Tatis' homer lifts Padres over Braves 6-5 in suspended game

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. homered leading off the top of the seventh inning and the staggering San Diego Padres beat the NL East-leading Braves 6-5 Friday night in the resumption of a game that was suspended due to rain in Atlanta on July 21.

The Braves' lead over the Phillies fell to one game after Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh 8-6.

The Padres, meanwhile, are plummeting toward the biggest collapse in franchise history. San Diego started the day six games behind St. Louis for the second wild card while also trailing Philadelphia and Cincinnati. They had a one-game lead for the second wild card on Sept. 9.

The teams were to play the regularly scheduled opener of a three-game series shortly after the conclusion of the suspended game.

The Padres, wearing their home white uniforms, were the visiting team in their own ballpark. After a rare San Diego rain delay, Tatis' 41st homer, off Will Smith, regained the lead for the Padres after Braves pinch-hitter Adam Duvall tied it with a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

“You always feel good with Tatis at the plate,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “That was just a great at-bat. He was on some pitches, laid off some tough pitches, got it to 3-2 and to be able to drive the ball a touch right of center, impressive, but we’ve seen him to it. Huge at-bat.”

Daniel Hudson (5-2) got the win and Mark Melancon pitched the seventh for his 38th save. Hudson wasn't with the Braves when the July 21 game began. Smith (3-9) took the loss.

On July 21, the Padres won the first game of a split doubleheader and were leading the second game 5-4 in the fifth inning when it was suspended after a delay of 3 hours, 3 minutes. Since it was at the end of a series, it was rescheduled for Friday.

The teams still couldn't escape bad...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Tatis-homer-lifts-Padres-over-Braves-6-5-in-16486405.php