Defending National League Champions Left looking for answers in Season Opening Series.

David S. Landsman

@mtlattherink

After making it to the World Series final just one short season ago, the Padres were looking to start their 2023 campaign on a high and keep their winning form this past weekend - but unfortunately for them the Braves had other plans. Some late heroics yet again, and one very hot bat in particular, allowed them to prevail in games two and three this past weekend.

PADRES 2

BRAVES 0

Game one of the weekend series at Orne Park in Marblehead, Massachusetts started off perfectly for the Padres, who showed no rust from last season. Pitcher Nick Ferullo, who also won the Cy Young Award last season and led the league with 10 wins, made no mistakes, striking out the first two batters he faced in the top half of the inning.

The bottom half of the inning was a bit different for the Braves pitching. Pitcher Collin Hart, who went 5-10 last season, had some trouble keeping his pitches in the strike zone, walking the first four batters he faced, and thus quickly making it a 1-0 Padres lead early, without any outs. Collin then regained his composure, and struck out the next two.

The Braves offense was unable to get any batters on base again in the second, with another strikeout for Ferullo, and a flyout catch by Padres captain Brendan Willett. 

Collin struggled again on the mound in the bottom of two, walking Ferullo and Willett. He then struck out Cam Brown, before walking Ferullo for the fourth time in four at-bats. Willett then was hit by a pitch to bring in their second run – and all the offense they would need.

Needing a touch of magic, the Braves did get their first base runner as Collin was walked to start the third. After his brother Kyle struck out for the second time in the afternoon, the game-tying run was at the plate with Trey Gayne, who doubled to center field. Collin stepped back into the batter’s box, with the tying run at second, but couldn’t put enough mustard on it, grounding out to end the ball game.

BRAVES 2

PADRES 1

After a bit of regrouping, the Braves were hoping to get back on track in the second matchup of the day to stay alive. However you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. Captain Brendan Willett launched a no doubter over the right field wall, clearing the fence for his first home run of the young campaign, and quickly rattling the cage of pitcher Collin Hart.

Ferullo singled following the Willett dinger, but was left stranded as Brown whiffed and Willett grounded out, and the inning ended 1-0.

The Braves were looking to even the score in the bottom half of the first, and had a glorious opportunity after Kyle was beaned, loading the bases with just one away. However Collin couldn’t connect, and struck out swinging to end the threat, a huge sigh of relief for the pitcher Brown.

Top of two didn’t see much offense. Brown was walked, but the Padres were unable to add to their small one run lead. The bottom half saw a chance for the Braves to equalize, but a great running play at the warning track by Willett helped keep the game 1-0 through two.

The wheels began to fall off the wagon for the Padres pitching however in the bottom of the third. Cam Brown showed a bit of rust on the mound, after he walked Collin to start the inning. After a quick timeout, he allowed Gayne to single.

At that point, the Padres made a pitching swap, returning to Ferullo to try and close out the game, despite the Braves squad having runners on first and second, with nobody out. Kyle popped out in the next at-bat, and the Padres were just one away from taking the series, but Collin was then walked, keeping their hopes alive.

With the game on the line, Gayne showed patience, and was walked to bring across the tying run.

The next batter was the youngster Kyle, and although he hadn’t come up with much offense up until this point, connected on a comebacker to the pitcher Ferullo, who was unable to record an out, thus solidifying the walk-off by the Braves, taking it by a 2-1 margin.

BRAVES 5

PADRES 2

After a heroic walk off in the second game of the series, the Braves had momentum going into the third game. The Padres however, wanted to put a halt to their party. 

Ferullo began the first doing what he’s done all day, that is striking out the Braves back-to-back batters to begin the rubber match. Ferullo had a total nine strikeouts through the three weekend games.

At the plate however, Ferullo was unable to help get his team any offense, first striking out, and then with both Willett and Brown on base, popped out to end the first inning still scoreless.

The bats really came alive in the second inning for both squads. Leading off the top of the second, Gayne launched a blast to left-center field for his first home run of the season, and the game, giving the Braves the early 1-0 lead.

A few batters later Gayne was up to the plate again, this time with two runners on, but flew out, and caught himself in a double play to end the threat, and the inning.

Needing a quick push to their offense, the Padres showed their offensive flair in the bottom of two.

Captain Willett, who had previously homered in the second game, swung at an early pitch by Collin, and made no mistake connecting on his second of the season, clearing the right field wall, and just like that, the game was back tied.

The next batter, Cam Brown, who had three home runs in three games with the Mets last season, also smashed a pitch over the left field wall for his first of the young campaign. And just like that, the Padres took the lead by a 2-1 margin and had all the momentum.

However, in the top of the third the Padres momentum was quickly overturned.

Collin was walked to start, followed by his brother Kyle, getting hit. Now with two runners on, and nobody out, Ferullo delivered a pitch down the middle, and was read perfectly by Gayne yet again.

Gayne, who had homered in the top of two, had his second dinger of the game, good enough for three runs, and putting the Braves up by a commanding 4-2 lead.

Following a few defensive mistakes, the Braves found themselves in another scoring occasion. With yet again both Hart brothers on base, this time on second and third, Gayne stepped up, getting an RBI groundout for his fifth run batted in of the game.

Bottom of three the pressure was on the Padres to keep the game alive. Ferullo started the inning with a walk. Willett then whiffed on a strike, another victim for Collin Hart, who put up 10 strikeouts on the day.

Brown then walked, paving the way for a possible photo finish. Runners at first and second, one away, and Ferullo at bat. He swung, the crowd looked on, but alas, he fouled out, ending the ball game, a high-scoring 5-2 win by Atlanta.

The Padres, overwhelmed by a disappointing start to the 2023 campaign, reflected after the game.

“There were definitely a lot of positives (despite the score),” said team captain Willett. “We can’t walk away feeling totally dejected – we just know there’s still lots to work on.”

Pitcher Nick Ferullo, who was left shaken up a bit in the series, had a few comments of his own.

“I got to be better than that if I’m going to be on the mound more often,” said Ferullo, who was also getting used to the new field, balls and positioning. “It was an adjustment today, but I’m ready.”

As if there was any doubt following the series, the Wears Woody Player of the Series was awarded to Trey Gayne, who helped propel his team to the series win.

“It feels great, we just like to keep it simple,” said Gayne. “It’s also very important to also have fun out there.”