ARLINGTON, Texas – Fernando Tatis Jr.’s first grand slam gave the 21-year-old the first-class lead in a home game over Mike Trout and a career-high seven RBIs.
Jayce Tingler was less than happy when the budding star returned to the dugout, especially since it was the homecoming of Texas for the first year San Diego manager.
Tatis missed a take sign and swung on a 3-0 pitch with a seven-run lead in the eighth inning, and his second homer of the game ended the score for the Padres in their 14-4 victory over the Rangers on Monday night.
While Tatis said his manager congratulated him on his 11th homer, which put him one ahead of Trout, Tingler was quick to point out that he missed a take sign.
“He’s young, a free-spirited and straightforward and all that stuff,” Tingler said. That’s the last thing we’ll ever take. It’s a learning opportunity and that’s it. He will grow out of it. “
It stank a little more for Tingler, as it was the first trip of the year manager as manager to his baseball house the previous 13 years, including the last on the staff of then-rookie Rangers skipper Chris Woodward in 2019.
“Just so you know, a lot of our boys have a 3-0 green light,” Tingler said. But in this game we had a slightly comfortable lead in particular. We are not trying to increase the score or anything like that. “
The Rangers showed their displeasure by throwing the next pitch behind slugger Manny Machado. It was Ian Gibaut’s first pitch that replaced Juan Nicasio’s.
“I personally did not like it,” Woodward said. “But like I said, the norms are challenged on a daily basis. So just because I don’t like it, does not mean it’s not good. I do not think we like it as a group.”
Tatis, whose three-run homer in the seventh put the Padres up 10-3, said he got the message.
“I’ve been in this game since I was a kid,” he said. “I know a lot of unwritten rules. I was a bit lost here. Those experiences, you have to learn. I’ll probably take a pitch next time.”
The first homer was pulled into the San Diego bullpen in left-center field on the hardest hit of the season for Tatis at 113 mph, according to Statcast. The slam was to the opposite field and tasted a fan nut in the fourth row.
“They were both pretty impressive,” Tingler said.
Austin Hedges tied on his second homer, a solo shot in the fourth, as the Padres set their season high for runes.
BIG INNING
Jurickson Profar had a two-run duel in a second run of five runs. Jake Cronenworth, Josh Naylor and Trent Grisham had the other RBI hits in the second against Jordan Lyles, a pick-free agent who has an 8.35 ERA in four Texas starts. Lyles (1-2) gave up seven hits and seven runs, six earned, in four innings.
SOLID DAVIES
Zach Davies (3-2) allowed three runs with six strikeouts in plus-innings in the first of two games in Texas before the teams went to California to pair up all four meetings in this pandemic-shortened season .
Rougned Odor ended Davies’ shutout bid in the fourth with a two-run duel, and Joey Gallo added an RBI double in the sixth.
RARE AIR
The last seven-RBI game for San Diego was from Hunter Renfroe almost four years ago. And those are the only two games with at least seven RBIs since 2007 for the Padres.
WASH, RINSE, REPEAT
The Rangers gave up five runs in the second inning for the second consecutive game. They lost Sunday 10-6 to Colorado. Texas has lost three of its past 10 games, but has given up at least 10 runs in all three losses.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: LF / DH Tommy Pham could be out for a broken left hand four to six weeks after surgery. He left Sunday’s game in Arizona in the ninth inning. Pham was placed on the 10-day injured list along with C Francisco Mejia, who has to deal with an injured left thumb. The Padres recall striker Ty France and C Luis Torrens.
FOLLOWING
LHP Mike Minor (0-3, 5.49 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rangers after being pulled from his most recent start to four scoreless innings, and encountered problems with his speed the exit for it. Minor will work on six days rest and says he is sure he will not have to get out of the game again. LHP Adrian Morejon (0-0, 10.13) will start for San Diego.
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