Power trip: Revisit Padres' top HRs of decade
SAN DIEGO -- They didn’t reach the postseason during the 2010s, but the Padres still authored quite a few unforgettable moments over the past 10 years.
From a mammoth blast over the bullpens, to a record-setting rookie, to a trio of walk-off grand slams, these are the Padres' 10 most memorable home runs of the past decade:
1) Renfroe's slam beats L.A.
May 5, 2019
It was one of the most highly anticipated series at Petco Park in years. And it lived up to the billing. Manny Machado homered three times against the Dodgers in his first series against his former team. Los Angeles mounted two ninth-inning rallies against lockdown closer Kirby Yates. Then, on Sunday, Hunter Renfroe delivered the grand finale. With the Padres trailing by one in the ninth, Renfroe crushed a Kenley Jansen cutter off the Western Metal Supply Co. Building for the 16th come-from-behind walk-off grand slam by a pinch-hitter in Major League history.
2) Upton makes it rain
July 30, 2015
The Padres were clinging to Wild Card hopes in late July when they arrived at Citi Field for a three-game set. In the finale, they trailed by six runs in the seventh inning but cut that deficit to two before the skies opened. After a 44-minute delay, the umpiring crew sensed an opening and the game resumed. That's when Justin Upton launched a dramatic, rain-soaked three-run homer, sending the Padres to an 8-7 victory -- after yet another delay.
3) Adrián's first-place slam
June 2, 2010
The Padres spent the 2010 season in a thrilling back-and-forth race for the National League West crown. Facing the Mets in early June, Adrián González authored one of the most thrilling moments of the decade. After the Padres had rallied to tie the game in the ninth, González launched an opposite-field grand slam to walk it off in the 11th inning and give San Diego sole possession of first place.
4) Franmil leaves the yard ... literally
June 5, 2018
The Padres trailed the Braves 14-0 in the bottom of the ninth when Franmil Reyes strode to the plate with two outs. The rookie slugger rewarded the fans who were dedicated enough to stick around. Reyes demolished a 2-0 fastball from Braves right-hander Luke Jackson over the bullpens in left-center. The ball took one hop on the concourse and bounced out of the stadium. Reyes' 479-foot blast is the longest home run ever recorded by Statcast at Petco Park.
5) Tatis gets knocked down (and he gets up again)
July 27, 2019
"If you're playing this game, you're not supposed to have any fear," Fernando Tatis Jr., a 20-year-old rookie, would later say. Earlier in the night, Giants right-hander Shaun Anderson came high and tight with a fastball, knocking Tatis' helmet off as he fell to the dirt. Wise beyond his years, Tatis was looking for a slider low and away on the next pitch. He didn't miss it. Tatis launched Anderson's hanger into the beach area in right-center field. The chorus of boos at Petco Park changed in an instant.
6) Grandal makes history
June 30, 2012
Facing the Rockies at Coors Field, Padres catching prospect Yasmani Grandal had already homered from the right side for his first career hit. When he turned around and homered from the left side in his next at-bat, he made history. Grandal became the first player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game for his first two big league hits.
7) Mejía arrives in style
Sept. 16, 2018
In his first start as a Padre, Francisco Mejía had homered twice in a win over the Reds in Cincinnati. But the rookie catcher saved his most dramatic moment of the 2018 season for the home fans. Trailing the Rangers in the ninth, San Diego rallied to tie the game on Freddy Galvis' RBI double. Three batters later, Mejía became just the seventh player in franchise history to hit a walk-off grand slam -- and just the second rookie. He pulverized a Jeffrey Springs slider into the left-field seats, sending Petco Park into a frenzy.
8) Upton does it again
July 2, 2016
By July of 2016, Melvin Upton Jr. had already walked off the D-backs and Dodgers with dramatic home runs. He added No. 3 on a Friday night against the Yankees. With Andrew Miller's first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, Upton turned on a fastball and sent it soaring toward the Western Metal Building. When it landed deep in the second deck, Upton had set a franchise record with three walk-off dingers in the same season.
9) Manny makes a statement
June 3, 2019
Manny Machado's first grand slam as a Padre was as memorable as it was symbolic. After a drama-filled offseason, he and Bryce Harper inked record-setting contracts during Spring Training. In their first game against each other with their new clubs, Machado made a statement. The Padres were clinging to a late lead against Philadelphia when Machado came to the plate with the bases loaded. He crushed an opposite-field blast -- over Harper's head.
10) Denorfia takes Chapman deep
July 29, 2013
The Padres couldn't do much against Reds starter Mike Leake, who blanked San Diego for seven innings. But they had no trouble getting to flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman. After Yonder Alonso worked a leadoff walk, fan favorite Chris Denorfia crushed a 98-mph fastball from Chapman over the center-field fence, giving the Padres a dramatic 2-1 victory. Watch here >>