Staff Reports

Atlanta Braves’ starting pitcher Mike Minor (6-9) allowed three runs and a staggering nine hits in six innings as the San Diego Padres smacked the Braves, 4-1.  That’s not to say that the Braves weren’t in this one, but the Padres’ Eric Stults threw a great game, allowing just five hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings.

Stults is known for dominant starts, with an ERA of 0.75 in the first four innings.  After that, his ERA is a staggering 6.94.  That’s a fact that should have given Atlanta hope.  Unfortunately for the Braves, Stults held up better after the first four than the stats would have suggested.

The Braves’ threats started at that magical fourth inning mark, with Jason Heyward reached on first baseman Alonso’s fielding error with two outs and moved to third on Chipper Jones’ single to left. Unfortunately, Freddie Freeman’s groundout ended the inning.

Atlanta’s next challenge came when Martin Prado and Heyward had consecutive singles with two outs in the sixth before Jones ended the inning with a fly ball to center.  Jones is hitting .309 this, his final season, and is a lifetime .304.

The Braves’ record now stands at 66-49 as the fall another game back of the first place Washington Nationals (5.5 games back)