ATLANTA BRAVES CONCLUDE FINAL ROAD TRIP OF ’21 REGULAR SEASON WITH WIN IN SAN DIEGO OVER PADRES

The Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at Petco Park out in San Diego, CA, which allowed the National League East-leading Braves to sweep the series.

The Braves got on the board first with a solo home run by Joc Pederson in the top of the second inning. They scored two more runs in the fourth on an RBI double from Travis d’Arnaud in addition to a pinch-hit, RBI single from Ehire Adrianza. The Padres tied the ballgame during the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run triple from Jake Cronenworth and an RBI single from Manny Machado. The Braves retook the lead on a pinch-hit, RBI double by Orlando Arcia in the sixth.

AJ Minter picked up the win in this bullpen game for Atlanta. Will Smith got the save; that was his 35th of the season. Pierce Johnson took the loss for San Diego.

The Braves improved to 83-72 on the 2021 season and increased their lead in the NL East to two and a half games over the Philadelphia Phillies (who lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday). The Braves have tonight off and will be back at Truist Park to kick off their last homestand of the regular season with the opener of a three-game set versus the Phillies on Tuesday night. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:20 pm. The game will be broadcast on WLAQ 1410 AM and 96.9 FM; air time is 6:05 pm.