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ARLINGTON, Texas – A day after starting a debate in baseball over unwritten rules, when to swing, when not to swing and all the intermediate positions, Fernando Tatis Jr. of San Diego went 2 for 5 with a run and a stolen base. as the Padres outlasted Rangers, 6-4, on Tuesday.
Tatis fueled a 14-4 rout over Texas on Monday with a grand slam and seven RBIs. His homerun came on a 3-0 run from Juan Nicasio in the eighth inning, ranking Texas manager Chris Woodward and the Rangers for what they perceived to be breaking one of baseball’s unwritten rules. Rookie Ian Gibaut relieved after the slam and his first pitch was a fastball behind Manny Machado.
Gibaut was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball and appealed the penalty, keeping him eligible. Woodward was suspended for one game and sidelined, with bench coach Don Wakamatsu leading the team.
In a Rangers statement, Woodward said, “I respect this MLB decision and I’m going to move on and prepare for our series in San Diego,” and after the game Wakamatsu didn’t push the position of the Texas further, only to say that the Padres “are a good hitting ball club”.
None of this seemed to bother Tatis, who with the Padres holding a 6-0 lead, posted his sixth volley of the season. It was a move that Wakamatsu had no problem with other than saying he thought Tatis “was out” as the Padres won back-to-back games after a five-game slippage. The 21-year-old, who started the day at the top of the majors with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs, is now tied for the MLB lead in interceptions.
Wil Myers, who struck a grand slam in the first inning that kept the Padres’ momentum going from the night before, was quick to point out the opportunity San Diego had on Tuesday – taking inspiration from Tatis and fueled by the Rangers reaction – especially given their recent struggles.
“When these situations happen, you want to put them behind you and come back and beat them on the pitch,” Myers said.
Craig Stammen (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for San Diego, and Cal Quantrill recorded the final out, leaving the legacy runners first and second, for his first big league save.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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