Atlanta closer Will Smith walked the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but registered three strikeouts in the frame to preserve the Braves' 4-3 win over the host San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Smith earned his 35th save the hard way, preserving the win for A.J. Minter (3-6). He fanned pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. with two runners on before giving up his third walk of the inning to Tommy Pham. But Smith then struck out Trent Grisham and Ha-Seong Kim to finish the game.

A night earlier, Smith pitched a 1-2-3 inning to earn a save.

Braves pinch-hitter Orlando Arcia doubled home Joc Pederson for the go-ahead run in the sixth against reliever Pierce Johnson (3-4). The Atlanta bullpen followed with four shutout innings.

Richard Rodriguez (two-thirds of an inning), Tyler Matzek (one inning) and Luke Jackson (1 1/3 innings) kept the Padres' offense quiet until the ninth.

With its win and the Philadelphia loss earlier Sunday, Atlanta (83-72) extended its lead over the Phillies to 2 1/2 games and reduced its magic number to five. The Phillies come to Atlanta for a three-game series that starts on Tuesday. It was the final road game for the Braves, who went 4-2 against the Padres and finished 46-35 away from home.

San Diego (78-78) played its final home game and finished the season 45-36 at Petco Park.

The Braves went with a bullpen game and got 1 1/3 innings out of starter Jesse Chavez, the first of eight pitchers used.

San Diego starter Joe Musgrove did not receive a decision. He worked five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, three walks and nine strikeouts.

The Braves took a 3-0 lead after four innings. Pederson hit his 17th home run, a solo shot, in the second inning. Travis d'Arnaud doubled home Austin Riley, then scored on Ehire Adrianza's single in the fourth.

San Diego tied the score with a three-run rally in the fifth. Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right-field corner to drive in two, then scored on Manny Machado's single to center. Cronenworth went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

--Field Level Media