SAN DIEGO —Fernando Tatis Jr. starred in one of the most impactful defensive plays of the season by robbing a home run and later, Elías Díaz sealed the victory for the San Diego Padres with a hit to left field in the ninth inning, leaving the New York Mets stranded, 7-6.
The duel, marked by a series of offensive and defensive ups and downs, came alive in the fifth inning, when both teams combined to score nine runs. In the top of that inning, Mark Vientos seemed to be leading the Mets with a hit that carried a home run label through right field, but Tatis Jr. rose majestically above the fence and brought the ball back, preventing two runs and keeping the Padres in the game.
“It was one of the best games of the year,” Tatis commented after the victory. “I got to the wall, slowed down a bit and then jumped with everything I had. It was a blessing.”
Immediate Response
Vientos didn’t take long to get his revenge. In the next at-bat, he hit a grand slam that left the right fielder with no options, giving the Mets a 5-1 lead. However, the Padres didn’t give up. They responded with five runs in the bottom half, including another key hit by Tatis, who also shone defensively with a sliding catch to take a hit away from Ronny Mauricio.
Already in the ninth, Mauricio tied the game with a home run against closer Robert Suárez, but in the bottom half, with two outs and runners in scoring position, Díaz faced Dominican left-hander Gregory Soto and hit the decisive hit that ended the duel.
Tatis, protagonist again
Since his transition to right fielder in 2023, Tatis has turned spectacular plays into routine. His catch on Monday was his eighth of the season with Outs Above Average (OAA), according to Statcast, and reinforces his candidacy for another Platinum Glove, which he already won in 2023.
“Stealing home runs is something I really enjoy,” Tatis said. “It’s rare, it’s difficult, and that makes it even more special.”
The duel, marked by a series of offensive and defensive ups and downs, came alive in the fifth inning, when both teams combined to score nine runs. In the top of that inning, Mark Vientos seemed to be leading the Mets with a hit that carried a home run label through right field, but Tatis Jr. rose majestically above the fence and brought the ball back, preventing two runs and keeping the Padres in the game.
