Segura walked to the mound, first baseman Rhys Hoskins said, and uttered the words: “’Hey Ranger, give me another one. Right away.’ That’s just the kind of mentality you have to have, and it’s awesome to see Jean come through.’’
“We’re all going to make mistakes,’’ Segura says. “We’re human. …I feel really bad when I make that mistake, but I don’t let that bother me. I keep playing the game the right way. I keep hustling. I keep diving for baseballs. That’s the way you want to handle the mistake, not let it get to your head.
“Instead of, ‘Coach, I’m here. I’m scared for them to hit it to me. I’m not ready.’
“No, let it go by. …Maybe I get an opportunity later in the game to win the game, or maybe do something special tonight.’’
Well, redemption was just around the corner. The Phillies rallied in the bottom of the fourth with runners on second and third with two outs. Segura walked to the plate.
“In his at-bat,’’ Realmuto said, “we were actually screaming from the dugout. We’ve seen it before. He pushes that button.’’
Padres starter Joe Musgrove quickly got ahead with two strikes, threw a ball in the dirt that Segura laid off. He fouled off a 93-mph fastball the next pitch. Musgrove, knowing Segura would be aggressive, threw a slider, low and away, barely above the ground.
Segura swung anyway, and hit a soft fly ball to center field. He watched the ball drop. Spiked his bat. And ran to first base.