The Atlanta Braves were back at Truist Park for the second game of four against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Atlanta won the first game 3-2 with the help of solo home runs from Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies, and a stellar performance on the mound from Bryce Elder (six innings, five hits, four Ks, two earned runs).
On Tuesday, the Braves lost 8-3 following a rough start by Reynaldo Lopez, and an even rougher bullpen relief effort. Atlanta got off to a good start, getting Lopez a few runs to work with in the early innings. With two runners on base in the second inning, shortstop Jim Jarvis hit a triple to deep center field to put Atlanta ahead 2-1. Tuesday was Ha-Seong Kim bobblehead night.
Lopez needed the run support. During his three previous starts in July, he won one, lost one, and had a no-decision after going five innings against the New York Mets on July 6. He has pitched well considering the role he has been playing this season, but gave up five hits and an earned run to the Padres during the first two innings of Tuesday’s game.
After the game, Lopez said he feels like he’s getting closer to commanding his pitchers better during his starts. “I feel like with every outing I’m getting one step closer with my pitches,” he said.
It could have been worse if Michael Harris II, arguably the best defensive centerfielder in baseball alongside Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crwo-Armstrong, didn’t make an amazing catch against the center field fence. Great catches from Harris II have become routine for Braves fans. Defense continued to be the name of the game as Lopez got a pair of douple-plys during the second and third innings to keep San Diego at one run.
Tied at two after a solo home run by Jackson Merrill in the fourth inning, the Padres took the lead on a sacrifice and then extended that lead to 4-2 after Fernando Tatis, Jr. drive in his first RBI of the series with his first hit of the series. Manny Machado, the Padres All-Star third baseman, has been mired in a batting slump and he helped his way out of it with a solo home run in the fifth inning to give his team a 5-2 advantage.
Machado hit another solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Padres a 6-2 lead. It was Machado’s second multi-home run game of the season.
That fifth run, followed by a walk, was all Braves manager Walt Weiss wanted to see of Lopez, at least for tonight. Machado’s second home run was charged to rookie JR Ritchie, who has been relegated to the bullpen, at least for now, and came in in relief. With the bases loaded in the fifth and two outs following a single and a walk, Ritchie got nine-hole hitter Luis Rengifo to ground out to Matt Olson at first base.
Atlanta had their chances. The Braves had the bases loaded following a walk by Olson, a double by Harris II, and a walk by Joey Bart, who pinch-hit for Mike Yastrzemski in the sixth inning. They got left on read after Brewer Hicklen came up empty.
The Braves got another shot with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but Austrin Riley struck out to end the inning.
San Diego didn’t miss their shot with runners on base tonight. The Padres scored runs in five of the first eight innings. Tatis, Jr. hit a two-run home run off Ritchie that put the Padres up 8-3.
On Wednesday, the Braves will start Martin Perez. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
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