Padres collapse after catch turns into game-tying homer in bizarre loss to Rays

A catch that appeared to end the game instead became a two-run homer, sending the San Diego Padres to a 5-4, 11-inning loss against the Tampa Bay Rays.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and a runner on first, Padres reliever Mason Miller threw a high inside slider. Rays batter Jonny DeLuca drove the ball deep to left field, where Samad Taylor caught it but hit the outfield wall. The ball fell out of his glove and went over the wall, tying the game.

Taylor said he had judged the ball well and reached the wall in time, but took one extra step and collided with it. “The ball went into my glove, so I should have caught it,” he said. “We should have been talking about a win, not the mistake I made.”

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I judged the ball well, ran to the wall, and caught it, but I took one extra step, hit the wall, and the ball went over the wall for a home run.

San Diego briefly moved ahead by a run in the 11th. In the bottom half, however, the Rays loaded the bases with one out. A fielding error by Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts tied the game before Jorge Mateo delivered a walk-off single.

The defeat ended a notable Padres streak. The team had gone 59-0 this season when leading after eight innings. Miller gave up two runs in one inning, including his second homer allowed this season, and recorded his second blown save. His earned-run average rose to 1.26. San Diego has now lost three straight and was swept by Tampa Bay.

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The ball went into my glove, so I should have caught it. We should have been talking about a win, not the mistake I made. I can only put it behind me, turn the page, and come back tomorrow.