Tatis puts on a show but Padres falter late to Nationals, 7-5
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The Padres returned home after a long, wet road trip to Cincinnati and Philadelphia. They welcomed the Washington Nationals into town, who had lost four straight.
Joe Musgrove took the mound for San Diego, making his 17th appearance of the season. Opposite of Musgrove was five-time All-Star Jon Lester.
Musgrove was greeted by Trea Turner, who launched a solo homer in the top of the first inning. Things got worse in the second when the Nationals made him labor through several baserunners before Lester himself drove in a run with a bloop single. That got the scoring going in the second as the Nationals put up four runs in the frame thanks to one walk and four timely hits as well as a sacrifice fly by Juan Soto.
On the other end, the Friars had trouble getting anything going against Lester. He eventually helped the Padres out by plunking Trent Grisham in the arm with the bases loaded, forcing home their first run. Ha-Seong Kim then lined a double down the left-field line to score two, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
Fernando Tatis Jr. then shaved the deficit to just one with a screaming line drive home run into left, his 27th of the season. Jake Cronenworth then doubled and scored on a double by Wil Myers, tying the game at five in the fourth.
It was there and then it was GONE!!!
27th HR of the year🔥#HungryForMore l @Padres l @tatis_jr pic.twitter.com/t2rIvbJe0G
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) July 6, 2021
The homer was the hardest-hit ball of his young career at 116.0 mph.
Musgrove battled through five innings, not allowing another run after the second. He finished with five earned runs, four strikeouts, one walk. “The first two (innings) he was fighting, battling. He wasn’t as sharp and had to work through those innings. Luckily, he found it, and innings three, four, and five were good. We were able to get back in the game. He did a great job of competing,” manager Jayce Tingler said of his starting pitcher.
The two sides traded scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth. Josh Bell broke the scoreless tie with his 12th homer of the season, off of Tim Hill. Washington would add on in the top of the eighth after doubles by Victor Robles and Alcides Escobar, making it 7-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Between the two baggers, Tatis made one of the best plays you will see a shortstop make.
TATIS!
Are you kidding?! pic.twitter.com/x4vxBQOH0R
— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2021
San Diego was unable to mount a second comeback of the night. Washington’s bullpen was stronger than the Padres’ on Monday night, and it got them the victory. Brad Hand, the former All-Star for the Padres, shut the door in the bottom of the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning to seal the win for Washington.
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The Padres will try and even the series on Tuesday at 7:10 pm PDT with Ryan Weathers taking the hill.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.