 took a shutout into the sixth before surrendering a two-run single to Nick Markakis. The left-hander allowed eight hits, struck out six and didn't walk anyone before turning it over to the bullpen.The game was so out hand the Braves turned to Charlie Culberson to pitch the ninth, moving him from left field to make his second big league appearance on a mound. He allowed hit and walked two but drew a big cheer from what was left of the sparse crowd by escaping a bases-loaded jam, getting Francisco Mejia on a flyout to deep center. Culberson also got his first major league strikeout.Kinsler homered off Foltynewicz (0-1) in the third and came through again in the fifth, doubling to left-center to bring home another run. The Padres were just getting started, sending 10 platers to the plate as they increased the lead to 6-0 and knocked out the Braves starter.Foltynewicz didn't help his cause, fielding Manny Machado's grounder but throwing wildly to second on an attempted force that allowed Kinsler to score. Eric Hosmer followed with a sacrifice fly that should have been the third out, and Wil Myers and Manuel Margot tacked on run-scoring singles. Austin Hedges, who started the outburst with a bunt single, popped out against Grant Dayton that finally ended the inning.Myers hit a two-run shot in the sixth off Shane Carle and finished with three RBIs. Hosmer had two RBIs in the 17-hit barrage.Foltynewicz, making his second start for the Braves after openinng the season on the injured list, surrendered eight hits and six runs, though only two were earned.The Padres won two of four games in Atlanta after going 1-10 on their previous trips to Georgia going back to 2016. Still, they haven't won a series at the home of the Braves since September 2013.It was the most runs allowed by the Braves at SunTrust Park since an 11-6 loss to St. Louis last Sept. 17.TRAINER'S ROOMBraves 3B Josh Donaldson missed his third straight game because of a sore right calf. Super sub Johan Camargo filled in again, making his sixth start in seven days.UP NEXTPadres: After going 4-3 on a weeklong trip, they return home for the opener of a three-game weekend series against NL West rival Los Angeles. LHP Eric Lauer (2-3, 4.41 ERA) is scheduled to go against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 2.25).Braves: Begin a 10-game road trip at Miami, where RHP Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.80) takes the mound against the Marlins' Jose Urena (1-4, 5.08). After three games in South Florida, Atlanta travels to Los Angeles and Arizona.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry---For more baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/apf-Baseball and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Behind improving 'pen, Braves seek series win over Padres Perhaps the Atlanta Braves' bullpen woes are subsiding, at least for the time being.Since the relief staff had a meltdown last Saturday, the bullpen has pitched well. Over the first three games of the four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres that concludes Thursday afternoon, Atlanta relievers have thrown a total of seven scoreless innings to help the Braves post two victories.The bullpen threw two scoreless frames in relief of starter Max Fried on Wednesday in Atlanta's 5-1 win. The big moment came in the eighth when veteran right-hander Josh Tomlin entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs -- all courtesy of rookie Jacob Webb -- and retired the next three batters.Tomlin got a forceout at the plate after a grounder to the mound, then struck out Manny Machado and Hunter Renfroe to end the inning."We always have the most confidence in them," Atlanta rookie starter Mike Soroka said of the bullpen after his Monday win. "We've seen what all these guys did last year. (Despite) what's happened the last couple of weeks, they're in there, doing their jobs, working hard every day to get better and make sure that door does get shut every single day." Tomlin has retired Machado -- who entered the series 5-for-8 against him -- twice in the series."No situation fazes him," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said of Tomlin. "He's a gutsy guy. He keeps making pitches. If they hit him, they hit him. He's not going to give in. He's going to keep trying to make his pitches." The Braves even got an inning of scoreless relief from A. J. Minter on Wednesday. The left-hander gave up a big lead on Saturday and got in trouble on Sunday before being bailed out. Minter lowered his ERA from 9.35 to 8.38 on Wednesday.In the series finale Thursday, Atlanta right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will oppose San Diego left-hander Matt Strahm (0-2, 3.04). It will be the second start of the season for Foltynewicz. Strahm had his start moved back a day in favor of 2016 first-round draft choice Cal Quantrill, who made his major league debut on Wednesday.Foltynewicz began the season on the injured list because of a bone spur in his right elbow. The 2018 All-Star received mixed reviews for his first start, against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. He worked six innings and allowed four runs while striking out five in a game the Braves lost 9-5.This will be the fourth career start for Foltynewicz against the Padres. He's 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 16 2/3 innings vs. San Diego. He lost his last start to the Padres on June 6, 2018, despite allowing only two runs in five innings.Strahm struggled in his first start of the year, allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but since then, he has been outstanding.Over the past four outings, Strahm has allowed a total of five runs (four earned) over 24 innings. The best was an eight-inning start against the Cincinnati Reds that saw him allow one run on two hits. In his latest outing, Strahm gave up two runs over six innings and received no decision in San Diego's 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday."I've learned as a reliever, so that's where I've just decided to keep the same mentality of, 'It's just that batter,' " Strahm said. "If it happens to be 18 to 25 batters that day, it's 18 to 25 batters. But every batter I face, it's as if I'm out of the bullpen. I'm going to come at you. I'm going to get you now." The Thursday game will be Strahm's fourth appearance and third career start against the Braves. In six total innings in 2018, he has a 1.50 ERA with seven strikeouts.--Field Level Media
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