David Peralta stepped up in place of the injured All-Star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., fully aware of his temporary role on the team. It was an extra reason for Peralta to cherish his standout moment of the season with San Diego.
Peralta smashed a pivotal two-run home run in the seventh inning, marking his first of the season in the Padres’ 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
The 427-foot blast into the Texas bullpen in right-center field helped propel the Padres to their 10th victory in 13 games. San Diego ended the Rangers’ three-game streak of shutout wins at home thanks to Manny Machado’s two-run homer in the third inning.
Tatis has been sidelined since June 21 due to a stress reaction in his right thigh bone and might not return until after the All-Star break.
In his absence, Peralta, who began the season in the Chicago Cubs’ minor league system, made his way to the Padres’ major league squad in May.
This was the 118th home run of Peralta’s career and his first since July 8 last year when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Angels.
“It’s a huge relief,” said Peralta, who currently holds a .210 batting average. “I’ve been working hard every day to contribute to the team’s success. Finally, I made a positive impact on the team.”
Jurickson Profar had two hits on the night he earned his first All-Star nod as a starting player for the National League. This honor came nearly 12 years after Profar’s MLB debut as a 19-year-old for the Rangers, playing against his original team’s city, where the All-Star Game will take place on July 16.
Corey Seager tied the game with an RBI double in the third inning after being added late to the Texas lineup. The star shortstop had missed the previous two games due to a wrist injury from being hit by a pitch in Baltimore.
“Our medical staff worked with him, and he felt he could play after taking some swings,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It was great to have him back out there.”
