The Padres opened their playoff game at Petco Park with a loud first inning. Luis Arraez led off with a disciplined at-bat, laying off pitches and working a full count. He eventually connected on a fastball in the zone and knocked a clean single, immediately getting the crowd into it. Then Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped up with a clear plan: look for a fastball and swing. The pitcher gave him exactly that, a 94 mph four-seamer right down the middle. Tatis crushed it to the upper deck.
The stadium exploded. One man in the crowd didn’t chase the ball; he just turned and held up his kid in celebration. The kid jumped and screamed, hugging his dad and soaking in the moment. Fans all around high-fived, some awkwardly missing, others nailing the perfect hand slap. Even a drink vendor took a second to raise a fist in the air, tray still under his arm. Tatis rounded the bases with energy, throwing in a jump step as the dugout went wild. Despite some technical letdown from the umpire cam, it was a perfect kickoff to postseason baseball in San Diego.