ATLANTA – The Braves take advantage of the Padres’ bullpen day, defeating San Diego 7-1 for game two of the three-game series Saturday afternoon. 

Reliever Sean Reynolds got the start as starter Michael King was scratched from his start less than an hour before first-pitch. 

Atlanta (25-26) got to Reynolds in the second inning off an infield-base hit to take a 1-0 lead. San Diego responded immediately in the second with an RBI base hit on a front-door slider from third baseman Manny Machado off starter Grant Holmes. 

Despite the Friars’ struggles, Machado (.317 BA, .852 OPS) has been a bright spot for San Diego. He finished his day 2/2 with an RBI and two walks.

The Braves retook the lead in the third, with a solo shot from first baseman Matt Olson (12). Third baseman Austin Riley kept the two-out rally going with a double, followed up by an RBI single from second baseman Ozzie Albies to extend the lead to 3-1. 

Runners left-on-base was the story for the Friars offense today, leaving 10 on base and going 1-10 with runners in scoring position. Holmes tightened down whenever the Padres were threatening, getting out of jams and finishing his outing with six strikeouts and one run allowed in seven innings. 

Atlanta cracked it open in the fifth with a two-run bomb from right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. off reliever Alek Jacob. Acuna struck again, going back-to-back days with a home run in his debut series to push the lead to 5-1. 

The Braves offense was all over Jacob (1-0, 6.94 ERA), tagging on two more in the seventh to take a commanding 7-1 lead and put San Diego to bed. 

The Friars (28-22) look to bounce back and take the rubber match against Atlanta on Sunday, at 1:10 p.m. Dylan Cease (1-3, 4.50 ERA) will get the start for the Padres against Spencer Schwellenbach (3-3, 3.52 ERA).

King was scratched from his start against the Braves less than an hour before game time due to right shoulder stiffness. 

King (4-2, 2.59 ERA) slept on his shoulder awkwardly and felt uncomfortable ahead of today’s start. The Padres thought it best to give him the day off.

San Diego does not believe the injury to be long-term.