Fernando Tatis Jr.'s shot into the left field seats sent Petco Park into chaos.
The Padres slugger sent a 94 mph fastball from Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shover into the second deck of the left field seats on Tuesday, resulting in San Diego's first two runs of the game and his first home run of the 2024 MLB Playoffs. Ta. 4-0 San Diego victory.
The sold-out crowd roared as the ball flew off Tatis' bat, and the right fielder applauded it and jumped excitedly down the first base line.
“He sends a high, deep one to left. He's watching, and 44,000 other people are watching, too!” play-by-play announcer Carl Labecque said on ESPN's Home Run Call. “Oh, what a great start for the Padres when Tatis leaves the building. And this place is up. Padres leading 2-0.”
The Padres added a third run in the bottom of the second inning when former Yankees forward Kyle Higashioka hit a sac fly to center field, pushing the base runner to home plate, and added a fourth run in the eighth inning with a backstop home run.
Former Yankees Michael King pitched for the Padres, striking out 12 in seven innings.
The Braves were playing the first game of their wild-card series on Monday after a thrilling doubleheader against the Mets, with both teams needing to win one game to advance to the postseason.
The Mets played the Brewers early Tuesday and won 8-4.
Joe Musgrove is expected to start in Game 2 against Max Fried of the Padres.
