Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer in the first inning and then scored the go-ahead run on Ozzie Albies’ single with one out in the 10th, and the Atlanta Braves held on for a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.
Donaldson, who scored three runs, started the winning rally when he drew a leadoff walk against Luis Perdomo (1-2). He advanced on Nick Markakis’ groundout and scored when Albies singled to right. Tyler Flowers added a two-run double.
Sean Newcomb (3-1) pitched the ninth for the win. He struck out rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. with two on to end the inning.
Luke Jackson struggled to get his 16th save. He allowed Manny Machado’s second homer of the game with one out in the 10th and loaded the bases with two outs before striking out Perdomo on a full-count pitch to end it.
With two runners on, Markakis made a nice catch of Francisco Mejia’s drive to the right-field wall.
Donaldson has three homers and six RBIs in the first two games of the three-game series. Ronald Acuna Jr. homered for the second straight night for the NL East-leading Braves, who have won five of six.
Machado hit his 22nd homer in the first and his 23rd in the 10th. Mejia also homered.
Padres All-Star Kirby Yates blew the save when he allowed Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly for a 4-all tie in the eighth. Yates came on after Gerardo Reyes issued a leadoff walk to Donaldson, who advanced on Markakis’ single and Albies’ grounder before scoring on the sac fly.
Yates was trying for his first six-out save.
San Diego went ahead 4-3 with two outs in the seventh when Manuel Margot stole home after Tatis broke for second and drew a throw to first from left-hander A.J. Minter. First baseman Freddie Freeman’s throw home was high and Margot slid in to score, but was stepped on by catcher Tyler Flowers. Margot stayed in the game. Tatis had been intentionally walked.
After Mejia homered leading off the fifth to tie it at 2, the Padres went ahead without the benefit of another hit. Margot followed with a walk and advanced to third when Flowers had a passed ball and threw wildly for an error while trying to get Margot at second. Julio Teheran hit Greg Garcia with a pitch and then allowed a sacrifice fly by rookie pinch-hitter Josh Naylor.
Acuna tied it with a two-run shot off Craig Stammen with two outs in the seventh, his 23rd.
Donaldson gave the Braves a 2-0 lead with his shot to right-center off left-hander Joey Lucchesi that was estimated at 400 feet. It was his 21st.
Machado hit a line shot to left estimated at 413 feet with two outs in the bottom of the inning.
Lucchesi allowed two runs and three hits in five innings, struck out four and walked two.
Teheran allowed three runs, two earned, and three hits in six innings while striking out six and walking one.
QBS IN THE HOUSE
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks were at the game. Brees and his family have an offseason home in the San Diego area.
UP NEXT
Braves: Rookie RHP Mike Soroka (9-1, 2.42) is scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale. He pitched six strong innings to beat the Padres 3-1 on April 29 at Atlanta.
Padres: Rookie RHP Cal Quantrill (2-2, 4.83) will face the Braves for the second time. He made his MLB debut May 1 at Atlanta, throwing 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball but losing 5-1.
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