The Padres closed out their 2021 home schedule on a losing note Sunday a day after they were eliminated from playoff contention.
Trent Grisham and Ha-Seong Kim struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning – Grisham looking and Kim on a foul tip – to seal the Atlanta Braves’ 4-3 win.
Joe Musgrove left the game after giving up three runs on seven hits.
“I thought we could have picked him up better today,” manager Jayce Tingler said.
The Padres dropped three of the four games in the series – their only win came as they completed a July rain-delayed contest on Friday – but that doesn’t mean they don’t see the possibility of having a impact on the National League West race.
Just not the one they had been hoping for.
“Hopefully, we could create some chaos and keep playing baseball until the last out is made,” Manny Machado told MLB.com.
After an off-day, the Padres travel to Los Angeles and San Francisco to end the season. The Dodgers trail the Giants by two games in the division race.
Whichever team is knocked into the wild-card slot will have to face the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals, in the midst of a 16-game win streak that sealed the Padres’ fate.
Yu Darvish takes on the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. Max Scherzer looms Wednesday. The Padres list their starters as TBD Wednesday and Thursday.
The somber weekend also saw two fans fall to their deaths from Petco Park before Saturday’s game.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life at Petco Park last evening,” the Padres said in a statement Sunday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of those involved.”