Elder, Braves secure 3-2 victory over Padres at Truist Park

Elder’s outing anchors Braves win

Bryce Elder delivered a strong performance on the mound for Atlanta, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs while striking out four batters. His effort secured the win, improving his record to 6-6. Elder faced 25 batters, giving up five hits and one walk during his time on the mound.

The Braves’ bullpen provided support, with Danny Young pitching 0.2 innings and Victor Mederos closing out the game with 2.1 scoreless innings to earn his first save. Mederos struck out one batter and walked one, while Young allowed one hit without issuing a walk.

Padres’ pitching staff struggles

San Diego’s starting pitcher, JP Sears, took the loss, falling to 2-3 on the season. Sears pitched five innings, surrendering three earned runs on three hits and striking out three batters. He did not walk any hitters during his stint.

The Padres’ relief corps included Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Kyle Hart. Peralta worked one inning, allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out one. Rodriguez pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts, and Hart also threw a scoreless frame, striking out two batters and issuing one walk.

Home runs drive scoring in key innings

The game featured four home runs, with each team contributing two. The Padres took an early lead in the fourth inning when Machado hit a 402-foot home run to center field, making the score 1-0. Atlanta responded in the fifth inning with back-to-back home runs.

Harris II launched a 341-foot shot to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Following that, Bart doubled to left field, allowing Dubón to score and give the Braves a 2-1 advantage. The lead was short-lived, as Albies homered to left field in the same inning, extending the Braves’ lead to 3-1.

The Padres scored their second run in the seventh inning when France hit a 397-foot home run to left center, bringing the final score to 3-2.

Final standings and attendance

The game was played at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, with an attendance of 31,263 spectators. The victory improved the Atlanta Braves’ record to 58-41. The San Diego Padres’ record dropped to 49-51. The game concluded on Monday, July 20, 2026.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816190