Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The shot by Fernando Tatis dropped jaws, but not because of the usual ways the 21-year-old star stuns onlookers.
It came 100.6 mph off the bat, which is solid but not earth-shattering. The 33 degree angle of the swing gave the ball a possibility to leave parks, but not this park — not Oracle Park, even with its fences that are not quite as imposing as they were last year. The notorious wind blowing in from the bay would keep the ball in.
And yet, there was Tatis, inside-outing a Jeff Samardzija slider over the big right-field wall in the third inning to turn a 1-0 Giants lead into a 3-1 deficit.
It is curious, if not concerning, how small the park is playing early, the only sample size being summer camp and now one game, with announcer Mike Krukow giving credence to the belief the covered-up portwalk archways are blocking wind that normally would blow in. But what is concerning is that theoretically, the ball should be flying out for both teams. Not much is going far with the lineup the Giants are turning toward against righty pitchers.
After Tatis’ homer, the Padres did not lose their lead, edging the poor Giants bats, 5-3, in Tuesday’s home opener that serves as an early warning sign not for their confines but for their plans against righties.
San Francisco could do nothing against righties Dustin May and Ross Stripling on Thursday and Friday at Dodger Stadium, burying a hole for the team that the lineup against lefties would dig out of Saturday and Sunday. The lefty-hitting lineup, though, is now 0-3, after being limited to three runs in seven innings pitched by San Diego righties, led by starter Zach Davies. Old pal lefty Drew Pomeranz got the final three outs for the save.
The biggest culprit of the Giants’ start already may have seen his last chance. In the seventh, Gabe Kapler pinch-hit righty Donovan Solano for lefty Joe McCarthy against righty Javy Guerra (and Solano proceeded to single). McCarthy is still searching for his first major league hit after going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts Tuesday, pushing him to 0-for-10 with five strikeouts.
Others who have struggled include Mauricio Dubon, who blooped in a double but is 3-for-17. Alex Dickerson went 0-for-2, dropping him to 2-for-10. Jaylin Davis, whose home run Friday was so encouraging, is now 2-for-12. Of course, it’s early, but in a 60-game season, an entire group of hitters struggling against righties is cause for concern.
Samardzija, finally making his own season debut, did not miss bats and was victimized by Tatis’ would-be flyout and a mistake fastball to Wil Myers, who crushed it deep to center. Samardzija allowed five runs on four hits and a walk in four innings, striking out just one.
From a 3-1 count to a 3-1 ballgame.@tatis_jr ? #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/ouEfASHyps
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 29, 2020
Conner Menez was solid, eating up three scoreless innings, and Sam Coonrod and Dany Jimenez tossed in clean frames. There was a lot to like from the bullpen, but not much elsewhere.
There were misplays that Kapler will not appreciate: a second Tyler Heineman catcher’s interference, a dropped fly ball from Davis. Mike Yastrzemski originally was picked off of first while down two in the eighth, but review reversed the call — still, Kapler may want to talk to Yastrzemski about the play.
The Giants’ best threat came in the sixth, when blooped-in doubles from Dubon and Yastrzemski, along with Pablo Sandoval getting drilled, loaded the bases. Wilmer Flores grounded into a fielder’s choice before Hunter Pence popped out. Heineman, whose bat has played early, lined an RBI single to close the lead to 5-3, but Brandon Crawford flew out to end the rally.
When Oracle Park has played big, the pitchers have taken advantage. If the Giants are watching that trend reverse, it’s time the hitters take advantage. Through one game at home, and through three games against righty starters, that has not happened.