San Diego knuckleballer Matt Waldron baffled the Atlanta bats for 5 2/3 innings and set a career high with 10 strikeouts to help the visiting Padres beat the Braves 3–1 on Friday.
The Padres ended a three-game losing streak by claiming in the opener of a four-game series. The Braves dropped their second game in a row.
Waldron (2–5) allowed one run on five hits and two walks in his first career appearance against Atlanta, ending his three-start losing streak.
After Yuki Matsui and Enyel De Los Santos each got two outs, closer Robert Suarez entered in the eighth inning to face the heart of the Atlanta order.
Suarez allowed runners to reach second and third before striking out Michael Harris II to end the threat.
Jeremiah Estrada struck out the side in the ninth to earn his first career save.
Jake Cronenworth, hitting cleanup for the first time this season, led the 13-hit San Diego attack with three hits, ending an 0-for-15 streak.
Atlanta starter Max Fried (3–2) pitched seven no-hit innings in his previous outing but struggled with his control against the Padres and was yanked after 4 1/3 innings.
Fried gave up three runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts while throwing 88 pitches.
Relievers Aaron Bummer (1 2/3 innings), Joe Jimenez (one inning), Jesse Chavez (one inning) and Raisel Iglesias (one inning) combined to finish the game without allowing a run.
San Diego’s Luis Arraez singled to lead off the fifth inning to reach base for the 22nd straight game, matching his career best. That started a three-run rally that included RBI singles from Jurickson Profar and Cronenworth and a run-producing infield grounder from Manny Machado.
The Braves scored their run in the first inning. Ronald Acuna Jr., back in the lineup after being given his first game off this season on Wednesday, led off with a single.
He went to third on Ozzie Albies’ double and scored on Matt Olson’s one-out single.
Atlanta catcher Travis d'Arnaud left the game in the sixth inning because of dizziness. He was replaced by backup Chadwick Tromp.
