The San Diego Padres capped off a series sweep of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday evening, earning a 5-2 victory powered by a strong pitching performance from JP Sears and a big night at the plate from Ty France.
Sears, who carried a 7.92 ERA in 14 starts at Triple-A El Paso heading into the game, looked sharp against the Atlanta lineup in his first major league appearance of the season. He cruised along until Joey Bart launched a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, ending Sears’ outing after 5 2/3 innings pitched. He surrendered five hits and two runs while walking two and striking out five.
San Diego’s relief corps held the lead from there. David Morgan handled 1 1/3 scoreless frames, Wandy Peralta took care of the eighth, and Jason Adam closed things out in the ninth for his second save of the season.
Atlanta starter Martin Perez took the loss, falling to 6-4 on the year. It was the shortest outing of his 12 starts this season — he gave up four hits and three runs in just over four innings, issuing four walks and recording four strikeouts.
France got San Diego on the board in the third inning, crushing a low changeup 417 feet into the second deck in left field for his ninth home run of the year. That launched a stretch in which the Padres scored in four consecutive innings, reaching base with their leadoff hitter in each of those frames.
In the fourth, Manny Machado drew a walk and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly off France’s bat. The fifth inning saw Fernando Tatis Jr. reach on a walk, move to second on a bunt single by Samad Taylor, and then execute a double steal with Taylor before scoring on an RBI single to center by Xander Bogaerts, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Bart’s third homer of the season — with Austin Riley on base following a walk — pulled Atlanta to within 3-2. San Diego answered right back in the bottom of the sixth, however, as Taylor delivered a two-run single to right field to push the cushion to 5-2.
The Padres finished with seven hits compared to Atlanta’s six, drew six walks as a team, and stole four bases on the night.
