Entering a tough weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego had a 16-8 record in August, including an impressive sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.Their slumping offense had finally come alive in recent weeks, with Fernando Tatis Jr.
breaking out of a power drought, Jackson Merrill turning around his year, and Ty France continuing to be a surprising offensive force.Their typically aggressive front office improved the pitching staff by bolstering the starting rotation with trades for Casey Mize and Robbie Ray.Mason Miller looked like an unstoppable force on the mound, encountering easily movable objects in the opposing batters box.JUAN SOTO'S MISREAD TURNS ROUTINE SINGLE INTO LITTLE LEAGUE HOME RUN AS METS' WOES CONTINUEDespite the Arizona Diamondbacks hanging around, the final wild card spot in the National League looked like the Padres' to lose.
Fast forward to Sunday evening, and the Padres are suddenly on the outside looking in after a sweep in Tampa.That's frustrating enough, but what's worse for the team and their fans is how it happened.
Particularly Sunday's 5-4 loss.San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller reacts as Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca hits a two-run home run during the ninth inning at Tropicana Field in St.Petersburg, Fla., on Aug.
30, 2026.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)Entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Padres had the Rays right where they wanted them, a 3-1 lead with Miller on the mound.Junior Caminero led off the inning with a 78mph single to center, before Miller rebounded to strike out Liam Hicks and get Chandler Simpson to line out.
Then, with two outs, Miller got outfielder Jonny DeLuca to hit a fly ball to left field.Samad Taylor had a beat on it, tracked it down into the corner, caught the ball as he ran into the fence and just...dropped it.
Game-ending out turns into game-tying homer.OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOADEven more infuriating for Padres fans? DeLuca's fly ball had no bu...