The Padres lost a pivotal game as the trade deadline rapidly approaches, dropping 3 out of 4 in Atlanta against the Braves. After Kyle Hart served as an opener and tossed a scoreless first inning, the Padres jumped on Cy Young candidate Chris Sale for 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning. Griffin Canning entered as a bulk pitcher in the bottom of the 2nd, and served up a solo home run to the first batter he faced, Michael Harris II. Canning gave up a solo home run to Ozzie Albies to lead off the bottom of the 4th inning, and then with 2 on and 2 outs, Dominic Smith hit a back-breaking 3-run homer to give the Braves a 5-3 lead, which followed Mauricio Dubon reaching on a catcher’s interference call, the second of the series to go against San Diego. Drake Baldwin added Atlanta’s fourth long ball of the game, a solo shot in the bottom of the 7th, giving the Braves a 3-run cushion. In the top of the 8th inning, the white hot Ty France hit a 2-run home run to bring the Padres back to within a run of the Braves. The Padres mounted another rally in the top of the 9th inning trailing by one run, even getting the go-ahead run on base. Jake Cronenworth smacked a two-out single to left field, followed by an opposite field single by Fernando Tatis Jr., bringing Luis Rengifo to the plate with runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. Despite hitting a home run off of Braves closer Raisel Iglesias the night before, Rengifo wouldn’t have as much luck on this day, as he struck out swinging to end the game, dropping the Padres to 3 games below .500. The Padres begin a crucial series against the Marlins in Miami on Friday.
You can watch the Jamul Casino Resort Padres Postgame Show below, with full highlights from the game and Craig Stammen’s postgame press conference.