DENVER -- Tuesday's bottom of the first began with Fernando Tatis Jr., arguably the most magnetic star in the sport, digging in against Shohei Ohtani, undoubtedly the most unique talent in baseball history. A quick acknowledgement was followed by two fastballs, then a slider, then a splitter, then another slider. Ohtani induced a flyout. Tatis returned to the dugout in bewilderment.
"He gave me everything!" Tatis exclaimed. "I thought he was gonna give me only fastballs. Come on, man -- you throw a hundred!"
A dark cloud has hung over Major League Baseball over these last few weeks.