San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. pulled double duty on Tuesday night against the New York Mets.
New York’s starting pitcher Zac Thornton threw only one pitch to Tatis Jr. in the top of the first inning to begin the game. The Padres outfielder launched it 452 ft. to left center, giving San Diego the early 1-0 lead.
Tatis Jr. wasn’t done.
In the bottom of the second, the Mets had loaded the bases. Francisco Alvarez, Christopher Morel, and A.J. Ewing drew walks while Luis Torrens grounded into a fielder’s choice, which saw Alvarez thrown out at home, but kept the bases loaded.
New York’s star shortstop Francisco Lindor came to the plate. He launched a 91 mph sinker to right field, a hit that looked destined for the outfield seats.
Tatis Jr. backed up to the wall and leaped from his feet to rob the home run.
DID HE CATCH IT?!
— MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2026
Fernando Tatis Jr. robs a grand slam from Francisco Lindor! pic.twitter.com/6m2O0Yrb2a
After catching the ball, Tatis Jr. looked toward the infield, basking in the moment and aura farming in front of the New York faithful.
The San Diego outfielder not only plated a run for his team with his home run, but also kept the Mets from scoring four huge runs early in the game.
Thornton got some revenge when Tatis Jr. came back to the plate in the top of the third inning as the outfielder struck out swinging on a 79 mph sweeper.
Tatis Jr. started the season in a brutal home run slump. He was hitting well, but he couldn’t find a long ball. The Padres outfielder not only didn’t hit a home run the entire month of April, but he didn’t register his first home run of the season until May 30 against the Washington Nationals.
San Diego came into Tuesday’s game with a 67-59 record and in second place in the NL West, eight games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York has a 57-69 record and is in last place in the NL East after a rough start to the season that the franchise has struggled to recover from. At one point, the Mets lost 12 games in a row, their worst losing streak as a franchise since 2002.