August 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cHit my glove and should be caught,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cWe should be having a different conversation. Should be having a conversation about a win, and instead, we\u2019re having a conversation about a mistake that I made.\u201d<\/p>\n
He probably would have caught the ball were he not 5-foot-8 and going almost full speed when his arm collided at the angle it did.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix inches higher, it\u2019s a catch,\u201d Miller said. \u201cSix inches lower, it\u2019s probably a catch. But it\u2019s right at the wrist height. And I know Samad probably feels terrible, too, but he is making a baseball play,\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylor was spot on about the conversation that could have been had.<\/p>\n
Playing the American League\u2019s best team, the Padres had the final two games of the series in hand before the practically impermeable back end of their bullpen blew late leads.<\/p>\n
Saturday, the Padres suffered just their fourth loss in the 61 games in which they held a lead in the seventh inning when Bradgley Rodriguez was charged with four runs in the seventh inning and the Rays held on for a 7-6 victory.<\/p>\n
What happened Sunday had never happened in 2026. It was the first time in 60 games this season that the Padres lost when leading after eight innings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a crazy series,\u201d DeLuca said. \u201cJust in general. But I mean, yeah, that\u2019s probably the most exciting one we\u2019ve had this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the Padres took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 11th when automatic runner Manny Machado advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ty France\u2019s sacrifice fly, David Morgan struck out Junior Caminero before yielding a bloop single to Liam Hicks. After pinch-runner Kenny Piper stole second base, Chandler Simpson was intentionally walked to load the bases.<\/p>\n
DeLuca then chopped a ball softly to the left side that shortstop Xander Bogaerts ran in to grab. But his chance to get the force at home disappeared when he bobbled the ball, and the game was tied.<\/p>\n
Two pitches later, Jorge Mateo walked it off with a line drive to center field.<\/p>\n
\u201cTough losses, some really close games and some tough ways to lose,\u201d Padres starting pitcher Robbie Ray said.<\/p>\n
Until it fell apart, the Padres had matched the feverish intensity of the Rays and were on the verge of achieving a feel-good rebound victory.<\/p>\n
But they blew any chance to score in the 10th by essentially illustrating a handbook on bad baseball.<\/p>\n
With automatic runner Jase Bowen on second base, Jake Cronenworth popped up a bunt, Bowen was thrown out trying to steal third and Machado struck out looking.<\/p>\n
Yuki Matsui got the Padres to the 11th by stranding Mateo at third base, which he had reached with a steal with one out.<\/p>\n
The lack of execution in the ninth, 10th and 11th was in contrast to how well the Padres had played in building a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n
Ray allowed one run in six innings, outdueling one of the AL\u2019s best starting pitchers in Drew Rasmussen, who surrendered two runs in his six innings.<\/p>\n
The Padres scored both those runs in the sixth inning when France drew a one-out walk and Jackson Merrill followed with a single grounded through the right side on which France \u2014 not the fleetest of foot \u2014 rounded second and got to third base while Merrill took second on the throw to third by right fielder Ryan Vilade.<\/p>\n
That brought the infield in, which allowed for Bogaerts\u2019 hard grounder to get past shortstop Taylor Walls and drive in both runners.<\/p>\n
Caminero\u2019s 455-foot home run leading off the bottom of the inning cut the Padres\u2019 lead in half.<\/p>\n
The Padres added a run and lost Tatis and manager Craig Stammen in the seventh.<\/p>\n
Taylor, activated off the injured list on Sunday, laid down a bunt single to lead off the inning and got to third when a throw from pitcher Cam Boozer, which seemingly would have picked off Taylor, got past first baseman Jonathan Aranda. The ball rolled all the way into the Rays\u2019 bullpen in foul territory while Taylor sprinted to third.<\/p>\n
Sung-Mun Song\u2019s fly ball to the track in right field brought in Taylor to make it 3-1.<\/p>\n
Tatis, up next, laid down a bunt and appeared to get to second base when Boozer\u2019s throw got past Aranda and bounced down the line as Tatis ran to second base.<\/p>\n
But Tatis was called out by home plate umpire Tyler Jones for interference because he ran most of the way to first inside the baseline.<\/p>\n
The call is always controversial, and Tatis was as angry as anyone involved with the Padres could ever remember. He was restrained as he approached the umpires and was eventually tossed after throwing his helmet to the ground as he walked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, I\u2019m hot,\u201d Tatis said. \u201cI just got a base hit taken away (in) a really tough series. People have (been) pitching really well, and we\u2019re over here grinding.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Padres will have to continue doing so, and quickly.<\/p>\n
They headed Sunday night to Cincinnati for the second half of this trip.<\/p>\n
The three games here were grueling and costly.<\/p>\n
The Padres lost Luis Rengifo, who has been one of their key contributors since the All-Star break, to a knee injury on Saturday. And after arriving in Florida 1\u00bd games up in the race for the final National League wild-card spot, they now trail the Diamondbacks by a half-game.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing into September, it\u2019s that time of year where you\u2019ve got to lock it in and focus, and go out and play your best baseball,\u201d France said. \u201cI think everyone understands that and knows we need to do that. And looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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