Soto breaking out of slump as Padres snap Braves' streak

SAN DIEGO -- The 2023 Padres were built to be a very good team without Fernando Tatis Jr., made whole by his arrival after 20 games.

For much of the season’s first three weeks, they didn’t exactly look the part. But they sure did on Wednesday.

With their 1-0 victory over Atlanta at Petco Park, the Padres moved to 9-11 on the season before they welcome Tatis back on Thursday in Arizona. They got seven scoreless innings from right-hander Nick Martinez. They got outstanding glovework across the board -- most notably from Manny Machado. And Juan Soto provided the thump -- his 431-foot blast to right-center field in the fourth inning proving decisive.

“Losses stink -- it doesn’t matter if [Tatis] is coming back or not, it’s always bad,” Soto said. “We’ve just got to get it going. We have a great team. We’re more than excited to get him back.”

Tatis is slated to return from his PED suspension on Thursday, providing a much-needed boost for a team off to a slow start offensively. But the Padres have been adamant that Tatis’ arrival should not be viewed as a cure-all for their early season struggles.

This is a team that reached the National League Championship Series without Tatis last season. They added Xander Bogaerts and a handful of other very useful pieces during the offseason.

There are signs that the rest of the Padres are starting to perform up to expectations. Most notably Soto, who reached base three times Tuesday night, then twice on Wednesday, including his moonshot in the fourth.

“I’ve been taking a lot of steps forwards, a couple steps backwards,” Soto said. “But I think this one is a really good one, and I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now.”

Machado, too, has struggled at the plate, and he only went 1-for-4 on Wednesday. But he came inches from adding to the Padres' lead with a two-run blast in the fifth -- before Braves center fielder Sam Hilliard robbed him with a leaping grab at the wall, evoking images of Adam Jones robbing Machado at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

“Thought I was going to sneak one out there,” Machado said.

Nonetheless, Machado has delivered plenty of hard contact over the past couple days. If he and Soto are turning a corner, that’s a scary proposition for opposing pitching staffs, considering the pending return of Tatis.

Meanwhile, the Padres' pitching staff will welcome Joe Musgrove back this weekend after he has missed the first three weeks while recovering from a left big toe fracture.

“That’s two big, big players that are going to help us out tremendously,” Machado said. “We’re looking forward to it. … Even when they get back, we keep playing Padre baseball, I think we’re going to be all right.”

Lately, the offense has been absent from Padre baseball. But the pitching and defense have been plentiful. Machado made a trio of outstanding plays at third base Wednesday, including one pinpoint spinning throw to rob Ronald Acuña Jr. of a hit in the fifth. Trent Grisham expertly patrolled center field as well, and both Ha-Seong Kim and Jake Cronenworth ended innings with stellar defensive plays.

“That’s why I don’t have a voice,” said a hoarse Martinez afterward. “I was yelling pretty much every inning.”

Martinez turned in his best performance of the season, while questions abound about his role moving forward. The Padres plan to downsize their rotation from six to five next week, with multiple off-days on the horizon. With Musgrove’s Saturday return, two starters are likely headed to the bullpen.

Martinez made a strong case to remain in the rotation -- though he made it clear that wasn’t his goal.

“I’m pitching to win ballgames,” Martinez said. “I don’t know about pitching for my spot. … I’ve been clear from the very beginning that I just want to win a World Series.”

Whatever it takes.

That’s a mindset Padres manager Melvin can clearly get behind.

The Padres had dropped three straight and six of seven. They hadn’t held a lead since Saturday. On Wednesday, in the top of the fourth inning, Melvin had moved to the stairs on the far side of the dugout. He almost never stands there. Then, Soto homered, and Melvin stayed for another couple innings when the Padres were hitting.

“Desperate measures for desperate times, I guess,” Melvin quipped. “... It’s a superstitious game. Can’t hurt right?”

Didn’t on Wednesday. And the Padres are back in the win column.

“Sometimes,” Melvin said, “No matter how you get it, a win is a welcome relief.”