Nelson Cruz 2nd-oldest Padre to homer in 10-2 rout of Braves
San Diego Padres designated hitter Nelson Cruz runs to first base after hitting two-run single in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/John Bazemore
ATLANTA — Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer and drove in six runs, and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 10-2 on Sunday night for their third consecutive victory.
At 42 years and 282 days, Cruz became the second-oldest player to homer for the Padres, just one day younger than Rickey Henderson was when he went deep on Oct. 4, 2001. It was the most RBIs for Cruz since he drove in seven on July 26, 2020, for Minnesota against the Chicago White Sox.
Seth Lugo pitched six effective innings for San Diego, and Ha-Seong Kim hit a two-run homer. Manny Machado finished with three hits.
The Padres (6-4), who advanced to the NL Championship Series last year, have won three straight for the second time this season.
The NL East champion Braves (6-4) have lost eight of the last 11 games to the Padres at Truist Park.
Cruz, a 19-year veteran, made it 4-0 in the third with his 461st career homer.
Xander Bogaerts singled and advanced to third on Machado's single when right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. took too long to throw to second. One out later, Cruz connected for the second time this season, hitting a drive deep to left-center off rookie Dylan Dodd's 83-mph slider.
San Diego Padres' Ha-Seong Kim watches his two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Atlanta. Credit: AP/John Bazemore
Trent Grisham's third homer put San Diego up 5-0 in the fourth. Grisham and Bogaerts have reached safely in all 10 games this season.
Dodd (1-1), making his second career start, fell behind 6-0 in the fifth when Juan Soto and Cruz hit consecutive doubles. The lefty gave up 10 hits and seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.
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