Fernando Tatis Jr.'s spectacular catch short-lived as Tyler Stephenson's ninth-inning homer gives Reds 4-2 win
Tatis robs prospective home run at Petco Park, but Reds catcher launches two-run shot in ninth to lift Cincinnati and tighten wild-card race
SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. made a game-saving leaping catch at the right-field wall on Tuesday night, but Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson delivered the decisive blow in the ninth inning as the Reds rallied for a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Tatis chased down a deep drive from Stephenson in the fourth inning, reaching the warning track, leaping and hauling the ball in front of the Padres' home crowd. The play preserved the score at the time and nearly produced a double play, according to video of the sequence. Tatis finished the night 0-for-3 with a walk.
The defensive highlight was overshadowed in the ninth when Stephenson hit a two-run homer to left field to give Cincinnati the lead and the eventual 4-2 final. Stephenson was 1-for-4 on the night; the homer was his 10th of the season.
The win moved the Reds to 73-72 and pulled them within three games of the New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spot. San Diego fell to 79-66 and remained two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The Padres also hold a three-game advantage over the Mets for the second wild-card position.
"He made a hell of a play and he's a hell of an athlete," Stephenson said of Tatis after the game, according to MLB.com.
Michael King started the sequence that led to the fourth-inning catch when he served a pitch to Stephenson that was driven out to right field. Tatis tracked the ball almost immediately and timed the leap to prevent the hit from leaving the park.
The loss tightened the race in both the NL West and the wild-card standings with a little over two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Padres, who have been contending for the division title all year, will look to rebound in their remaining games to maintain separation from the Dodgers. Cincinnati, meanwhile, continued its late push to climb back into contention for a postseason berth.
The teams are scheduled to continue the series at Petco Park, where momentum from Tuesday's dramatic finish could influence roster decisions and bullpen usage in the run-up to the postseason. Managers on both sides will assess pitching matchups and health reports as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season.