Braves Rookie Comes Up Clutch Against His Hometown Padres

Rookies don't usually impact a star-studded lineup the way Atlanta's new shortstop has.

Jim Jarvis, a San Diego-area native, ripped the go-ahead double into the right-field corner during a six-run eighth inning that carried the Braves to a 7-6 win over the Padres.

Atlanta needed every bit of the cushion, because San Diego poured five runs across the top of the ninth before Raisel Iglesias slammed the door for his 20th save.

"I don't have any real feelings towards the Padres, so it doesn't evoke anything like crazy," Jarvis said, per MLB.com. "I think it's probably crazier for my friends and stuff back home watching it."

Jarvis has been a revelation since his callup, hitting .308 with an .826 OPS through 16 games while holding down shortstop for a first-place club.

Manager Walt Weiss has taken notice.

"There's a lot to like there from what we've seen. He's shown a knack for just knowing how to play the game," Weiss said. The moment has not swallowed the youngster either, even as the games blur together. "It feels like these days are just flying by. I'm trying to enjoy it as much as I can," Jarvis said.

The eighth inning showcased the whole lineup, as Brewer Hicklen doubled home a run and Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley and pinch-hitter Dominic Smith all delivered RBI singles.

The rally erased a night of frustration against a San Diego club that had tied the game on Jackson Merrill's seventh-inning homer, and the cushion proved necessary once Gavin Sheets, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Rengifo all did damage in the ninth.

Weiss praised Smith's contribution afterward.

"He's been one of our guys. He's won games for us and been one of the core all year. It's good to see Dom get one," the manager said before summing up the night as "a wild one."

Atlanta sits at 59-42 atop the NL East, four games clear of Philadelphia, and nights like Wednesday explain why.

Dylan Lee worked a scoreless eighth to improve to 5-0, part of a bullpen that has answered every call since Victor Mederos revealed his mentality after his first career save earlier in the homestand.

Martín Pérez also made his return from the injured list as Wednesday's starter after a forearm contusion sidelined him since early July.

The health news keeps trending in the right direction, with Ronald Acuña Jr. rehabbing his hamstring at Triple-A Gwinnett and nearing a return.

Catcher Drake Baldwin reached base four times a few days after Weiss declared him officially back following a historic five-hit game.

Chris Sale takes the ball Thursday against Griffin Canning as Atlanta goes for the sweep before they head to Baltimore this weekend.