2024 MLB Playoffs: Fernando Tatis Jr. and Padres make a statement with victory in NLDS Game 2 on a wild night at Dodger Stadium

LOS ANGELES – It’s no secret that Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the most electrifying players in baseball. But lately he’s been showing that he may be one of the most electrifying players in postseason history.

After losing Game 1 of the NLDS to the Dodgers, San Diego needed to set the tone for Game 2. In Game 1 on Saturday, San Diego took a big early lead, but the Dodgers bounced back with a 7-5 win.

Seemingly undeterred, the Padres did the same thing in Game 2 on Sunday, this time courtesy of Tatis. As the crowd at Dodger Stadium rained down boos, the outfielder quickly changed the mood in the park by taking a fastball from Jack Flaherty and smashing a high, powerful shot into the left field bullpen, giving the Padres a quick 1-0 lead -leadership provided.

With that, Tatis took the momentum back and led the charge as the rivalry heated up again and Dodger Stadium went from lively to louder in the Padres’ 10-2 victory.

“Wild,” Tatis said afterwards of the LA environment. “Definitely wild out here. But at the same time, it’s a good environment for baseball, even if people get a little carried away with their emotions. But I mean, at the end of the day, it’s a good back and forth.”

Tatis’ next at-bat was a similar story, as he blasted a double into the gap in left-center field. So far this postseason, he is 9-of-14 with three home runs, five RBI and an OPS of 2.151. His career 1.528 OPS in 36 postseason at-bats is the second-highest in MLB history, trailing only that of former major league outfielder Colby Rasmus.

And it wasn’t just on offense that Tatis made his presence clear. The Platinum Glove Award winner reminded everyone in the fourth inning that he is also one of the best defenders in the game. First baseman Freddie Freeman blasted a ball into the gap in right field at 111.4 mph, sending Tatis into a full sprint before jumping to rob Freeman of extra bases.

Tatis followed suit and put on a show, followed by fellow outfielders Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill. Profar’s impact began early on defense, with a home run raid – and fake out – against Mookie Betts in the first inning that robbed the Dodgers of potential momentum as he snatched the ball away from their fans.

Merrill, 21, continued his impressive rookie campaign with his second multi-hit game of the postseason, capped by a two-run pitch in the eighth that extended San Diego’s lead to 6-1.

“When those guys can beat you in every area of ​​the game, that’s the way this game is played,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said after the game.

In fact, there were two turning points in Game 2 – which was closer for most of the contest than the final score would suggest. The first came when Tatis was drilled by Flaherty in his third at-bat, leading off the sixth after his two hits. Profar and Manny Machaho expressed outrage over the pitch hit, leading to an exchange between them and the Dodgers’ starter.

“My guys had my back the whole time, and everyone saw that tonight,” Tatis said. “When he hit me, he just pumped me up – he just gave me more energy. My boys gave me more energy. And from there I know we’re just going to embrace this moment and take that energy and play baseball like we did tonight.”

Tatis had the final say, scoring on a single from Merrill.

The second key moment occurred during a lengthy on-field delay in the seventh inning after fans in the stands threw two baseballs at Profar. As 20 security guards entered the field, additional objects, including beer, were thrown from the upper deck at Tatis and Profar.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said starter Yu Darvish, who waited out the more than 10-minute delay to complete his effort. In seven innings that night, Darvish obliterated the Dodgers’ vaunted lineup, allowing just one run on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

When things finally began to calm down on the field, Machado gathered his teammates and gave an impassioned speech in the dugout.

“You can only beat us if we lose control of ourselves, if we are defeated by our emotions,” Tatis said after the game about the news in the team duel.

Shildt said: “To Manny’s credit, he has leadership qualities – he gets everyone and he’s able to share with our group how we want to compete in the dugout.” It was impressive. Just brings us even closer together. I love this team.”

From what came next, it was clear that the veteran third baseman’s words were taken to heart. From that point on, the Padres were a team that wanted to signal that they would not be intimidated. They opened the game by scoring six runs in the eighth and ninth innings, making it a blowout.

“At the end of the day, we understand that we are on a mission and things like this are going to happen,” Tatis said afterward. “We’ll just get together as a group as quickly as possible and just keep talking and arguing.”

And who else would wish the Dodger Stadium crowd goodnight after the emotional final three frames than the man who started it all?

Tatis capped the Padres’ three-run ninth by blasting a 401-foot, no-doubt home run into the right field stands. The two-homer game gave him 14 career home runs at Dodger Stadium, his most outside Petco Park.

Perhaps more importantly, his performance on Sunday helped the Padres return to San Diego with a 1-1 tie against the NLDS.

“Just the energy at Dodger Stadium,” Tatis said when asked about his ability at the stadium. “The talent on the other side is through the roof and so are we.

“Every time you play against the best, you obviously want to come out on top and definitely show who you really are.”