ATLANTA — Swept at home in their last series and shut out in the final game by the suddenly streaking Colorado Rockies, the San Diego Padres and starting pitcher Matt Waldron quickly found themselves working from behind again Friday night at Truist Park.
The situation would eventually improve for the visitors.
Waldron struck out a career-high 10 batters, keeping the Atlanta Braves off the board after giving up three hits and a run in the first inning, and the Padres bounced back to win 3-1 in the opener of a four-game series against the six-time reigning National League East Division champions.
Waldron (2-5), a 27-year-old right-hander who made his MLB debut last June, gave up five hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He admitted the first inning "was shaky, but it just means I had to make some adjustments."
Jurickson Profar was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, and Jake Cronenworth was 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Padres, who had 13 hits — all singles.
Jeremiah Estrada recorded his first save of the season with a three-strikeout ninth after the Padres used closer Robert Suarez in the eighth against the heart of the Atlanta batting order. Padres manager Mike Shildt said he told Suarez before the game he may be used earlier.
"We've got to commend Suarez," Shildt said. "What a good teammate. Not everybody would say, 'Yeah, I'll take the eighth,' when you know you are the closer."
Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (3-2), who was coming off a six-inning, no-hit performance against the New York Mets last Saturday, allowed nine hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings. He walked three batters and struck out two while throwing 88 pitches.
The Braves struck out a season-high 18 times and lost for the second game in a row. They were off Thursday after a 7-1 home loss to the Chicago Cubs.
The Braves threatened in the eighth after a Chadwick Tromp double put runners at second and third with two outs. Suarez struck out Michael Harris II to end the threat.
"For me, it is just a mentality of coming in and pitching in whatever inning I'm told, and today it happened to be the eighth," Suarez said through an interpreter.
Matt Olson went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Braves (26-15), who are second in the NL East, 3 1/2 games behind the MLB-leading Philadelphia Phillies (32-14).
San Diego (23-24) is second in the NL West, seven games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (30-17).
The Padres took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning. Luis Arraez led off with a hit to left, then scored two batters later on a single by Profar. Cronenworth followed with an RBI single, and Manny Machado knocked in San Diego's third run of the game when the Braves failed to turn a double play on a grounder after a poor throw by Ozzie Albies.
Machado, a six-time MLB All-Star, went 0-for-4. He is batting .217 and was dropped to fifth in the order Friday.
The Braves pushed a run across early in the first inning on an unusual play. With Ronald Acuña Jr. on third base and Albies on second, Olson lifted a ball to short left field. Acuña scored easily, but Albies hesitated before breaking for third and was thrown out by Profar.
Atlanta catcher Travis d'Arnaud left the game in the sixth inning due to dizziness and was diagnosed with a head contusion. He took a foul ball by Arraez off the front of his facemask in the fifth inning. Braves manager Brian Snitker said d'Arnaud will not start Saturday and will be evaluated before the game.
Braves third baseman Austin Riley was out for the fourth straight game with left side inflammation. Snitker said he will be evaluated again on Saturday.
Atlanta relief pitcher Pierce Johnson was eligible to come off the injured list on Friday, but the Braves gave him one more day to create more bullpen flexibility Saturday and Sunday.
Right-handers are scheduled to start for both teams in the second game of the series Saturday as the Braves give the ball to Bryce Elder (1-1, 4.79) and the Padres counter with Yu Darvish (3-1, 2.43). Darvish has not allowed a run in his past three starts covering 17 innings, and the Padres are 5-0 in his past five starts.