Padres lose 9-6, 1st road team swept in Atlanta this season
ATLANTA (AP) While the Atlanta Braves are suddenly surging, the San Diego Padres are heading in the wrong direction.
Freddie Freeman homered and the Braves broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, beating the skidding Padres 9-6 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
For San Diego, it was the seventh loss in nine games.
One day after Minnesota dipped below Atlanta to the worst record in the majors, the Braves kept on winning behind a six solid innings from Mike Foltynewicz (8-5) and another strong showing from the offense.
It was the first time they've had five consecutive home games scoring at least seven runs since Aug. 7-10, 1953, the team's debut season in Milwaukee.
''We're not having the kind of season we wanted to,'' Freeman said. ''But we want to finish strong.''
The Braves also put together their first three-game sweep at Turner Field this season, outscoring the Padres 24-10.
Freeman put Atlanta up in the third with his 28th homer, a two-run liner into the right-field seats off Jarred Cosart (0-2).
After Hector Sanchez homered for the Padres in the fifth, the Braves finished off Cosart in the bottom half. Freeman walked with the bases loaded, followed by two-run singles from Matt Kemp and Anthony Recker.
The Braves' two previous three-game sweeps this season came on the road. They're still just 22-44 at Turner Field.
Foltynewicz won his fourth straight decision over six starts. He went six innings, yielding just four hits though he did get touched for a pair of homers. Wil Myers went deep in the sixth, lofting a two-run shot just inside the left-field pole.
Cosart lasted only 4 1-3 innings, charged with seven runs on five hits and three walks.
The Padres scored three runs in the ninth off Chaz Roe before Jim Johnson came on to get the final out for his 14th save.
RARE COMPANY
Myers' homer was his 24th of the season, to go along with 24 stolen bases.
The last San Diego player to pull off such a double was Reggie Sanders in 1999. He had 26 homers and 36 stolen bases.
NEW FACES
Both teams made some minor changes on the first day of expanded rosters.
San Diego called up left-hander Ryan Buchter from Triple-A El Paso of the Pacific Coast League. He has spent most of the season with the Padres, going 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 58 games before being sent out Aug. 20 for a brief stint in the minors.
The Braves, meanwhile, reinstated right-handed reliever Chris Withrow and catcher A.J. Piersynski from the 15-day disabled list, and also called up left-hander Jeb Bradley from Triple-A Gwinnett. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred injured pitcher Eric O'Flaherty to the 60-day disabled list.
UP NEXT
Padres: LHP Clayton Richard (1-3, 3.51) gets the nod Friday as the Padres begin a three-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. The 32-year-old will be making his fourth start since signing with the Padres. He has not allowed an earned run in 14 consecutive innings.
Braves: RHP Joel De La Cruz will again be seeking his first big league win when he starts the opener of a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 27-year-old is 0-7 with a 4.66 ERA in 15 games - including eight starts - since being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. He 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in three appearances vs. the Phillies.
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