Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. and his swagger returned to the playoffs with a bang.

The 25-year-old San Diego star hit a massive two-run home run in his first playoff swing in four seasons, giving the Padres a 2-0 lead in the first game of their Wild Card game against rookie AJ ​​Smith-Shawver and the Atlanta Braves series on Tuesday night. The Padres won 4-0.

The first-inning shot flew 415 feet into the second deck in left field at Petco Park, sending the sellout, towel-waving crowd of 47,647 into a frenzy. The dreadlocked Dominican, who has always played with flair, watched the ball sail away, tossed his bat aside, pointed toward the home dugout and took his trademark stutter-step around third base.

“I knew it was going to go out,” Tatis said. “I didn’t know it was going to end up in the second deck just because it was so high.”

He slipped a little on his swing.

“But I was lucky enough to get my bat path where I wanted. And next thing you know, the ball was in the stands,” Tatis said.

Tatis, the son of a former big league infielder, missed about two and a half months this season because of a stress reaction in his right femur. He returned in early September and finished the regular season with 21 home runs and a .276 average.

He landed on a 94-mph four-seater from 21-year-old Smith-Shawver, one of the Braves' top prospects. He made his first playoff start and only his second start this season.

Luis Arraez had a leadoff single. Arraez, acquired in a trade with Miami in early May, became the first player since the 19th century to win batting titles with three teams.

Right-hander Michael King, who won his first playoff start with flying colors, said he was sitting in the dugout with catcher Kyle Higashioka.

“I couldn’t see Tati, but I heard it,” King said. “And because the sound of the bat was louder than the fans, you knew he was hit really hard. And then I looked up and thought he was leaving the stadium. The thing was broken.”

“It was huge for me and my plan of attack to have a two-run lead right after the first inning,” said King, who had 12 strikeouts, no walks and allowed just five hits. “And it’s also great to get Tati going because he’s going to play a big role for us this postseason.”

Padres manager Mike Shildt said the home run “was pretty special. Said it from the start, laser to the left. And Tati didn't waste any time. I have a pitch that you can hit and take a big swing on. That was huge to get us up.”

Tatis saw his first postseason game with fans in the stands. He played his first playoffs in 2020 after the pandemic-shortened season. He missed San Diego's trip to the 2022 NL Championship Series after receiving an 80-game performance-enhancing drug suspension from MLB in August.

“It’s a beautiful energy,” Tatis said. “I love situations like this. It definitely brings out the best in me. And I’m just looking forward to more experiences like this.”

His home run came on the anniversary of his two home runs in a 2020 Wild Card Series game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Shildt, who was leading the Padres in his first season, was St. Louis' captain at the time.

Fans were not allowed into the ballpark at the time because of the pandemic. On Tuesday night, Petco Park was sold out, as it was for most of the regular season.

“It's very rewarding. “It's one of the most beautiful sights the game can give a baseball player,” Tatis said of the reception he received as he ran to right field early in the game. “As a child, we dream of driving the audience crazy. Hitting a home run at a crucial point in the postseason means you're definitely working toward something. And those are definitely memories that you will cherish forever.”

Tatis was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021. He was moved to right field in 2023 and won both an NL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Award.

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