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Clayton Richard says the San Diego Padres now have enough punch to make late-game comebacks.

That offense has the Padres playing like they can escape last place in the NL West.

Hunter Renfroe hit a go-ahead Takkarist McKinley Jersey , two-run single in San Diego’s five-run seventh inning, Freddy Galvis had a three-run homer and went 5 for 5, and the Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 on Friday night.

”I think we have the ability to add late at the plate and that’s huge,” Richard said, adding newcomers Galvis and Eric Hosmer ”add such professionalism. They’re not going to give in. That definitely has carried over to other players.”

The Padres, who have split the first two games of the four-game series, are trying to win their sixth straight series.

Richard (6-6) allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits in six innings. Luis Castillo closed the game with two scoreless innings.

Freddie Freeman’s 15th homer gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Jose Pirela hit a two-run homer for San Diego in the first.

Sam Freeman (1-3) gave up three runs in the seventh.

Before Renfroe’s single, the Padres were on the verge of wasting a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity for the second time in the game.

Pirela grounded into a double play in which pinch-runner Cory Spangenberg was forced out at the plate.

Renfroe then hit Freeman’s 1-2 pitch up the middle , driving in Travis Jankowski and Eric Hosmer.

Galvis added a three-run homer just beyond the reach of leaping centerfielder Ender Inciarte Willie Snead IV Jersey , off Peter Moylan.

”We walked too many guys in that inning,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, referring to passes issued by Sam Freeman and Moylan.

Galvis had a run-scoring single, giving him four RBIs, in the ninth. The five hits were a career high.

Brandon McCarthy allowed two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Home plate umpire Joe West ejected Padres manager Andy Green in the fourth after arguing West’s changed call on an apparent strikeout by Ozzie Albies. West initially clinched his right fist as if to call Albies out. He then changed his mind, apparently thinking Albies tipped the ball – which was not caught by catcher Raffy Lopez before it hit the dirt.

Green argued and was headed back to the dugout when he was tossed by West. Green then turned back toward the plate and threw his cap in the general direction of West before engaging the umpire in a more spirited argument. First-base umpire Doug Eddings eventually stepped between Green and West and helped to point the manager back toward the dugout.

”I think I’ve said absolutely everything I want to say about umpires,” Green said.

It was the second straight game Green had issues with an umpire’s call. He was upset after a video review confirmed Tyler Flowers was hit by a pitch in the Braves’ 4-2 win on Thursday night.

It was the Braves’ turn to complain in the ninth when a video review failed to overturn a safe call on Renfroe’s slide at second base. Umpires ruled shortstop Dansby Swanson failed to touch second base before throwing to first on Castillo’s grounder.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: After throwing four hitless innings in a rehab start Thursday night for Class-A Lake Elsinore, LHP Joey Lucchesi (right hip strain) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday which will determine if he’s ready to come off the DL. Lucchesi, who has been out since May 15, could start on Tuesday or Wednesday against Oakland, or he could make another rehab start.

Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, who left Saturday’s start with triceps tightness Ken Crawley Jersey , felt good after playing catch. The team won’t make a decision about his next start until he throws off a mound. … OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (left knee sprain) ran the bases and took grounders and fly balls in left field. He will test the knee by running harder on Saturday.

HOT HITTER

Freddie Freeman’s homer gave him hits in 25 of his last 26 games. He leads the NL with his .342 batting average and 90 hits. He also ranks among the league leaders with his 15 homers and 49 RBIs. He has hit eight homers off left-handers.

FULL HOUSE

Attendance was 41,497, Atlanta’s fourth sellout of the season.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Jordan Lyles will make his eighth start of the season – his high mark since 10 starts with Colorado in 2015 – as the four-game series continues on Saturday.

Braves: LHP Sean Newcomb will look for his eighth win as he makes his second start of the season against the Padres. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 14-1 win at San Diego on June 5.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner knows what to expect.

Two-time All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell is skipping training camp at St. Vincent College for the second straight season because of a contract dispute. Bell’s absence last summer meant Conner saw additional snaps in camp as a rookie.

This time, he’s raised expectations. He’s at the top of the depth chart, at least until Bell arrives.

”Le’Veon here or not, I’m focused and trying to prove to myself that I’m in shape and I can handle playing,” Conner said. ”I’m focused no matter who’s here or who’s not here.”

Bell chose to not sign his franchise tender until the eve of the 2017 season. He is expected to follow the same path this time. That’s with Conner, who intends to prove he can handle the heavier workload.

”I want to show it all,” Conner said. ”Every time I get in, I’m going to make every rep count.”

Conner, a former star at the University of Pittsburgh, showed flashes as a rookie Linval Joseph Jersey , sporadically filling in to give Bell a breather. The Steelers’ 2017 third-round pick appeared in 14 games, rushing 32 times for 144 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry, before a knee injury ended his season.

A leaner, trimmer Conner initially turned heads during spring workouts and that effort has carried into training camp.

Conner set the tone with a touchdown on the first competitive snap of training camp. Ben Roethlisberger delivered a quick slant to the slot where Conner hauled in the touchdown ahead of former first-round pick Artie Burns.

On Monday, Conner broke off a long touchdown run during a drill that featured live tackling. He displayed burst through the hole and into the secondary where he ran away from safety Nat Berhe en route to the end zone.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin expects that kind of development from Conner in his second season.

”We’ve been around the track for a lap,” Tomlin said. ”He understands what’s going on in terms of the environment of professional football. He should utilize that experience and knowledge to produce a better, more consistent performance.”

Rookie Jaylen Samuels still seeks that kind of consistency. He is taking advantage of the extra snaps to see where he fits in.

Samuels, a fifth-round pick, was a do-everything standout at North Carolina State. The 6-foot, 225-pounder stepped in at running back, fullback Colin Kaepernick Jersey , wide receiver and even tight end. He ranks second in school history in total touchdowns, fourth in touchdown catches and sixth in scoring runs.

The Steelers list Samuels as a running back, but he’s also being used in the slot or split out as a receiver.

”I don’t want to be held to just one skill,” Samuels said. ”I want to be able to showcase a lot of different skills. Whenever I go against different mismatches, I want it to be tough on them.”

Samuels knows he needs to improve on his pass blocking.

”I didn’t really do it in college as much,” Samuels said. ”I did a lot in practice, but not really game-time situations because I was either in the route or I was getting the ball.”

Tomlin made Samuels take five consecutive, unsuccessful turns during the team’s ”backs on backers” drill in which a running back or tight end attempts to pick up a blitzing linebacker.

”I feel like pass blocking is probably the most that’s lacking in my game right now,” Samuels said. ”That’s the one thing I need to work on.”

Samuels will have his chance for additional development at training camp with Bell away.

”It’s definitely an opportunity to display my skills, and earn some respect from the players and coaches,” Samuels said. ”I’m excited for the opportunity that’s ahead of me.”

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