SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego (40-37) earned a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves (48-29) on Monday night time because of the correct arm of Michael King and the bat of Manny Machado.
The Padres opened a troublesome homestand in opposition to the Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, two of the strongest groups within the National League, they usually wanted robust performances from each gamers.
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King entered the sport coming off a rollercoaster five-start stretch by which he allowed six house runs. On Monday, nonetheless, he regarded rather more like himself.
“I think he’s got something with the Braves that feels pretty good for him,” Padres supervisor Craig Stammen stated. “Found his stuff tonight, had good fastball command, had the change up really working, sweeper was going good too. Anytime he gave up a hit, he got right back at the next couple hitters and got him out.”
King pitched seven innings, permitting six hits and no earned runs whereas hanging out 5. It was the primary time he had not allowed an earned run since May 18 in opposition to the Dodgers.
“Definitely trending, still a lot of work to do,” King defined. “I was tired of getting beat up out there, so got a little bit away from a mechanical feeling, more about just competing out there. I know the mechanics will get there, but I always felt like one of my strengths was being able to figure it out almost on the fly and working with what I got. I got away from that last 4-5 starts.”
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King bumped into hassle within the prime of the second inning when Michael Harris II led off with a single. Austin Riley adopted by hitting a ball towards Machado that went off his glove after he appeared to misjudge it. Designated hitter Dominic Smith then hit a gradual curler towards King, who selected to take the out at first, leaving two Braves runners in scoring place with one out. Right fielder Mike Yastrzemski grounded out, and shortstop Jorge Mateo lined out to finish the menace.
The Padres had an opportunity of their very own within the backside of the second. Xander Bogaerts superior to second after a Will Wagner single, placing a runner in scoring place with one out. Catcher Rodolfo Durán then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
In the highest of the fourth inning, Jackson Merrill made a classic Jackson Merrill catch. Instead of robbing a house run, he turned on the jets to trace down a deep fly ball earlier than it reached the wall, drawing a loud ovation from the Petco Park crowd.
“I hugged him like six times today, that was impressive out there,” King stated of Merrill’s catch.
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San Diego lastly broke by within the backside of the fourth when Machado crushed a Grant Holmes slider for his 14th house run of the season, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead.
Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a house run throughout an MLB baseball sport in opposition to the Braves, Monday June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California.
Aaron Brenner – The Sporting Tribune
Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a house run throughout an MLB baseball sport in opposition to the Braves, Monday June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California.
Machado has confronted criticism this season for numbers which might be under his profession requirements, however he has begun to warmth up currently. He went 8-for-35 on the current street journey, batting .228 with two house runs after getting into Monday’s sport hitting .179.
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“Just think about staying committed to the work that I’m doing things staying true to it, and trust in the process,” Machado stated. “Not really worried about the results. It’s just about a matter of if you do what you need to do up there the results will come.”
The protection got here up large within the prime of the sixth inning. First baseman Matt Olson singled to middle, and second baseman Ozzie Albies adopted with a floor ball to first. Ty France recorded the out at first and tried to throw out Albies at second, however the throw struck Albies’ left hand and skipped into the outfield, permitting him to advance all the best way to 3rd. With two outs, King received Harris II to floor out and escape the inning unscathed.
The Padres had a possibility so as to add insurance coverage within the backside of the eighth when Machado led off with a double to left discipline. However, he was stranded there after Miguel Andújar struck out, France popped out, Bogaerts walked and Jase Bowen struck out.
Fortunately for San Diego, nearer Mason Miller shut the door for his twenty first save of the season. Albies flew out earlier than Harris II and Yastrzemski struck out. There was some late drama as Riley singled and Smith walked, however Miller escaped the jam.
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“This is how the Padres have probably won ever since I’ve been a Padre,” Stammen stated. “It feels like these are normal Padre wins. Low-scoring one or two run games, and find a way to close it out with a with an elite closer.”
San Diego will proceed the sequence in opposition to Atlanta on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. PT. JR Ritchie (1-2) is scheduled to begin for the Braves, whereas the Padres have but to announce a starter.