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The Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. ignites the crowd with a home run, leading the team to victory in Game 1

The Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. ignites the crowd with a home run, leading the team to victory in Game 1

The San Diego Padres put together an all-around performance en route to a 4-0 victory in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series over the Atlanta Braves.

Fernando Tatis Jr. electrified the Petco Park crowd with his 415-foot home run in the first inning. He knew it was gone as soon as he hit it, and so did the crowd. Tatis threw his bat and played in front of the fans as he began his home run streak.

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Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates

Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the NL Wild Card Series game against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

“It’s a beautiful energy. I love situations like that,” Tatis said. “It definitely brings out the best in me. And I’m just looking forward to a lot more experiences like this.”

Tatis said he was looking for a fastball from rookie AJ ​​Smith-Shawver and got it.

“I probably wanted to try it before he let go of the pitch. But when he looked for my fastball, he left it over the plate and definitely had great results,” Tatis said. “I knew it would go out. I didn’t know it was going to end up in the second deck just because it was so high.”

As Tatis' starting player, Michael King ensured a first-class performance from San Diego.

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Michael King throws

Padres starting pitcher Michael King throws against the Atlanta Braves during the wild card series game on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

King became the first pitcher to have 12 strikeouts with no runs or walks allowed in his first career postseason start. He joined former Padres stars Kevin Brown and Sterling Hitchcock as the only pitchers to record double-digit strikeouts in a playoff game.

“I think I dreamed of a perfect game and not a few goals that I conceded,” King said afterwards. “But I mean, going 1-0 up in a three-game series is huge. “That was the goal and we achieved it. We have our horse Joe (Musgrove) tomorrow and I have a lot of confidence in us.”

San Diego acquired King in a blockbuster deal with the New York Yankees that sent Juan Soto to the Bronx Bombers.

Padres fans grab the ball

Atlanta Braves left fielder Ramón Laureano watches a home run by the Padres' Kyle Higashioka go over the wall on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET. A Padres win puts them in the National League Division Series.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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