King of the hill! Righty’s 12 K’s, Tatis’ HR propel Padres in Game 1

The San Diego Padres made a powerful statement in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves, securing a commanding 4-0 victory at Petco Park. This win was driven by standout performances from pitcher Michael King and star player Fernando Tatis Jr., setting a strong tone for the series.

Michael King, who joined the Padres in a trade with the New York Yankees, delivered an exceptional performance on the mound. In his first postseason start, King struck out 12 batters over seven innings without allowing any runs or walks. His control and precision were evident as he limited the Braves to just five hits. This achievement placed him among an elite group of pitchers who have recorded double-digit strikeouts in their playoff debuts without conceding a run or walk. King's dominant performance provided a solid foundation for the Padres' defense and was instrumental in their shutout victory.

Fernando Tatis Jr., making his first playoff appearance in four years, wasted no time making an impact. In the first inning, Tatis launched a towering two-run homer off a 94 mph fastball from Braves rookie pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver. The 415-foot blast into the left-field stands electrified the sellout crowd of 47,647 at Petco Park and gave the Padres an early lead. Tatis's return to postseason play was particularly significant given his absence from previous playoffs due to injuries and an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Tatis's home run was not only crucial for the game but also marked a personal milestone as it coincided with the anniversary of his memorable two-home-run performance in the 2020 Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. His dynamic presence on the field and signature celebratory style further energized both his teammates and fans.

The Padres' offense received additional support from Kyle Higashioka, who contributed with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and a solo home run in the eighth. These additional runs ensured that the Braves were kept at bay throughout the game.

AJ Smith-Shawver, making just his second start of the season for Atlanta, struggled against San Diego's lineup. He allowed three runs on four hits over just 1⅓ innings before being pulled from the game. The Braves had secured their playoff spot by winning a doubleheader against the New York Mets, but they faced challenges with key players like Chris Sale unavailable due to injury.

With this win, the Padres are just one victory away from advancing to face their division rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the National League Division Series. The Dodgers were previously eliminated by San Diego in last year's NLDS despite their impressive regular-season record.

Game 2 of this best-of-three series is scheduled for Wednesday night, with Joe Musgrove set to pitch for San Diego against Atlanta's Max Fried. The Padres will aim to capitalize on their momentum and secure their place in the next round of playoffs.

This game highlighted both Michael King's potential as a postseason pitcher and Fernando Tatis Jr.'s ability to perform under pressure, setting an optimistic tone for San Diego's playoff aspirations.