The Padres won two straight series against the Marlins and Reds, two of the worst teams in baseball. If they can beat the National League East-leading Braves, then we might be on to something.
They didn't just beat the Braves, they beat 'em up.
San Diego rolled up nine extra-base hits in an 11-4 win on Monday night, their 6th win in seven games.
1st baseman Eric Hosmer got the scoring started in the 1st inning with a 433-foot home run off Atlanta starter Julio Teheran. Cory Spangenberg, back in the lineup at 3rd base while Christian Villanueva nurses a sore ankle, hit a solo shot in the 2nd inning to make it a 2-0 game.
Catcher Raffy Lopez hit a solo shot in the 4th inning and the Padres blew it open in the 5th. In that inning alone they got five extra base hits. Hunter Renfroe, Lopez, Travis Jankowski, and Hosmer all doubled while Spangenberg tripled. When the dust settled San Diego had plated seven runs and led 10-2.
That was more than enough for starter Clayton Richard, who allowed three runs in 7.0 innings and struck out five. The final Padres run of the night came in the 6th inning when 22-year-old rookie Franmil Reyes went deep. He has five homers in 55 career big league at-bats.
The Padres can win their third consecutive series on Tuesday night when Jordan Lyles takes the mound against Sean Newcomb.
