Braves rally late, hold on to defeat Padres 7-5

Donaldson and Acuña homered again but Albies and Flowers came through in the 10th

Ozzie Albies singled home Josh Donaldson in the 10th inning to put the Braves back in front for good in a 7-4 win over the San Diego Padres.

Donaldson got the Braves started early as he jumped on a fastball from Joey Lucchesi and drove it out to right center to put Atlanta in front 2-0 in the first. Donaldson now has three homers in the series and 13 in his last 27 games.

Manny Machado would cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning with a long solo homer to left off of Julio Teheran to make it 2-1. San Diego would strike again against Teheran in the fifth. Francisco Mejia led off the inning with a solo shot that tied the game at 2-2. Manuel Margot then worked a walk and advanced all the way to third on a passed ball and a throwing error by catcher Tyler Flowers. Greg Garcia was then hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners with no one out.

Josh Naylor gave San Diego the lead with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-2. Teheran then rallied back to get Fernando Tatis to ground out and then struck out Eric Hosmer to end the inning.

The score would remain 3-2 until the seventh when Ronald Acuña Jr. stepped to the plate with two outs against Craig Stammen and launched his 23rd home run of the season out to left off to tie the game.

Teheran exited after six having allowed three hits and three runs although just two of those were earned. He struck out six and walked just one.

A.J. Minter came on for the seventh and worked himself into trouble quickly walking Margot to lead off the inning. A bunt by Greg Garcia moved Margot to second and he came over to third on a wild pitch. Wil Myers came on to pinch hit but struck out for the second out of the inning. The Braves then elected to walk Tatis intentionally to set up the lefty/lefty matchup against Hosmer. Minter then threw behind Tatis at first on a pick off attempt as he broke early for second but Margot scored on the play as Dansby Swanson’s throw to the plate sailed high.

The Braves weren’t finished though. Donaldson walked to lead off the eighth and Andy Green opted to bring in closer Kirby Yates for the six-out save opportunity. Nick Markakis quickly fell behind 0-2 but fought off a tough pitch and served it into left for an opposite field single. Ozzie Albies then grounded to first but beat the relay throw from second to put runners at the corners with one out. That set the stage for Austin Riley who hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Donaldson and tie the game at 4-4. Yates recovered by striking out Flowers to end the inning.

Anthony Swarzak made his first appearance since being activated off the injured list in the eighth. He got Manny Machado to pop out to lead off the inning but then walked Ian Kinsler. Swarzak battled back though striking out Hunter Renfroe while Flowers threw out Kinsler trying to steal to end the frame.

Brian Snitker turned to Sean Newcomb in the ninth who walked both Margot and Myers but struck out Tatis to send the game to extra innings.

Luis Perdomo took over for San Diego in the 10th and wasn’t as fortunate. Donaldson walked to lead off the inning and moved up to second on a ground out by Markakis. Albies followed with a single to right that scored Donaldson and give Atlanta back the lead at 5-4.

After a walk to Riley, Flowers doubled off the right field wall to bring home two more insurance runs to make it 7-4.

Luke Jackson again made things interesting in the bottom half of the inning. Hosmer grounded out to get the inning started but Machado drove a high fastball out to right to cut the deficit to 7-5. Kinsler followed with an infield single and Renfroe walked to put the tying runs on base at first and second. Mejia then blasted one to right that Markakis made a leaping grab at the wall for the second out of the inning.

The Braves then walked Margot to load the bases because the Padres were out of position players forcing Perdomo to bat for himself. Jackson then ran the count to 3-2 before striking him out to end the game.

The win gives Atlanta their firsts series win in San Diego since 2011. They will go for a sweep on Sunday with Mike Soroka on the mound.