The last time the Braves were 12 games above .500, they were 2013 National League champions.
A lot’s changed since the days of Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel and the Upton brothers gracing Turner Field. But the rebuild that jettisoned the aforementioned names has put the Braves where they haven’t been in nearly a half-decade.
The Braves, with some help by a phantom hit by pitch, defeated the Padres 4-2 at SunTrust Park on Thursday, continuing their recent winning ways at home (11-4 in last 15) and moving them a season-high 12 games over .500.
Anibal Sanchez pitched seven shut-out innings, lowering his season ERA to 1.93. In a year that’s included several surprises, Sanchez has eclipsed all expectations as a late-spring signee.
Ender Inciarte, who was 4-for-11 in his past three games, picked up two hits. His monster home run that landed in front of “The Silver Bullet” in right field.
The Braves scored each run off Tyson Ross. Ozzie Albies singled home Inciarte in the third to put them on the board.
In the seventh, Tyler Flowers was hit by a pitch, and though it was apparent in the replay the ball missed him, the call stood. He came around to add an important insurance run.
Eric Hosmer’s two-out doubled scored Jose Pirela and Cory Spangenberg to pull the Padres within one, but Dan Winkler got Hunter Renfroe to line out and end the threat.
The Braves are 3-0 in the current homestand, two-game sweeping the Mets before Thursday’s win.