David Ortiz taking aim at Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado rubbed salt in Padres’ Game 2 wound

David Ortiz skipped the part where he could analyze the San Diego Padres’ Game 2 loss. He performed an autopsy while the patient still had a pulse. At least that was the energy on FS1 after the Padres blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Ortiz leaned forward, threw his hands around and delivered San Diego’s apparent postseason eulogy directly to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

“You’re out. It’s over. I’m sorry, Tatis and Machado.”

Then came the talk of Cancun.

Of course it wasn’t subtle. Big Papi was doing Big Papi television. It’s meant to be loud, theatrical and built to travel across social media. The part that hurts is that the Padres handed him the script and made this one easy for him.

David Ortiz declared the Padres finished after their Game 2 collapse

The Padres were five outs away from tying the NLDS. Mason Miller had retired Milwaukee in order in the eighth, they held a 3-2 lead and the best bullpen in baseball was managing a winnable game. Then Miller lost the strike zone.

Three walks loaded the bases before Jackson Chourio ripped a 101.3 mph fastball through the infield for the tying and winning runs. In a matter of minutes, the Padres went from stealing home-field advantage to facing elimination.

Ortiz was right about the opportunity. San Diego was supposed to win that game. There is no way to spin it. The Brewers committed three errors. Michael King retired the first 14 hitters he faced. The Padres carried a lead into the ninth with their superstar closer on the mound. If we are searching for a cleaner opportunity to beat a 103-win team on the road, we are wasting our time.

Ortiz’s funeral isn’t official yet. The Padres are down 0-2, not eliminated. But history tells us only 10 of 93 teams in that position have recovered to win a best-of-five series, and Game 3 will be played at Petco Park, where San Diego went 53-30 during the regular season.

Ortiz can start packing the beach bags. The Padres don’t have to pack theirs just yet.

Tatis and Machado now have to answer the punchline

Calling out Tatis and Machado made the clip sting even more. They are the faces of this team. When the Padres are being mocked on national television, their names are going to lead the segment.

Machado made a terrible baserunning mistake in the seventh inning. The Friars are 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position through two games and have stranded 20 runners. Miller absorbed the Game 2 collapse, but the offense left him almost no breathing room.

Now Tatis and Machado get the kind of stage stars are paid to command. Milwaukee is starting Dustin May in Game 3. He posted a 1.23 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 22 innings against the Padres this season, so there is no soft landing waiting at Petco. Nick Pivetta must keep San Diego alive, and the biggest names in the lineup must stop turning scoring opportunities into regrets.

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