LDN - Sports

Braves complete first home sweep behind Foltynewicz

[September 02, 2016] ATLANTA -- It took until September, but the Atlanta Braves finally have a series sweep at home this season.

Mike Foltynewicz won his fourth straight decision and Freddie Freeman homered in a three-RBI game as the Braves defeated the San Diego Padres 9-6 on Thursday.

The Braves outscored San Diego 24-10 in the three-game series to sweep the Padres for the first time since 2008 and the revived offense has scored at least seven runs in each of the team's past five home games.

"Obviously we're not having the season we wanted to, but we're trying to end strong," said Freeman, who has a career-best 28 homers. "We've been playing better baseball the last couple of months. We welcome those sweeps."

Adonis Garcia reached base four times for the Braves (51-83) on two hits, a walk and a hit batter. Ender Inciarte, on a 12-game hitting streak, and Matt Kemp also had two hits.

It is a splurge for the Braves, a team that hadn't scored at least seven runs in five straight home games since 1953 -- the first year for the franchise in Milwaukee.

"We've been swinging the bat pretty well lately," Freeman said. "Obviously, the big part is Ender at the top of the order. He's been huge. Adonis has been huge and Matt lengthens our lineup. It's kind of been steamrolling lately."

Foltynewicz (8-5) allowed four hits over six innings, the only damage coming on a two-run homer by Wil Myers and a bases-empty drive by Hector Sanchez. The right-hander struck out three and walked none.

"The changeup was working real well for me today," Foltynewicz said. "The fastball didn't have the life it usually does, but I stayed aggressive and got away with some things. The mental side is starting to click for me."

Jarred Cosart, who had posted a 2.88 ERA in his previous five starts for the Padres (55-78), was chased in a five-run fifth. The right-hander was charged with seven runs while giving up five hits, walking three and hitting a batter in 4 1/3 innings.

San Diego's three starters made it through just 10 innings total in the series, allowing 14 runs.

Cosart (0-2) hit Garcia with two outs in the third inning before Freeman pulled a 2-0 changeup over the right-field fence. Freeman's previous high in homers was 23, done in 2012 and 2013.

The Braves knocked Cosart out of the game in the fifth, Foltynewicz starting the five-run uprising with an infield single to Luis Sardinas at shortstop.

"I thought that play hurt," Padres manager Andy Green said. "Obviously, I'd like to have seen [Sardinas] get to the ball a little quicker. ... Just because it's a pitcher, it doesn't mean he can't run down the line."

Foltynewicz made it a point to hustle.

"I told myself, 'If you're going to run, you might as well beat it out,'" Foltynewicz said. "A couple guys said it got them going. Sometimes it's little things like that."

Freeman drew a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch before Kemp's two-run single finished Cosart's day. Anthony Recker's single off Brad Hand delivered the final two runs of the inning.

[to top of second column]

Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) delivers a pitch to a San Diego Padres batter in the fourth inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

"I thought Jared Cosart threw the ball better than his line is going to show," Green said.

Foltynewicz retired the first nine batters, needing just 29 pitches, before allowing a single to Travis Jankowski. He then retired the next five before Sanchez connected with a 3-2 fastball on a 10-pitch at-bat in the fifth inning and hit a drive that struck the fence in right-center field before bouncing over for a homer.

Folytnewicz showed the effects of the long Braves' fifth inning and his time on the bases. Adam Rosales tripled to start the sixth and Myers homered an out later, lofting a 1-2 slider down the left-field line for his 24th homer.

The Braves tacked on runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Garcia had an RBI single in the sixth and Inciarte scored Brandon Snyder, who had doubled as a pinch hitter, with a single in the eighth.

The Padres scored three runs in the ninth off Chaz Roe, with Myers and Sanchez each getting a second hit, before Jim Johnson came in to get the last out, recording his 14th save in 17 opportunities.

"It was better late than never, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole," Green said.

NOTES: The Braves activated C A.J. Pierzynski (hamstring) and RHP Chris Withrow (elbow) from the disabled list and promoted LHP Jed Bradley from Triple-A Gwinnett. To create a 40-man roster spot for Bradley, LHP Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. ... The Padres' only move on the first day active rosters could expand was to recall LHP Ryan Buchter from Triple-A El Paso. INF/OF Alexi Amarista (hamstring) is scheduled to be activated off the DL on Friday. ... The Padres conclude their nine-game road trip with a weekend series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, with Clayton Richard (1-3, 3.51 ERA) getting the Friday start. ... The Braves open a six-game trip on Friday at Philadelphia. RHP Joel De La Cruz (0-7, 4.66 ERA) will start. ... Rookie RHP Aaron Blair (0-6, 8.23 ERA) has been dropped from the Braves' rotation and will spend time working on his pitching mechanics.

Back to top