Day after scary HBP, Tatis' speed the X-factor for Padres

PITTSBURGH -- Baseball is known for being a rollercoaster of emotions. However, most players haven't had to cycle through the game’s highest-highs and lowest-lows as quickly as Fernando Tatis Jr. has over the past 24 hours.

Just a day after exiting the series-opener against Pittsburgh in the third inning after getting drilled on the left forearm by a 93.3 mph sinker that left him unsure if he would play again this season, the outfielder willed his team to a 2-1 victory on the road Saturday night at PNC Park.

After weather delayed the start of the game by 1 hour and 42 minutes, the Padres offense came out sluggish, tallying just a pair of hits through eight innings. Still, the team found itself tied against Pittsburgh with an opportunity to steal the game late.

Stepping in against closer David Bednar, Tatis drove an 0-2 splitter past the dive of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Initially, the base hit seemed like a great way to start off the ninth inning. Yet, the outfielder had much bigger ideas.

Recognizing that left fielder Alexander Canario was shaded a bit too far to center field, Tatis had his mind set on extra-bases the moment the ball left the infield and he slid safely into second base. After Luis Arraez grounded out to third, Tatis stole third base (the 100th stolen base of his career) to put the tying run 90 feet away with only one out.

Following a Manny Machado strikeout a few pitches later, Tatis decided to put the game in his hands.

Bednar’s first pitch to Xander Bogaerts, a curveball in the dirt, skipped away momentarily from catcher Joey Bart. Despite the ball rolling away just a couple feet from Bart, Tatis broke for home and slid in safely ahead of the tag for the go-ahead run.

“As a baserunner, you choose your pick and tells,” Tatis said. “I knew [Bednar] has a big curveball and also a sharp split, so I had that in the back of my mind and I was just waiting for my opportunity.

“Small details, at the end of the game, it really matters,” Tatis said.

Less than 24 hours earlier, he didn't know if he would play the rest of the season. But after waking up without any pain in the forearm and with his usual grip strength, Tatis knew he was good to go.

“When I got hit yesterday, I thought I was probably out for the season,” Tatis said. “You see a ball just go into your forearm, it ain't fun. But shoutout to the training staff, doing a great job keeping me on the field and finding a way [not to make] excuses and just execute.”

“All by himself,” Machado said. “He’s impressive, man. What he’s been doing this year has been very impressive to watch. It’s been a pleasure playing behind him and hitting behind him and seeing him grow as a player.”

It was a play that the Padres work on frequently. Still, Padres manager Mike Shildt said the performance was just as much a reflection of his meticulous preparation as it was of his freak athleticism.

“'Willing' is a good word,” Shildt said. “What a way to get to be the seventh-fastest guy in the history of Major League Baseball to 100 stolen bases and 100 home runs. That’s a pretty nice way of doing that. Pretty much a one-man show, right? It takes a team, but he was on display to help his team.

"The whole thing was just a clinic. … He sees his opportunity, boom. Pounces on it. Gets to third and now, listen, we’ve got two outs, we’ve got their closer on the mound and again, we trust our guys, but he’s hunting, hunting, hunting. And he went for the kill. It was just one of the better baseball plays you’re going to see.”

Just a day later, Tatis’ injury seems much more like just a blip on an otherwise spectacular, MVP-caliber opening month of action. Through 31 games, he’s batting .342 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He also ranks third across Major League Baseball with a 1.012 OPS.

One by one, each Padres player was cheered on as they entered the visiting clubhouse after the game. It’s clear this was the kind of emotional victory that can change the course of a season. Or in San Diego’s position, keep the good times rolling.