BALTIMORE -- The Padres fashion themselves as playoff contenders this season, which means they were supposed to roll into Baltimore this week and win two games against the Orioles, owners of the Majors’ worst record.\n\nAfter his team’s second five-run victory in as many days, Padres first baseman
It marked the first time in a dozen years the Padres tallied four home runs or more in consecutive games. In total, eight San Diego hitters went deep during the two-game set.\n\n“We have the bats,” Reyes said.\n\nIndeed, the Padres' offense has come to life in June, and the return of
Still, the biggest weapon is clearly the power, and that was on full display Wednesday. Reyes’ first homer cleared the entire lower section in left-center field, giving San Diego a 4-1 lead. After
Hosmer followed with a two-run shot in the sixth, and Renfroe swatted a solo blast to lead off the seventh. Baltimore would load the bases in the eighth, with the tying run on deck. But Green called for righty
\n\nIf only there were a national, one-day event to showcase @Hunter_Renfroe's prodigious power. That would be neat. pic.twitter.com/muzajAI8Yu
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 26, 2019
Sounds as though both would jump at the opportunity.\n\n“Of course, my man,” Reyes said, half shouting and half laughing. “I’m just waiting for \\[MLB to call\\].”\n\n“It's something you might never get a chance to do again,” said Renfroe. “It'd be pretty cool to get my name out there, and I'd be honored to do it.”\n\nAside from their lofty home run totals, Renfroe and Reyes are both known for their prodigious power during batting practice. It stands to reason both could thrive in a timed format.\n\n“They’re both impressive,” Green said. “They both have a ton of pop.”\n\nAnd it was on full display again on Wednesday.\n\n**Running wild**\n\nBy now, Tatis Jr. has developed a reputation for causing havoc on the bases. Generally, that’s for the opposing team. Sometimes, it’s for the umpires.
\n\n \n\nIn the top of the eighth inning Wednesday, Tatis hustled to beat out a routine ground ball to shortstop. He was initially ruled out, but the play was overturned after review. Two pitches later, Tatis swiped second. Again, he was initially ruled out, but the play was overturned after review.
“Just glad they overturned it,” Tatis said. “There was no doubt.”\n\nTatis would score on a Hosmer single, giving the Padres a six-run lead. That run felt hugely important when the Orioles put the tying run on deck in the bottom of the frame.\n\n“That run matters,” said Green, who twice asked for a crew chief review. “I don’t care what anybody says. ‘You’re up five, that’s enough?’ No, it’s not enough. It’s never enough.”
Earlier in the game, in something akin to a unicorn sighting, Tatis did make a mistake on the basepaths. He broke for home on a wild pitch and was tagged out when the ball caromed off the brick wall behind the plate.\n\nEven then, Tatis almost managed to avoid the tag of O's catcher