Rookie Jim Jarvis drilled a run-scoring double into the right-field corner to break a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning, and the Atlanta Braves collected seven of their 14 hits in the frame to outlast the San Diego Padres 7-6 Wednesday night at Truist Park and head into Thursday’s series finale with a 2-1 series lead.
With one out in the eighth, Mauricio Dubón singled off Padres left-hander Wandy Peralta (1-1). Jarvis followed with the double that allowed Dubón to score from first base for a 2-1 lead. Brewer Hicklen drove in Jarvis with a double to left, and Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Dominic Smith added run-scoring singles off Randy Vásquez to push the Braves ahead 7-1.
The Braves’ bullpen then held on through a bumpy ninth. Right-hander Víctor Mederos gave up a run-scoring single to Gavin Sheets and a two-run triple to Fernando Tatis Jr. before handing the ball to Raisel Iglesias. The closer gave up a two-run homer to Luis Rengifo before recording the final two outs for his 20th save.
Dylan Lee (5-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win.
How the game started
San Diego right-hander Michael King opened the game with two strikes to Drake Baldwin before loading the bases with three straight walks. A grounder to first base by Michael Harris II drove in Baldwin for a 1-0 lead that held until the seventh inning.
King regrouped to allow one run with four walks and seven strikeouts in six innings.
Atlanta’s offense went quietly for long stretches. The Braves managed only three hits through six innings before breaking through against the San Diego bullpen.
Where the Braves stand
The win improved Atlanta to 59-42, cutting the Philadelphia Phillies’ NL East lead to four games with a Phillies loss Wednesday. San Diego fell to 50-51.
Manager Walt Weiss, whose club has now taken two of three in the series after Tuesday’s 8-3 loss, said the eighth inning was an example of what the Braves can do when they string together quality at-bats.
“When you get seven, eight, nine guys contributing in one inning, that is what you want to see,” Weiss said. “We have not had enough of those.”
What it sets up
Chris Sale is slated to start Thursday’s series finale at 7:20 p.m. at Truist Park before the team heads to Baltimore for three games against the Orioles. Sale has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.
The Braves placed infielder Ha-Seong Kim on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with right middle finger inflammation and transferred catcher Sean Murphy to the 60-day injured list with a fractured left middle finger.
Source: ESPN game recap, “Jarvis doubles in go-ahead run in 6-run 8th inning as Braves hold on in 9th to edge Padres 7-6,” July 22, 2026; ESPN box score, Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres, July 22, 2026.