Padres can’t complete sweep as Sale silences Friar bats
May 20, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez (98) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Truist Park- Atlanta, Georgia
After a dramatic comeback to win Game 1 of the doubleheader and the third game of the series, the Padres took the field Monday evening in Atlanta seeking a rare road four-game sweep.
Randy Vasquez made the start for San Diego, still filling in for the injured Joe Musgrove. The Braves countered with seven-time All-Star lefty Chris Sale.
Sale was in his best form, looking like his All-Star self. He tossed seven shutout innings as the Braves salvaged the finale of the four-game set with the Padres, winning 3-0.
Ronald Acuna Jr. got the scoring started for Atlanta by leading off the bottom of the first with a triple. He scored on a single by Ozzie Albies. Travis d’Arnaud singled home another run in the bottom of the third. Marcell Ozuna then launched yet another home run in the fifth, boosting the Braves lead to 3-0 after five innings.
To Vasquez’s credit, he recorded a “quality start” (six innings with three runs or less). Vasquez was able to get through six innings despite early trouble, limiting the damage to three runs.
Unfortunately for the Padres, Sale dominated on the mound. In seven shutout innings, he struck out nine and walked zero. Many Padres hitters were on their heels. They did collect seven hits, six of them singles. Luis Arraez went 2-for-4 with the lone extra-base hit for San Diego, a double.
Jurickson Profar was the other Friar to collect a multi-hit game.
The team went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. They struck out ten total times without working a single walk. Frankly, the offense didn’t put up much of a fight.
Don't think you could've asked for much more out of Randy Vasquez today in Atlanta. 6 innings of 3-run ball.
The problem is that Chris Sale has been terrific. 7 scoreless innings. Braves leading 3-0.
— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) May 21, 2024
Enyel De Los Santos worked a scoreless seventh, and Wandy Peralta matched him in the eighth. But it was Sale, along with Atlanta’s bullpen of former Padre Pierce Johnson and closer Raisel Iglesias, that shut the Padres out.
All in all, it was a successful trip to Atlanta for the Padres. Despite dropping the series finale, they won three out of four and notched the series win.
The team now heads for Cincinnati, where they begin a three-game set with the Reds starting Tuesday.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.