With the All-Star break approaching, the Padres front office must decide what direction to go with the ball club that has been floundering for most of 2011. While looking like definite sellers a week ago, consecutive series wins over Boston and Atlanta might give Jed Hoyer pause over blowing this team up.

Since being swept by Minnesota, the Padres have come together, winning four of six with contributions coming throughout the roster. Most evident in Sunday’s win when they rallied to score four two-out runs in the bottom of the eighth after leaving 13 men on base the previous seven innings.

They must take advantage of Kansas City’s struggles on the road (10-21) and redeem the sweep at home by Seattle in late May to keep the team intact for the time being.

We may be viewing a make-or-break portion of the schedule. These last two weeks though, the Padres have shown that they do have what it takes to contend. The only question is if it’s too late.

June 24^th, 2011 Padres 5, Braves 3

WP Tim Stauffer (3-5) 7IP 4H 2R 2ER 0BB 9K 1HR

LP Derek Lowe (3-6) 5.2IP 8H 5R 5ER 2BB 3K 0HR

Tim Stauffer received more run support (11) on Friday night than he did in his last seven starts combined (7) as he pitched another gem, beating the Braves on Friday night. Stauffer went seven full innings, striking out nine while issuing zero free passes. He also helped his own cause at the plate going 1-3, with an RBI single in the sixth.

The Padres jumped to a one run lead in the second when Nick Hundley drove in Anthony Rizzo from third base with a single to left field. Rizzo hit a leadoff double down the left field line before advancing to third on Cameron Maybin’s groundout to second baseman Dan Uggla.

Will Venable led off the next inning with a single. After stealing second he advanced to third on a fly to right field. He then scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Ryan Ludwick.

The Padres put together a two-out rally in the sixth, starting with Rizzo’s second double of the night. Maybin singled him to third before Hundley walked to load the bags. Rizzo and Maybin then scored on Alberto Gonzalez’s shallow single to right field to put the Padres up four. Stuaffer then singled to give them a 5-0 lead.

The Braves made it interesting in the top of the seventh when rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer to dead center to cut the lead to three.

But the Padres blew it open in the bottom half of the inning starting with Ryan Ludwick’s run-scoring, one-out double. After Rizzo was walked intentionally, Maybin knocked in both runners with a triple. He would then score when Alberto Gonzalez reached safely on what was ruled a throwing error by Uggla.

Jesus Guzman then launched his first career homer, a no-doubter deep into the left field stands, to put the Padres up 11-2.

Josh Spence, a native Australian, made his major league debut with mop-up duty in the ninth. He retired all three batters he faced, ending an enjoyable game at Petco Park.

June 25^th, 2011 Braves 10, Padres 1

WP Jair Jurrjens (10-3) 6IP 3H 1R 1ER 4BB 2K 1HR

LP Dustin Moseley (2-7) 5.2IP 5H 3R 2ER 4BB 3K 0HR

Jair Jurrjens became the first National League pitcher to reach double digits in the win column by holding the Padres at bay for six strong innings. It was Jurrgens second win agains San Diego having shut them out on April 26^th.

He got plenty of run support starting with Chipper Jones RBI-single scoring Jayson Heyward from second in the top of the first.

After a Dan Uggla walk, Cameron Maybin allowed Nate McClouth’s single to get by him, enabling Uggla to score from first.

Jurrgens only run given up was a leadoff solo shot to left by Alberto Gonzalez, cutting the lead in half, 2-1.

After Freddie Freeman’s RBI single in the fifth, the Braves blew it open with a three-run eighth highlighted with Nate McClouth’s ground rule double.

They would tack on four more in the ninth with a RBI double by Chipper Jones followed later in the inning with a three-run homer by Dan Uggla to put the Braves up 10-1.

April 27^th, 2011 Padres 4, Braves 1

WP Mike Adams (3-1) 1IP 1H 1R 0ER 1BB 1K 0HR

LP Jonny Venters (4-1) 0.2IP 4H 4R 4ER 2BB 0K 0HR

S Heath Bell (20) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

After two blowouts resulting with a win for each team, the Padres and Braves kept it scoreless for seven full innings before Atlanta took a 1-0 lead with two-outs in the top of the eighth.

Reliever Mike Adams walked Nate McClouth with one out before inducing a groudball to second baseman Orlando Hudson. But O-Dog bobbled the ball and was only able to get McClouth at second as Eric Hinske beat Jason Bartlett’s relay throw at first keeping the inning alive.

Jordan Schaeffer then doubled to right-centerfield. The ball was cut off by Will Venable but he dropped it on the transfer, allowing the slow-footed Hinske to score all the way from first to score the first run of the game.

But the Padres would come back in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff walk by Chris Denorfia followed by a bunt-single by cam Maybin. Rob Johnson then would sacrifice both runners over to give the Padres runners at second and third with one out.

Hitting in the pitchers spot, Jesus Guzman was intentionally walked to load the bases. Will Venable then popped-up a bunt to the pitcher for the second out, leaving the Padres one out away from leaving the bases loaded two innings in a row.

Jason Bartlett then hit a sharp grounder that deflected off the glove of Jonny Venters. But buy the time it reached a charging Alex Gonzalez he had no play, with Friars safe at all bags and tying the game 1-1.

Unlike Venable, Hudson did redeem himself with a groundball up the middle to centerfield, easily scoring Maybin with Guzman getting waved home.

David Ross would drop the throw from Schaeffer from centerfield, allowing Guzman to slide around the phantom-tag and return and slap home for a 3-1 lead. Chase Headley then would slap a single to shallow center to put the Pads up 4-1.

Heath Bell would then pitch a perfect ninth to get his 20^th save in 21 tries.