Fansided

Padres went full Slam Diego and the Cardinals weren’t ready for it

By John Buhler

Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, San Diego Padres. (Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)
Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, San Diego Padres. (Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports) /
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The San Diego Padres went yard five times to force Game 3 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

It took five home runs, but the San Diego Padres have taken back all momentum in this series.

After a terrible outing from Chris Paddack in Game 1 on Wednesday, the Padres needed to find a spark to keep their magical season alive. It wasn’t looking good early, as the Friars found themselves in a 4-0 hole. However, Manny Machado, Wil Myers and Fernando Tatis Jr. brought the lumber late to force Game 3 with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday evening.

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This game is why we all fell in love with the 2020 Slam Diego Padres.

It had been a long 14 years since San Diego played in the postseason. General manager A.J. Preller spent a fortune to help build this team, but he has one of the most exciting clubs in the Senior Circuit. With a win at home on Friday, they will face either division rival Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS in Arlington, Texas.

Though the pitching staff has left a lot to be desired over their first two games with the Cardinals, the bats woke up in time to save their season, giving the Padres at least one more day to fight for their first championship in franchise history. While it is the No. 4 vs. No. 5 series, San Diego should be good enough to get past the Cardinals and reach the NLDS for the first time in a decade-plus.

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s bat flip makes Jose Bautista’s look like chump change (Video). light. Related Story

Even if this is uncharted territory for the Friars, they are playing with a ton of swagger heading into this pivotal game. Though the Cardinals are never out of any game ever, we may have seen them play their best ball already in this best-of-three series. We cannot wait to see what happens at Petco Park tomorrow night. Will it be the Padres or the Cardinals who advance to the NLDS?

If the Padres play this way on Friday night, they will be heading to Texas for another series.

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