Padres Rally Past Braves 7-4 on Opening Day Showdown

SAN DIEGO, California (AP) — The San Diego Padres opened the 2025 MLB season with a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on March 27 at Petco Park. Despite a strong start from Braves pitcher Chris Sale, the Padres surged in the seventh inning with a four-run rally led by pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets.

Fans in Atlanta supported the Braves with an annual block party in Summerhill, celebrating the return of baseball. “It’s kind of the unofficial start of summer,” a fan remarked. Another added, “The camaraderie, the excitement, the energy — just the vibe that everybody brings — it’s electric.”

The Braves, who began their season on the road, saw outfielder Jurickson Profar make a significant impact against his former team. Profar’s single in the first inning set the stage, allowing Ozzie Albies to reach base and eventually score on a challenging play that was upheld by a coach’s challenge.

Albies followed up with a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Braves a 3-2 lead after connecting with a fastball from Padres starter Michael King. Austin Riley added a solo home run in the fourth inning, pushing the Braves ahead 4-3.

Sale, the reigning Cy Young Award winner, finished with three runs allowed on six hits over five innings, striking out seven. His performance was hindered by back spasms that kept him off the mound in last year’s playoffs.

As the game progressed, the Padres struggled offensively until the seventh inning. Sheets, who had joined the Padres on a minor-league deal just last month, came off the bench and hit a home run off Braves reliever Héctor Neris, igniting a wave of momentum. This pivotal moment erased the Braves’ lead and sparked a rally where Jackson Merrill and Luis Arraez contributed to a four-run inning.

“It was a tough loss, especially after we had the lead,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “We have to regroup and focus on our next game.”

The Padres’ Merril ended the game with four RBIs, while Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado each added crucial hits during the comeback. With advancing runs and aggressive base running, the Padres turned the tables quickly after trailing.

After the loss, the Braves will seek to bounce back in tonight’s rematch against the Padres, with pitching duties shifting to Reynaldo Lopez for Atlanta. Their next homestand starts on April 4 against the Miami Marlins.