May 23, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez (75) reacts after the Padres defeated the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Atlanta, Georgia – Manny Machado knew the Padres needed a jolt. In a game filled with tension, returns, and razor-thin margins, the Padres captain delivered.
Machado launched a 109-mph missile into the left-field seats at Truist Park on Friday night, lifting the San Diego Padres to a gritty 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves and snapping a frustrating six-game losing streak. The clutch blast came off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias to open the ninth inning and silenced a sellout crowd moments after they had roared for the return of Ronald Acuña Jr.
It was Machado’s fourth homer of the season and a moment that felt like a turning point—not just in the game, but perhaps the Padres’ season. San Diego now holds a seven-game win streak over Atlanta dating back to last year’s postseason.
“I knew I had to come through,” Machado said postgame. “We’ve been grinding, and that one felt good—for the team, for the fans, for the guys in the clubhouse.”
Before Manny’s moment of catharsis, the game had plenty of drama.
Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. made his long-awaited return after nearly a full year recovering from ACL surgery—and wasted no time making his presence felt. He crushed the first pitch he saw from Padres starter Nick Pivetta 467 feet to left-center, staking Atlanta to a 1-0 lead just seconds into the game.
But Pivetta bounced back like a veteran, tossing six strong innings while striking out seven and not allowing another run. His counterpart, Chris Sale, was equally impressive for the Braves, giving up just one run in seven innings—an opposite-field homer from Gavin Sheets in the second. It was Sheets’ third long ball in two games, and incredibly, just the 19th homer Sale has allowed to a left-handed hitter in over 1,500 such matchups.
The Padres took a narrow 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth, and things got dicey. Closer Robert Suarez, looking to rebound from two straight blown saves, gave up a leadoff single to Alex Verdugo. Pinch-runner Eli White advanced to second on a groundout, but was caught in a mental mistake when he misread a bloop single by Ozzie Albies. Center fielder Jackson Merrill fired to Luis Arraez, who relayed to Xander Bogaerts to tag out White as he scrambled back to second.
Suarez then induced a groundout from Michael Harris II to slam the door and notch his 16th save of the season.
The Padres will look to carry the momentum into Saturday’s matchup, with Michael King set to face Atlanta right-hander Grant Holmes.
For now, though, Padres fans can savor a much-needed win—and a reminder of what this team is capable of when its stars deliver.
