like himself, slashing .270/.325/.473 with 19 house runs and 63 RBI by means of 101 video games.
Maybe Wednesday night time’s theatrics will assist wake him and the Padres up. Regardless of being 5 video games beneath .500 (58-63), the Padres nonetheless have life within the Nationwide League wild card race.
Whereas the Padres stay out of the NL West race, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers (72-46) by 15.5 video games, San Diego is 4 and a half video games again of the Chicago Cubs (62-58) for the ultimate playoff spot within the NL.
If the Padres are to seize one of many three wild card spots, they’re going to must construct off Wednesday’s victory. Following the win, the Padres are solely 6-8 in August, which should enhance if they’ve any hopes of enjoying in October.
