Atlanta Braves vs San Diego Padres Box Score on Sep 26, 2021

Atlanta closer Will Smith walked the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but registered three strikeouts in the frame to preserve the Braves' 4-3 win over the host San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Smith earned his 35th save the hard way, preserving the win for A.J. Minter (3-6). He fanned pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. with two runners on before giving up his third walk of the inning to Tommy Pham. But Smith then struck out Trent Grisham and Ha-Seong Kim to finish the game.

A night earlier, Smith pitched a 1-2-3 inning to earn a save.

Braves pinch-hitter Orlando Arcia doubled home Joc Pederson for the go-ahead run in the sixth against reliever Pierce Johnson (3-4). The Atlanta bullpen followed with four shutout innings.

Richard Rodriguez (two-thirds of an inning), Tyler Matzek (one inning) and Luke Jackson (1 1/3 innings) kept the Padres' offense quiet until the ninth.

With its win and the Philadelphia loss earlier Sunday, Atlanta (83-72) extended its lead over the Phillies to 2 1/2 games and reduced its magic number to five. The Phillies come to Atlanta for a three-game series that starts on Tuesday. It was the final road game for the Braves, who went 4-2 against the Padres and finished 46-35 away from home.

San Diego (78-78) played its final home game and finished the season 45-36 at Petco Park.

The Braves went with a bullpen game and got 1 1/3 innings out of starter Jesse Chavez, the first of eight pitchers used.

San Diego starter Joe Musgrove did not receive a decision. He worked five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, three walks and nine strikeouts.

The Braves took a 3-0 lead after four innings. Pederson hit his 17th home run, a solo shot, in the second inning. Travis d'Arnaud doubled home Austin Riley, then scored on Ehire Adrianza's single in the fourth.

San Diego tied the score with a three-run rally in the fifth. Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right-field corner to drive in two, then scored on Manny Machado's single to center. Cronenworth went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

--Field Level Media