The Padres went to Atlanta winners of five-straight series. They won’t be able to make it six series wins in a row but they can take a page from hockey’s playbook and go six-straight unbeaten.
Offense was hard to come by in a 1-0 loss to the Braves on Saturday on a soggy evening at SunTrust Park. The Padres will have to win on Sunday to salvage a split of the four-game set.
San Diego starter Jordan Lyles was certainly good enough to get a win. Lyles threw seven innings, struck out six, and gave up the game’s only run when he coughed up a home run to Charlie Culberson in the fifth inning. Kirby Yates threw a perfect eighth inning. The Friars would not need to pitch in the ninth because their offense was stymied by one of the better young lefties in the game.
Sean Newcomb, 25, tossed six innings of two-hit ball and whiffed seven Padres hitters. He only threw 84 pitches and likely would have had a chance to go deeper had it not been for a 25-minute rain delay. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker decided not to send his young star back out, instead of using three relievers to complete the shutout. Newcomb is 8-2 with a 2.70 ERA (seventh-best in the National League).
The Padres best chance to score came in the ninth inning. Hunter Renfroe doubled and Cory Spangenberg took a fastball from Arodys Vizcaino to the ribs to put two runners on with one out. But rookie outfielder Franmil Reyes struck out and shortstop Freddy Galvis grounded out to end the threat and the game.
Sunday will be another bullpen game for the Padres, most likely with Matt Strahm starting again. Atlanta will counter with righty Julio Teheran.
