Michael King Snapped His Four-Game Skid, And the Braves Have NO Answer For His Unstoppable Arm!

Okay, so picture this: You’ve been grinding, pitching your heart out, and you’ve dropped four straight decisions. You’re desperate for a win, for *anything* to break the slide. That was Michael King last night, and let me tell you, what he pulled off against the Braves was pure grit. The Padres blanked Atlanta 1-0, and King didn't just win, he dominated, throwing seven scoreless innings in a performance that should have every pitcher in baseball taking notes. Talk about a comeback!

King Finds His Crown Again

Seriously, after losing his last four starts, King (now 5-6) was due, and he delivered in a massive way. He tossed seven full innings, didn't give up a single run, and only allowed six hits with zero walks. He fanned five guys, too! The dude was locked in. It’s his first win since May 18, which was also a tight 1-0 battle, against the Dodgers no less. You gotta respect that kind of bounce-back after a tough stretch. He threw 93 pitches, 62 of 'em for strikes. That's efficiency, that's control, that's pure pitching artistry when your back is against the wall.

Machado Delivers the Only Punch

While King was doing his thing on the mound, the offense only needed one swing. And who else but Manny Machado to deliver it? In the bottom of the fourth, with the game still scoreless, Machado absolutely mashed a 1-2 slider from Grant Holmes. That ball traveled an estimated 418 feet

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straight into the San Diego bullpen for his 14th homer of the year. One swing, one run. That's how tight this game was, showing you how crucial every single play is in this league. Holmes (4-4) ended up giving up just three hits and that solo shot in 4 2/3 innings, but he also walked five guys, which definitely didn't help his cause.

Braves' Missed Chances and The Bullpen Fight

But don't think the Braves just rolled over. They had their shots to break through against King. In the second inning, Michael Harris II and Austin Riley led off with back-to-back singles, and you're thinking, "Here we go." But King, being King, used a couple of grounders and a lineout to escape that jam completely untouched. Then in the sixth, Matt Olson singled, got to third on an Ozzie Albies groundout and a throwing error. But again, King found a way, getting Harris to ground out and strand Olson. This kind of missed opportunity is what kills teams. The Braves’ bullpen did manage to twirl 3 1/3 scoreless innings after Holmes left, but it wasn't enough to prevent their eighth loss in their last 11 games. Talk about a tough stretch. Meanwhile, Mason Miller came in for the ninth, got into a bit of two-out trouble with a single and a walk, but still slammed the door for his 21st save in as many chances. Unbelievable! This was a classic baseball brawl, and it just shows you every single game matters, especially in June. The season is a marathon, and every win, especially a gritty 1-0, feels massive. What a battle!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.