Tatis, Jr.

I have followed the Padres, my hometown ballclub, for 26 years. They have made the World Series once in that period, 1998, the last year in which they won a postseason game in San Diego

The last two nights they did some remarkable work. Both victories were ignited by the play of a 21 year old almost rookie, Fernando Tatis, Jr. They can now move on to the next series having won two of three against the Cards.

We were behind the St Louis Cards by four runs, late in the game Thursday. They hadn’t given up a lead like that all year. Fernando stepped to the plate with two on and sliced away three runs of the four run lead with a shot into the stands. His buddy on the left side of the infield, Manny Machado, then tied the game with another homer. Within the next few innings Tatis hit another homer and Wil Myers hit two homers. Game Padres. No two teamates had ever matched the Myers-Tatis posteason feat except two notables in the 1932 series, Ruth and Gehrig.

Last night, since their two best starters were absent from the lineup with injury, the Pads brought in nine pitchers. They pitched a shutout, a feat not accomplished by nine pitchers since 1901.

The opposing pitcher, Jack Flaherty, had pitched a brilliant shutout until Tatis ripped a double into left field. Eric Hosmer doubled him in. They scored again later but that was all they needed, ignited by their rock star, Fernando Tatis, Jr.

If you haven’t seen him play, follow the Dodger-Padre playoff series next week in Arlington. If you have seen him, you know of what I speak.