The Padres and Braves met up on Thursday for the fourth and final game of this four-game series in Atlanta. Atlanta took two of the first three games, with San Diego taking one of the three. San Diego will try to even up the series before heading south to Miami for their three-game series against the Marlins.

Lefty Kyle Hart was the opener for Griffin Canning on Thursday. Canning and his 6.67 ERA took care of the bulk innings.

10-time All-Star left-hander Chris Sale, who holds a 2.06 ERA (the second-best ERA in the National League), started for Atlanta.

Rengifo back in the lineup

Luis Rengifo, who has slashed .412/.474/.588 in his first five games as a Padre, bats second and plays left field against the left-handed Sale.

Closing out the series. pic.twitter.com/KNXKjwoxqK

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 23, 2026

Hart with a quick and easy 1-2-3

Kyle Hart had the job of opening the game for San Diego. Hart induced an eight-pitch first inning, in which he retired Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson in order.

Padres strike in the second

Base hits by Gavin Sheets and Freddy Fermin, along with a hit-by-pitch by Jake Cronenworth, loaded the bases for Fernando Tatis Jr. with two outs. Tatis Jr.’s second successful ABS challenge of the year comes in a huge spot to flip the count from 2-2 to 3-1. Tatis Jr. walked on the very next pitch to score Sheets.

ABS overturned in #Padres at #Braves (Top 2).
Fernando Tatis Jr. challenged the called strike.
Called Strike -> Ball.
HP: Doug Eddings | Upheld 43.2% (41/95).
Later: Fernando Tatis Jr. walks. Gavin Sheets scores. Freddy Fermin to 3rd. Jake Cronenworth to 2nd. pic.twitter.com/8s6uXluCRb

— ABS Auditor (@ABS_Auditor) July 23, 2026

Rengifo, down in the count 0-2, dumps a ball into right field to plate Fermin and Cronenworth.

Go, Rengifo, Go! pic.twitter.com/GC3WhHm50y

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 23, 2026

The Braves score five unanswered

Griffin Canning entered the game for Kyle Hart to start the bottom of the second. The first batter Canning faced, Michael Harris II, homered to right to put the Braves on the board.

ATL – Michael Harris II Solo HR (19)

? 420 ft | ? 109.6 mph | ? 26°
⚾️ 94 mph four-seam fastball (SDP – RHP Griffin Canning)
?️ Out in 30/30 parks ?

SDP (3) @ ATL (1)
? 2nd#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/JZCkAwytIc

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) July 23, 2026

After the Harris II solo shot in the second, Canning settled down a bit and retired the next six Braves he faced. The fourth inning was the inning in which he’d struggle to locate his pitches. Ozzie Albies led off the inning with a solo homer of his own, which put the Braves closer on the Padres, 3-2.

ATL – Ozzie Albies Solo HR (16)

? 398 ft | ? 99.6 mph | ? 33°
⚾️ 93.7 mph sinker (SDP – RHP Griffin Canning)
?️ Out in 29/30 parks

SDP (3) @ ATL (2)
? 4th#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/FtGcLSUzpU

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) July 23, 2026

A single by Harris II and Mauricio Dubón, reaching on a catcher’s interference, put more traffic on the bases. The Braves hit another home run in the fourth, this one of the three-run variety by Dominic Smith, which put Atlanta on top.

ATL – Dominic Smith 3-run HR (7)

? 392 ft | ? 99.3 mph | ? 32°
⚾️ 90.6 mph changeup (SDP – RHP Griffin Canning)
?️ Out in 30/30 parks ?

SDP (3) @ ATL (5)
? 4th#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/7dGCnXFDIS

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) July 23, 2026

Canning gets roughed up

The Smith home run was followed up by a Mike Yastrzemski single, which ended Canning’s outing. Canning lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowed five runs (four earned runs), on five hits. The right-hander didn’t walk any batters and struck out four. The walks weren’t the issue, like it has been in previous games for Canning. Instead, the long ball was the problem, allowing three of them, which plated in all five of the runs scored off Canning.

Matsui with a clean appearance

Yuki Matsui came into the game in the fourth inning to take over for Canning. Matsui did great and held the Braves’ offense scoreless in his 1 1/3 innings pitched. The lefty gave up a hit and struck out one batter.

Waldron goes two in relief

Matt Waldron pitched the sixth and seventh innings in relief for Matsui. The knuckler gave up one run on three hits, with the big one being a solo home run by Baldwin.

ATL – Drake Baldwin Solo HR (19)

? 370 ft | ? 98.4 mph | ? 37°
⚾️ 83.3 mph sweeper (SDP – RHP Matt Waldron)
?️ Out in 29/30 parks

SDP (3) @ ATL (6)
? 7th#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/L8IQCeYpUn

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) July 23, 2026

France’s 16th homer

Ty France‘s two-run home run in the eighth inning brings the Padres within a run of Atlanta.

Ty France brings the @Padres back within a run in the 8th! pic.twitter.com/Qm8r6U3NLl

— MLB (@MLB) July 23, 2026

Rodriguez enters in the eighth

It was Bradgley Rodriguez‘s job to keep the score at 6-5 going into the top of the ninth. Rodriguez did just that with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Michael Harris II and Austin Riley.

Braves win

After two outs to start the inning, the Padres’ offense did not go out quietly. Back-to-back base hits by Cronenworth and Tatis Jr. put the Padres in a prime position to tie the game. Rengifo could not replicate the homer he had off closer Raisel Iglesias Wednesday night, and instead struck out to end the game.

Recap

Chris Sale, who went six innings, allowed three earned runs and struck out 11 Padres, received the win.

Griffin Canning got charged with the loss, with his five runs allowed.

Raisel Iglesias saves another game for the Braves, his 21st of the year.

Atlanta grabs their 60th win of 2026, improving to 60-42.

With the loss, San Diego drops another game under .500, falling to 50-53 on the season.

It was a frustrating series in Atlanta, with each of the Padres’ three losses coming by a single run.

It will be a big weekend in Miami for the Padres, as they look to stay in the playoff race with the trade deadline looming.

Weekend in Miami

The Padres will be in Miami from Friday through Sunday to take on the Marlins (52-51), who currently sit 2.0 games ahead of them in the NL Wild Card race. German Márquez is expected to be the starting pitcher on Friday evening. First pitch at loanDepot Park is scheduled for 4:10 PM PT/7:10 PM ET.

Angel Flores

Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a third year community college student, and will transfer to SDSU to pursue a career in Journalism.