Tatis does it all for Padres in one-of-a-kind gem

SAN DIEGO -- The only thing missing was the throw.

Entering the ninth inning Wednesday night, Fernando Tatis Jr. had already showcased four of his five elite tools in the Padres’ 5-0 victory over the Guardians at Petco Park.

Power? Tatis led off the game with a solo home run, his franchise-record 11th career leadoff blast. Hitting? He’d doubled twice and worked a walk. Speed? He’d stolen two bases. Defense? He’d made an excellent sliding catch in right field and was otherwise rock solid.

Arm?

Well, the Padres led by five runs, and no one was going to test Tatis. Right?

The thing is, Amed Rosario didn’t even really test Tatis. He just rounded first base a bit too aggressively. Tatis began a throw toward second. Then, mid-windup, he saw Rosario retreating to first, adjusted and uncorked a strike. Rosario was out. Tatis took two bows for the fans in right field, who serenaded him with chants of “M-V-P!”

“This is the first game that I feel like I’ve put everything in one game,” Tatis said. “There’s stuff that you can’t control. But I’m just grateful that it happened.”

The first time he’s put everything in one game? Try the first time anyone has done everything in one game like this. Tatis’ stat line is patently ridiculous. It’s unprecedented, too. He homered, had three extra-base hits, scored twice, stole two bases, worked a walk and capped it off with an outfield assist.

Tatis is the first AL/NL player in the Modern Era (since 1901) with that stat line. He joins Tony Gwynn as the only players in franchise history to hit a homer, steal two bases and record an outfield assist in the same game.

“We have players that can carry the team by themselves,” said Padres designated hitter Nelson Cruz. “Today was a great example, watching Tatis do all the things that he does. Today he showed off all the tools.”

Indeed, the Padres have several superstars capable of carrying their offense. They simply haven’t had those superstars clicking at the same time. Until now, that is.

Tatis went deep in the first. Manny Machado followed suit in the third. Juan Soto did so in the sixth. It was a night 10 months in the making. When Soto arrived in San Diego last August, he famously wished “good luck to the other pitchers.” Wednesday night marked the first time all three went deep at Petco Park.

“If we can do that, there’s no limit for us,” Tatis said. “This team is so talented. Everybody knows it. We know it. It’s a matter of coming together.”

Michael Wacha pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, and the bullpen was excellent, as always. Those two storylines have become the norm. But what if the Padres could truly get their big bats rolling at the same time?

“That would be pretty fun,” Soto said. “We’re getting there.”

Soto has looked like peak Soto for more than a month now. Machado, since returning from the injured list nearly two weeks ago, has rediscovered himself at the plate. Xander Bogaerts is hitting .412 since returning from his wrist injury over the weekend.

But nobody in the entire sport has been hotter than Tatis lately. Since the start of June, he’s slashing an absurd .417/.491/.896 with five homers and five steals.

“He’s rounding into pretty good shape,” manager Bob Melvin said with a wry grin, offering up the understatement of the year.

Upon his mid-April return from a PED suspension, Tatis wasn’t quite his old self. He wasn’t quite wreaking his usual havoc on the bases, nor was he showing off his elite blend of power and athleticism.

But make no mistake, he was working toward all that. Working hard. On the surface, Tatis’ transition to right field looks like it’s been seamless. Heck, he’s already in the Gold Glove conversation at a position he’d never really played before this season.

Behind the scenes, it wasn’t so simple. At times in Spring Training, his defense wasn’t pretty. Tatis heard the doubters.

“It just fed me,” Tatis said. “It gave me more gas. However you want to put it, I feel like it just made me better.”

Tatis’ 10 defensive runs saved are tied for the most among big league outfielders with Kevin Kiermaier -- one of this generation’s best defenders. He’s slashing .283/.341/.561 with 10 steals. He’s setting the tone at the top of the lineup for a team that suddenly looks rejuvenated, having won five of six.

“It’s amazing, especially here at home in front of our fans,” Tatis said. “This is what I’m capable of.”

Capable of nights like this one -- a night that, quite literally, no one else has had.