Latos, Venable lift Padres to 4-2 win over Braves

[August 04, 2009]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Mat Latos pitched seven strong innings and fellow rookie Will Venable drove in the go-ahead run and made a run-saving catch to give the San Diego Padres a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.

The 21-year-old Latos settled down after allowing a run in each of the first two innings. He retired 15 of 16 batters in one stretch and got a huge lift when Venable saved at least one run in the seventh with a diving catch in right field to end the inning.

Latos (3-1) gave up Brian McCann's sacrifice fly in the first and a solo homer by Adam LaRoche in the second. He allowed two runs and six hits.

Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 27th save as San Diego won for the sixth time in seven games.

[Associated Press]

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