Elder gives Braves six strong innings in win over Padres

Bryce Elder gave the Braves exactly what a weary staff needed, working six innings in Atlanta’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres at Truist Park. The outing mattered less for flash than for efficiency, because it let the Braves avoid leaning on an overworked bullpen that had already used 13 pitchers over the weekend.

Elder improved to 6-6 after allowing two runs on five hits, striking out four and walking one. Both San Diego runs came on home runs, which kept the game tight but still left Atlanta with enough margin to protect once the starter handed it off.

The Braves did their scoring with timely power. Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies each hit solo home runs, and those swings accounted for all three Atlanta runs in the opener of a four-game home series. In a game decided by one run, that was enough support for Elder’s six-inning start to stand up.

The result carried extra weight beyond a single night’s box score. It was Atlanta’s first win in four tries against San Diego, giving the Braves a clean break in a matchup that had gone the other way earlier in the season. Against a competitive Padres club, Atlanta did not need a barrage at the plate or a marathon from the bullpen. Elder’s length, combined with the two solo shots, turned a taxed evening into a manageable win and gave the Braves a chance to reset before the rest of the series.