Braves Drop Season Opener to Padres 7-4 After Late Seventh Inning Rally

The Atlanta Braves couldn’t hold onto their early lead, falling 7-4 to the San Diego Padres in the season opener on Thursday.

Despite solid performances from Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley, the Braves were unable to contain a late four-run rally in the seventh from the Padres that shifted the momentum and led to their defeat.

The Braves came out strong, with Albies delivering a two-run homer and driving in three runs.

Riley also added a home run, helping Atlanta jump out to a 3-1 lead.

However, the Padres quickly responded and, after managing just one baserunner over the first three innings, they came alive in the seventh.

Gavin Sheets, a surprise pinch-hitter who made San Diego’s roster after signing a minor league deal just last month, tied the game with a home run off Héctor Neris (0-1).

Prior to that, it seemed like the Braves might cruise to a win as the Padres were struggling to get anything going.

Sheets’ homer ignited a four-run rally that ultimately sealed the Braves' fate.

Jackson Merrill, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, played a crucial role in the Padres’ late surge.

He drove in four runs on the night, including a go-ahead flyout in the seventh inning that allowed the Padres to take the lead for good.

Merrill’s timely hitting, including a double that scored Fernando Tatís Jr. after a steal of third base, proved too much for the Braves to recover from.

Atlanta’s pitching staff couldn’t slow down the Padres in that decisive inning.

Chris Sale started for the Braves, pitching five solid innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and striking out seven.

Sale, making his sixth opening-day start, was expected to be a key factor for the Braves this season after missing the playoffs last year due to back spasms.

After the Padres tied the game and took the lead, Atlanta’s bullpen couldn't slow the momentum.

Meanwhile, the Padres' pitching, including Michael King and reliever Robert Suarez, managed to limit Atlanta's scoring after the early home runs.

King, who started for San Diego, struggled through the third inning but kept the Braves from adding more runs in later innings, setting the stage for the Padres' offense to take control.

The Braves’ rookie catcher, Drake Baldwin, also had a special moment in the game.

He became the first Braves starting catcher to make his major league debut on opening day since 1951.

While Baldwin didn't have a major impact offensively, his debut added a historic touch to the game, emphasizing the importance of the young talent in Atlanta’s future.

The Braves will look to bounce back on Friday night as Dylan Cease takes the mound to face the Padres’ Reynaldo Lopez.