The Braves had a four-run lead, a chance to steady themselves after a rough stretch, and still found a way to let another game slip away.
Atlanta dropped a 7-6 decision to the Padres in 10 innings Tuesday night at Petco Park, with Manny Machado delivering the walk-off single that sent the Braves to another frustrating loss. For a team searching for consistency, the game served as another example of how quickly things can unravel.
Braves Four-Run Lead Vanishes
The Braves came out swinging in the second inning. After loading the bases, Rowdy Tellez punched a two-run single up the middle to put Atlanta on the board. Michael Harris followed with a double off the wall, extending the lead to 3-0, and Matt Olson worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-0.
That advantage disappeared almost immediately. Rookie starter JR Ritchie opened the bottom half of the inning by walking the first two batters, continuing a control issue that has followed him throughout his early major league appearances. San Diego then strung together a pair of soft singles through the left side, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Fernando Tatis Jr. added an RBI double before Samad Taylor delivered a two-run hit that flipped the scoreboard and gave the Padres a 5-4 lead.
By the time the dust settled, an inning that felt like it might launch Atlanta toward a comfortable night had instead become a back-and-forth slugfest. The second inning alone stretched close to an hour.
Ritchie Recovers, Braves Respond
To his credit, Ritchie regrouped after the rough frame. The young right-hander settled into a rhythm over the next three innings and kept the Padres from adding to their total. He finished his outing on a positive note with consecutive strikeouts, offering at least a glimpse of the potential that earned him the opportunity.
The walks, however, remain a significant issue. Until he consistently throws strikes, outings like this will continue to be difficult.
Atlanta battled back after falling behind. Ozzie Albies tied the game in the fourth with an RBI double, and Mauricio Dubon put the Braves back in front an inning later with a towering home run that left little doubt from the moment it left the bat. Suddenly, Atlanta held a 6-5 lead and appeared positioned to hand the game over to the bullpen.
A Costly Bullpen Decision
Then came a decision that left plenty of observers puzzled.
Carlos Carrasco returned for a second inning of relief in the seventh despite several rested bullpen options being available. The move quickly backfired when Tatis launched a solo home run to tie the game at 6-6. With Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias all available, the choice immediately became a major talking point.
Neither team scored again in regulation, sending the game to extra innings. There, the Padres finally ended it when Machado delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th inning.
The loss added another missed opportunity to a season that has already featured too many of them for Atlanta. A strong offensive start, a recovery from Ritchie’s rocky inning, and a late lead still were not enough to avoid another defeat.
The series concludes Wednesday night with Martin Perez scheduled to face JP Sears.
