In his first major league at bat, San Diego center fielder Travis Jankowski ripped a single up the middle against St Louis Cardinal pitcher John Lackey.
The Lancaster Catholic 2008 graduate is now an official major league ballplayer.

Here is the San Diego Union’s report of Jankowski’s first game:

Jankowski, for instance, gave the fans something to cheer about. He became just the third player in Padres history to record a hit in each of his first two plate appearances of his first career game, and the first since Wiki Gonzalez in 1999.

“It was a great experience and something I’ll never forget,” said Jankowski, who finished 2-for-4. “…I think for the most part, it’s still surreal.

“I had some butterflies. But, honestly, if not for the guys in the clubhouse, I would have been more nervous.”

Of his first at-bat, Jankowski said: “(Lackey) didn’t want to fall behind 2-0, and I got a good pitch to hit.”

Regarding the second at-bat: “He elevated a fastball, I didn’t put a great swing on it but had enough on it with the infield in and just squeaked that one by.”

Padres interim manager Pat Murphy: “You can tell he got his breathing under control. You could tell he was nervous in the first at-bat, but after that base hit, you could see all the weight come off his shoulders.”

In Jankowski’s third at-bat, he lined out to left, robbed by a diving catch. As he jogged back to the dugout, much of the crowd of 32,734 stood and applauded.

“That actually had me smiling a little bit and gave me some chills,” Jankowski said. “That was a fantastic experience. The fans were great all game.”

They did the same for Solarte, the second-year major leaguer who has turned third base from a weakness into a steady source of production. In 120 at-bats since the All-Star break, Solarte is hitting .317 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs and 17 RBIs.

“He believes he can play,” Murphy said. “You can see it in him. Look at the defense he’s playing. Look at the way he responds to a poor at-bat. This kid believes.”

The Box Score: