DENVER -- Xander Bogaerts got the hardest parts out of the way early.
He homered to lead off the second inning on Thursday afternoon, then, after the Padres batted around, he tripled to cap a seven-run rally. In the fourth, he laced a double that one-hopped the left-center-field wall at Coors Field.
All he needed was that measly single.
“I wanted it bad, I can tell you that,” Bogaerts said.
It wasn’t to be. In the Padres’ 9-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field, Bogaerts fell a single shy of what would have been his first career cycle and the fourth in Padres history. He struck out in each of his final two at-bats, but he made a small bit of franchise history nonetheless.
On the first pitch of the second inning, Bogaerts launched a home run. Nine batters later, he capped that seven-run rally with an RBI triple. In doing so, he became the first Padre to record a home run and a triple in the same inning.
Bogaerts tacked on his double a couple of innings later. But he couldn’t quite join Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Jake Cronenworth as Padres who have hit for the cycle. Kemp and Myers, the first two to accomplish the feat, did so at Coors Field.
Bogaerts was attempting to join a very short list of players who have hit for a “reverse cycle.” Cubs superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong accomplished the feat earlier this season, and only four other players have done so in the expansion era (since 1961): Rajai Davis in 2016, Carlos Gomez in 2008, Luke Scott in 2006 and Jim Fregosi in 1968.
More importantly, the Padres extended their lead in the National League Wild Card race to four games over the Diamondbacks -- and Bogaerts, who has struggled for much of the season, appears to be heating up.
“I’m feeling good, hitting the balls hard,” Bogaerts said. “With a little bit more flight instead of being on the ground, I’ll always be a little better.”
It’s been a grind of a season for Bogaerts offensively. He's hitting .226 with a .661 OPS. But his at-bats have been better lately, and Thursday offered proof of concept.
“Just to see a guy that’s struggled a little bit through the season -- he’s had a lot of balls hit right at people -- and for some to fall in and him to be so close to the cycle, it was pretty exciting," said manager Craig Stammen.
Of course, even by Coors Field standards, the Padres had a comfortable lead for Bogaerts’ last two at-bats. He had time to mull what he might do if he hit one to the gap. He’d come to a conclusion.
“I’ve thought about it, and I might’ve held up,” Bogaerts said with a laugh. “There’s a good chance. Only one time [I’d do it]: To get the cycle.”