The Braves’ sold-out crowd Friday night was treated to a plethora of baseball’s oddities, including an increasingly rare home-team loss.
The Padres derailed the Braves’ perfect homestand, using a seventh-inning rally to win 9-3. It was only San Diego’s third win in Atlanta in its past 16 attempts.
It wasn’t easy reached the conclusion, with no shortage of reviews and squandered scoring opportunities before the Padres’ ripped off a five-run seventh.
The fourth inning was a cluster. The Padres had back-to-back runners thrown out at third base to keep the game tied at two.
San Diego starter Clayton Richard bunted, and Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki fired to third to tag out Freddy Galvis. Manuel Margot was thrown out trying to steal.
Jose Pirela’s two-run homer gave the Padres a lead in the first. Johan Camargo’s plated two with a single in the second.
Brandon McCarthy’s outing defined gutting through a start. He went 5-2/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. McCarthy’s struggled of late, and while Friday wasn’t a sharp performance, he did enough to position the team for a win.
The Braves thought they had a lead in the third. Freddie Freeman, who walked earlier in the frame, appeared to score on Suzuki’s fielder’s choice. But a review determined he was out.
Padres manager Andy Green and home plate umpire Joe West gave fans their fireworks earlier than expected. Ozzie Albies was thought to be struck out, but West ruled it as a foul tip. Green threw his hat at home plate in displeasure, and after getting his money’s worth, was ejected.
Freeman would eventually get his go-ahead run, barely pushing one over the left-field wall for a 3-2 lead in the sixth.
Sam Freeman came through in the seventh, and after getting a double play which included an out at home, Hunter Renfroe punished him with a two-RBI single that put San Diego ahead for good.
Freddy Galvis added a three-run shot off Peter Moylan that put the game out of reach.
