Braves vs Padres Recap: Bart's HR Not Enough in 5–2 Loss

The Braves came to Petco Park in San Diego looking to bounce back. Atlanta had lost four straight games and needed a win badly. The Padres were rolling though. San Diego had won three games in a row and smelled blood in the water.

Ty France wasted no time. In the bottom of the third inning, the Padres' slugger crushed a fastball from Braves starter Martin Perez. The ball rocketed over the left field wall for a solo home run. The crowd went wild. Just one inning later, France stepped up again with runners on base. He lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that brought Manny Machado across the plate. San Diego led 2-0 and the Braves were already in trouble.

Martin Perez couldn't find his rhythm. The Braves pitcher walked four batters and gave up four hits in just four innings. He was replaced before the game got away from Atlanta completely. But the damage was done.

The Braves weren't going down without a fight. Joey Bart stepped into the batter's box in the sixth inning. JP Sears, the Padres' pitcher, threw a changeup right down the middle. Bart swung hard and the ball sailed over the left field wall for a two-run homer. Austin Riley scored ahead of him. Suddenly Atlanta was back in the game at 2-3.

But San Diego answered right back. In the bottom of that same inning, Samad Taylor smacked a single to right field. Two runners crossed the plate on that one hit. The Padres were now up 5-2 and the momentum swung back their way.

Xander Bogaerts added another run in the fifth when he singled to center with a runner on base. Every hit from the Padres seemed to matter. Atlanta's pitchers were struggling to find outs when it counted most.

The final score was San Diego 5, Atlanta 2. The Padres had their third straight win locked up. This was exactly what they needed.

For the Braves, this loss stung. Atlanta dropped to 48-32 for the season and their struggles continued. They were still looking for answers. Ronald Acuña Jr. remained sidelined with a hamstring injury, which made it tough for the offense to find enough power. Without their star outfielder in the lineup, the Braves couldn't keep pace with San Diego's hot bats.

The Padres improved to 42-38 and stayed in the playoff hunt. JP Sears earned the win on the mound, pitching 5.2 strong innings. Jason Adam closed it out with a save. Ty France was the star of the show. The slugger went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and that early home run that set the tone. San Diego's offense was clicking tonight.