The Braves have played 20 road games since the first week of August … and lost 18 of them.
Since Kris Medlen threw eight scoreless innings in a win against the Padres on Aug. 28, 2012, the Braves have played 10 games in San Diego … and lost every one of them.
The Braves’ road woes and San Diego skid continued unabated after the Padres scored two runs in the eighth inning against the porous bullpen Wednesday for a 3-2 win that completed a sweep at Petco Park and spoiled an impressive start by Julio Teheran.
The Padres have swept the Braves three years in a row in San Diego, marking the first time they swept any opponent in three consecutive series at home since they did it against the Reds in 1993-95 at old Jack Murphy Stadium.
“It’s definitely weird,” said Braves first baseman (and southern California native) Freddie Freeman, who went 1-for-3 with a soft single and a walk in his first game back from the disabled list. “They obviously have a good team over there. They have pitching and a lot of guys who can hit the ball a long ways. We just ran into some tough luck here in San Diego, but there’s always next year.”
It wasn’t as much of a surprise that it happened to the Braves this time than in years past, as they’ve been the worst road team in the majors in the second half of the season, surpassing the Phillies for that dubious distinction over 10 weeks.
They have scored only 48 runs while posting a 5.42 ERA during their 2-18 road malaise, and now they travel to Chicago for a four-game series against the contending Cubs, beginning Friday with a matchup against Jake Arrieta (2.39 ERA).
During the same period when they’ve lost 18 of 20 on the road, the Braves are 9-7 at home with a 3.95 ERA.
“I just know we haven’t won (in San Diego) in a while,” Freeman said. “Obviously we have been playing well at home. Hopefully we can have a nice end to this road trip in Chicago.”
Nick Markakis had three hits and a walk and drove in both Braves runs in Wednesday’s loss, with a single in the third for a 1-0 lead, and a one-out double in the eighth that cut the Padres’ lead to 3-2.
In between, Teheran gave up a a sixth-inning homer to Yangeris Solarte, and rookie left-hander Matt Marksberry (0-2) got knocked around for two runs in the seventh on three hits including RBI doubles by Austin Hedges and Solarte.
How much, manager Fredi Gonzalez was asked, did he think about leaving Teheran in to pitch the seventh instead of having Nick Swisher pinch-hit for him in the seventh with one out and a runner on first? Teheran limited the Padres to four hits and one run in six innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts in 96 pitches.
“A lot. I really did,” Gonzalez said. “But it’s the seventh inning and he’s got 90-something pitches, and he threw the 36-pitch first inning and it’s a 1-1 game. We split a gap there, and we’ve got the lead. But I did think about it, absolutely.” You have to. The way things are going, you have to try to push those starters as much as you can.”
He didn’t push Teheran any further than the sixth Wednesday, and Swisher and Michael Bourn struck out to end inning in a 1-1 game — which became 3-1 soon after Marksberry entered.
Peter Moylan was brought in with two outs and two on and put out the Marksberry fire by getting Matt Kemp to fly out. But the damage had been done. Again. Braves relievers gave up 10 runs and 13 hits in 6 2/3 innings in the series, and the Braves were outscored 17-5 in three games.
Teheran worked out of a jam in a 36-pitch first inning, when he loaded the bases with one out on a hit batter, a single and a walk. After walking Justin Upton, he recorded 14 outs in a 14-batter span before Solarte’s leadoff homer in the sixth.
After struggling severely on the road for most of the season, Teheran has three quality starts in his past four road games, and he’s 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in four August starts including two road games.
Padres starter Tyler Ross (9-9) allowed six hits and one run in six innings, with three walks and five strikeouts.
Ross got out of trouble in the fifth, when the Braves had two on with none out and their two best hitters with runners in scoring position, a prime opportunity to extend their 1-0 lead. But Cameron Maybin grounded into a double play and Freeman flied out.
