Terdoslavich's 1st MLB homer downs Padres
ATLANTA -- Joey Terdoslavich's pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night at Turner Field gave the 26-year-old his first hit of the 2015 season, his first Major League home run, and pushed the Braves to a 6-5 victory over the Padres.
After going down 5-0 after six innings, it seemed like the Padres were well on their way to a second straight victory at Turner Field, but Atlanta rallied in the bottom of the sixth and the Braves' bullpen staved off the Padres for the final three innings to give Terdoslavich the opportunity to hit the go-ahead homer.
"Our bullpen did a nice job," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez after his relievers tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings. "All those guys that came out there did a nice job."
Video: SD@ATL: Cunniff strikes out Barmes to end the 7th
Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz didn't look as sharp as he has in previous outings, with the Padres peppering him for 12 hits and five earned runs. He gave up four extra-base hits -- three doubles and a home run from Will Venable.
Video: SD@ATL: Venable rips a line-drive solo shot to right
James Shields looked well on his way to getting his first win against the Braves, but ran into trouble in a five-run sixth, where he allowed four hits and a walk. He ended the night after 5 1/3 innings of work, struck out six and allowed seven hits and four earned runs.
"Hitters find holes, they're gonna get hits, and it's unfortunate," Shields said. "But for the most part I was making pitches all night long and keeping them off balance the best I could, but like I said, we're up 5-0 going into that inning. I need to do a better job bearing down out there."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Terdo goes deep: After being reinstated to the big league club last Friday, Terdoslavich announced his presence to Turner Field in a big way Tuesday night, with a pinch-hit home run to lead off the eighth inning and give the Braves a 6-5 lead. Terdoslavich's dad being in attendance made the moment even sweeter.
"I was texting with him afterwards and he said he was still shaking," Terdoslavich said. "He had been there the past few days. It was special that he was here."
Shields' sloppy sixth: The veteran right-hander cruised through five scoreless innings Tuesday night, allowing just three singles. But the Padres' 5-0 lead disintegrated in the sixth, in which Shields gave up five runs on four hits, a walk and an error. He got a no-decision, but the big inning cost him a chance to improve to 8-0.
"His stuff was fine," Black said. "And we've seen enough of James to know, that those of us who have watched every single one of his starts, he's had a very nice knack of getting out of jams and getting out of tough predicaments."
Venable's hot bat: San Diego's leadoff man was a triple shy of the cycle, driving in two of the Padres' five runs. Venable connected on his fifth home run of the season in the third inning, a solo shot just inside the right-field foul pole.
Video: SD@ATL: Venable drives an RBI double to left-center
Foltynewicz's slider: The slider wasn't working particularly well for Foltynewicz Tuesday night, with seven of the Padres' 12 hits off the Braves starter coming from the pitch, including center fielder Venable's solo home run in the third inning.
"I just didn't get them in the dirt or a lot of them just fell over the middle of the plate," Foltynewicz said. "That was just bad execution on my part."
QUOTABLE
"I wasn't in on [the instant replay] when it first started. … But one game is important, as we found out last year in that play-in game. Today [replay] helped us, and it's all about getting the play right. That's why the replay system got into effect. It's a good system." -- Gonzalez, on the team's success with instant replay Tuesday night
Video: SD@ATL: Simmons hits a 3-run double after challenge
IN REVIEW
The Braves challenged a play at the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning after Juan Uribe was called out sliding into home on an Andrelton Simmons bases-loaded double. The call was overturned after two minutes and Uribe was called safe to make the score 5-4. On the very next play, after Simmons was called safe at the plate on a Jonny Gomes single, the Padres made a challenge of their own, but the call stood to keep the game tied at 5.
Video: SD@ATL: Gomes hits an RBI single, Padres challenge
The Braves again won a challenge at the plate in the eighth inning after Melvin Upton Jr. was initially called safe when Uribe fired home to Christian Bethancourt. Gonzalez challenged the play for a second time, and after just 41 seconds the call was overturned and Upton Jr. was called out.
Video: SD@ATL: Uribe fires home to nab M. Upton
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: The Padres will send right-hander Tyson Ross to the hill on Wednesday at 4:10 p.m. PT. Ross earned a road win in Cincinnati on May 5, allowing two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in San Diego's 6-2 win over the Reds.
Braves: After three straight starts where he gave up no more than one run, Williams Perez will try and bounce back from his most recent start against the Pirates, where a lack of fastball command led to four runs and a season-high five walks. He gets the start in Wednesday's 7:10 p.m. ET game.
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