Padres 6-5 Braves (May 20, 2024) Game Recap

ATLANTA — — Manny Machado’s two-run double in the eighth gave San Diego and the Padres the lead recovered from a five-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Monday in the first game of a split doubleheader.

The Braves blew a 5-0 lead, spoiling a strong start from Reynaldo López, in their fourth straight loss, their longest losing streak of the season. Machado’s double against Joe Jiménez (1-1) allowed Jurickson Profar and Jake Cronenworth to cap a four-run inning. Cronenworth singled in two runs in the inning.

“It’s been all year, we haven’t really left the fight,” Machado said. “This team, until the last takedown is made, we’re going to keep fighting.”

Atlanta led 5-2 heading into San Diego’s four-run eighth. The Padres had lost 117 consecutive games while trailing by three runs in seven innings since their most recent such comeback on May 29, 2021 in Houston.

“Oh my God, I love this team, I love this team,” manager Mike Shildt said.

Shildt said Machado’s opening shot was “Manny doing Manny things.”

Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson strike consecutive circuits in the third inning for Atlanta, which had 12 hits after being held to two runs and 11 hits while losing the first two games of the series.

Ronald Acuña Jr. had three of the Braves’ nine hits in four innings against Dylan Cease, who previously had not allowed more than six hits in a game this season.

Olson and Michael Harris II had run-scoring singles in the first.

López allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in the game against Cease, his former Chicago White Sox teammate.

Jhony Brito (1-2) allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh for the Padres. Robert Suarez, assisted by shortstop Ha-Seong Kim diving socket from a popup hit by Harris into shallow center field, pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.

San Diego right-hander Randy Vásquez was scheduled to face Atlanta’s Chris Sale in Game 2 on Monday night.

TRAINERS ROOM

Padres: Second baseman Xander Bogaerts suffered mild left shoulder inflammation and left the game in the third inning. Bogaerts was injured while diving for a bases-loaded single by Acuña. Shildt said the imaging test results were negative and further testing was planned. Tyler Wade replaced Bogaerts. … Right-hander Logan Gillaspie, promoted from Triple-A Texas-El Paso to become the 27th man in the doubleheader, pitched two scoreless innings.

Braves: Right-hander Daysbel Hernández worked out of a jam in a scoreless ninth after being promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett to become the 27th man. … Right-hander Jackson Stephens elected free agency after declining his outright assignment to Gwinnett. … Receiver Travis d’Arnaud (head contusion) was expected to return for the second game. Receiver Sean Murphy (strained left oblique), absent since March 30, should begin his rehabilitation mission.

FOLLOWING

Padres: Right-hander Joe Musgrove (3-3, 6.37 ERA) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list after recovering from right elbow inflammation when the Padres open a three-game series at Cincinnati Tuesday night .

Braves: Right-hander Charlie Morton (3-1, 3.52) will face right-hander Javier Assad (4-0, 1.49) when the Braves open a three-game series in Chicago on Tuesday night.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB