Tatis brilliant in 2 HR return, Padres beat Diamondbacks 8-2

PHOENIX (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. took a few practice swings and stepped into the batter's box with his usual swagger. He had one thought running through his head as he returned to San Diego's lineup.

“Make them remember why they missed you,” he said grinning.

The 22-year-old All-Star certainly accomplished that goal with a stellar return from the injured list, slugging two homers, driving in four runs and leading the Padres to an 8-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Jake Cronenworth also went deep, helping San Diego stop a four-game losing streak.

Playing right field for the first time in his professional career and batting leadoff, Tatis ripped a double down the third-base line to start the game.

He hit his first homer of the afternoon in the third — a towering solo shot that cleared the wall in left. His 33rd homer came in the fifth and was more of a low liner, but cleared the wall in approximately the same spot and gave the Padres a 2-1 lead.

“Fernando being Fernando,” Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “It never ceases to amaze any of us.”

It was Tatis' fifth multihomer game this season and No. 8 for his career.

Cronenworth's two-run shot later in the fifth pushed San Diego ahead 4-1. It was his 17th of the season.

Tatis added a bases-loaded single in the eighth that brought home Victor Caratini and Trent Grisham. Tatis had been on the injured list since July 31 after partially dislocating his left shoulder for the third time this season.

The electrifying star usually plays shortstop, but the Padres decided to move him to the outfield for the time being. The hope is there’s less chance he'll get hurt, allowing him to stay in the lineup for the rest of the season.

He wasn't challenged much in the...

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