Braves Lose to Padres For Fifth Time in Six Games

Sep 14, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley (7) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Padres 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
At least the Braves didn’t get no-hit. Julio Teheran broke up Burch Smith’s no-hit bid in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the offense was mostly nonexistent as the Atlanta Braves fell to the San Diego Padres 4-0 on Sunday afternoon.

Teheran was looking very good for the Braves for most of the game and held the Padres in check through the first five innings. In the sixth inning though, things fell apart when Venable singled to get things started for the Padres and then stole second base. Gyorko brought Venable home with a single of his own and then Chase Headley homered to put the Padres up 3-0. It was Headley’s third homer in the three game series.

A Tommy Medica solo homer in the 7th ultimately proved superfluous as the Braves never mounted a challenge and were shut out. Teheran looked dominant for most of the game and issued no walks but Headley and the Padres continued their inexplicable dominance of the first place Braves.

The Braves will head to Washington to take on the Nationals. With their magic number still at four, the Braves can clinch the NL East with two wins over the Nats in DC. The Braves have a 2.5 game lead over the Dodgers for best record in the National League, so while their recent poor stretch has been discouraging the Braves are still the best team in the NL. The Braves will try to get their offense back on track against a Washington team they have dominated thus far in 2013.