Padres Defeat Braves on 13th-Inning Error, 6-5

Atlanta Braves Manager Bobby Wine has seen it happen all too often this season. And he, for one, is tired of it.

The Braves, 62-91 and trailing the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by 29 games, failed to take advantage of several opportunities Saturday night and lost, 6-5, in 13 innings to the Padres.

“We played good enough to lose,” Wine said. “We always seem to be getting behind and having to come back. The Padres gave us the breaks and we didn’t use them. This game should have been ours. I’m pretty tired of it. I’d like to be on the other side for a change.”

The Braves, trailing 4-0 after two innings, scored twice in the third and tied the game with two runs in the ninth, only to let the Padres get the two deciding runs on one hit, two walks and an error in the 13th. Atlanta’s run in its half of the 13th only added to Wine’s frustration.

“You can’t walk that many guys in the big leagues,” Wine said. “If they did that when they were in Triple-A, they’d never make it to the majors. I hope they learned something from it.”

Brave starter Zane Smith walked five in his seven innings, including three in the first two, and losing reliever Jeff Dedmon walked three, including two in the 13th. Tim Flannery and Tony Gwynn scored when rookie shortstop Andres Thomas threw wildly trying to force Steve Garvey at second.

The Braves had threatened in the 12th when they loaded the bases with no outs against Padre reliever Ed Wojna. But Paul Zuvella forced Bob Horner at home and Thomas grounded into a double play.

“I didn’t think it was going on forever,” Padre Manager Dick Williams said. “I thought it was going to end the inning before. I’m just glad everyone made it through the game safely.”

Wojna (2-3), who pitched a scoreless 12th inning despite loading the bases with nobody out, got the victory, while Dedmon (5-3) took the loss.

Luis DeLeon earned his third save by retiring pinch-hitter Larry Owen and Bob Horner to end the game.

The Braves pulled to within 6-5 in the bottom of the 13th when Milt Thompson doubled and scored on Dale Murphy’s double.

The Braves tied the game with two runs after two were out in the ninth. Thomas singled, Thompson walked and pinch-hitter Rafael Ramirez singled to load the bases. Murphy then drove in Thomas and Thompson with a single.

Garry Templeton led off the game with the first of his three consecutive singles and Gwynn walked before Garvey doubled to score both of them. The Padres added two more runs in the second when Templeton singled home Bruce Bochy and Jerry Royster singled home Andy Hawkins.

The Braves scored twice in the third on Thompson’s RBI single and Murphy’s sacrifice fly.