The Padres are halfway through the homestand that might come to define the first half of their season. They couldn’t have started it any better. San Diego completed a sweep of the Braves with an impressive 5-2 victory on Wednesday night. The Padres have beaten Atlanta in nine consecutive games at Petco Park, dating back to their 2024 National League Wild Card Series. Next up: a three-game series against the first-place Dodgers this weekend. But first, here’s some instant reaction from Wednesday’s finale against Atlanta: **Sears delivered just what the Padres needed** Padres relievers covered 28 outs in an extra-innings win on Tuesday night. A day later, they handed the ball to newly promoted JP Sears, who struggled last season and has struggled mightily this year at Triple-A. They needed something from Sears. Anything. Length, at the bare minimum. “I had to attack,” Sears said. “I had a good defense behind me, playing here at Petco. … Just really wanted to attack, try and throw a lot of strikes, mix it up in the zone.” Mission accomplished. Sears pitched 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball -- and, frankly, he was better than the line would indicate. Those two runs only came because the Padres needed Sears on the mound for the sixth. He’d pitched five scoreless, but with a depleted bullpen, Sears was asked to cover the sixth inning, and Joey Bart ended his night with a two-run homer. Nonetheless, Sears was excellent, punching out five Braves along the way. “The way he threw the ball today is what he’s capable of doing in the big leagues,” said manager Craig Stammen. “We needed him big. He stepped up.” The Padres have major question marks in their starting rotation. At least two places in their starting five are wide open. With Sears’ performance on Wednesday, he has at least earned himself another look.
