Offense roars to life as Tatis and Padres defeat Rangers 14-4
Credit: Fox Sports
During their five-game losing streak, the San Diego Padres scored a combined thirteen runs.
It took one game for the San Diego Padres to surpass that game.
The Padres snapped their five-game winning streak dramatically, as two home runs by Fernando Tatis Jr. spearheaded a 14-4 win against the Texas Rangers.
Getting the start for the Rangers was former Padre Jordan Lyles, who nearly threw San Diego’s first perfect game against the Colorado Rockies on May 15, 2018.
His performance on Monday was far from perfection.
After a 1-2-3 first inning, Lyles walked Eric Hosmer to open the second inning and subsequently opened the floodgates for the Padres offense.
After a Ty France single, a Jake Cronenworth double scored Hosmer for the first run. Jurickson Profar and Josh Naylor followed with an RBI double and single, respectively. Trent Grisham’s RBI single capped off a five-run second inning, and, all of a sudden, San Diego led 5-0.
OH YEAH @JURICKSONPROFAR!!!
The @Padres put up a crooked number in the top of the 2nd inning thanks to this 2 RBI double by Profar!#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/qLK6VSHeB4
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 18, 2020
An impressive offensive performance was coupled with an equally impressive pitching performance courtesy of Zach Davies. The right-hander cruised in his fifth start of the season as he kept the Rangers off-balance not with velocity, but with precise command and a changeup that got more than one awkward swing out of the Rangers’ hitters.
Davies navigated some choppy waters in the fourth inning after issuing a two-out walk to Joey Gallo and a base hit to Nick Solak. Rougned Odor wasted no time, jumping on the first pitch to drive both runners home before Davies got Derek Dietrich to strikeout.
San Diego had to sweat out a tense sixth inning after Davies exited the game, handing the game off to a bullpen that has been… less than stellar, to say the least.
Relieving Davies, Pierce Johnson walked the first batter he saw, bringing up Gallo. Johnson’s 0-2 curveball caught too much plate, and Gallo thanked him by lining it over Grisham’s head for an RBI double.
One out later and with two left-handed batters scheduled to appear, the baton was passed to Matt Strahm. The former starter fetched two quick outs, allowing Jayce Tingler to breathe a deep sigh of relief.
From this point, this game was no longer about just the Padres. It was time for the Fernando Tatis Jr. Show along with his special guests: seven RBIs with two swings of the bat.
With two runners on in the seventh inning, Tatis roped a Jesse Chavez sinker 112.6 MPH to left-center field to give San Diego a 10-3 lead. The launch angle? 17 degrees. For those not in the know, that is a very low number for a home run.
One inning later and Texas hadn’t learned their lesson. A wild Juan Nicasio who caught a temporary case of the yips allowed a leadoff single and two walks to bring up Tatis, who was tied for the Major League lead in home runs with Mike Trout.
On a 3-0 count, Nicasio made the mistake of throwing Tatis a fastball in his wheelhouse on the assumption the 21-year-old wouldn’t swing.
FERNANDO TATIS JR. GRAND SLAM!!!!!!!!!
That gives him the @MLB home run lead!@Padres | @tatis_jr | #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/KiB72YXcMl
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 18, 2020
It was the last mistake Nicasio made in the game. Tatis redirected the pitch to right field at 109.8 MPH for all of the following: his first career grand slam, the Major League lead in home runs at 11, the hardest-hit opposite-field home run so far this season (according to Statcast) and a shiny 14-3 lead.
Luis Perdomo pitched the final two innings, allowing a run while striking out one and walking three.
I am currently attending San Diego State University while working on achieving a major in journalism. At SDSU, I write for The Daily Aztec while also hosting the sports radio show “Picked Off”, for KCR Radio. A loyal fan of San Diego sports, I hope to bring content that you will enjoy reading.