The San Diego Padres were hoping to come out of the All-Star break and push for the playoffs, that may still happen, but the team is making it more difficult than it appeared 3 games ago.
The Padres lost 4-1 to the Atlanta Braves Sunday at Petco Park, giving the Braves a 3 game series sweep.
The loss dropped the Padres record to 45-48, 3 games behind the wild-card leading Washington Nationals. It's a crowded playoff race, as the Padres are just 3 games back but trail 6 other teams.
Padres manager Andy Green called Sundays loss, "frustrating," citing a few plays where the ball just didn't break their way.
"Inches from a home run down the left field line, inches from a home run to center field, you have a couple of those things this series that just didn't go our way."
The possible home run to center came in the 5th inning, when Manny Machado hit a drive that Braves CF Ronald Acuna Jr. tracked to the wall before making a leaping catch to rob Machado of a two-run home run.
The scoreless game turned in the 8th inning, when Trey Wingenter gave up a 3 run homer to Atlanta's Freddie Freeman.
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Two brights spots for the Padres were Fernando Tatis Jr. and starting pitcher Cal Quantrill. Tatis had the first 4 hit game of his career, while Quantrill pitched 6 scoreless innings.
The Padres are off Monday, then start a 3 game series in Miami against the Marlins.
Tatis Jr. said this losing streak won't shake the team.
"We are confident, we know were are going to go out and win games in the future."
