|
 The Padres tied the game in the ninth inning thanks to a throwing
error by new Braves closer Jason Grilli, and San Diego scored twice
in the 11th for a 5-3 victory.
Kimbrel made quick work of the Braves in the bottom of the 11th to
record his 14th save of the season and 200th of his career.
The 27-year-old right-hander is the quickest to reach the plateau,
doing it in his 318th game -- the first 294 with the Braves.
"It's definitely cool, but I wouldn't say it means any more,"
Kimbrel said when asked if it was special to reach the milestone in
Atlanta. "Every save has a lot of meaning. I would have been happy
wherever it happened."
Grilli, who took over the closer's role for the Braves when Kimbrel
was traded on the eve of Opening Day, had a moment to forget rather
than remember.
"The game's not easy," said Grilli, who threw away a pickoff attempt
and then the save opportunity. "This was a tough loss."
Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso doubled in the ninth, then gave
way to former Braves outfielder Melvin Upton Jr., who came in as a
pinch runner. Grilli threw the ball into center field trying to pick
off Upton, and Upton moved up to third.
Second baseman Cory Spangenberg, who hit an RBI double in the second
inning, followed with a sacrifice fly, and the Braves had their 11th
blown save of the season.
"He just threw the ball away," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez,
who didn't second-guess the attempt. "You have to let your players
play."
Right fielder Matt Kemp hit a tiebreaking double in the 11th inning
off right-hander Cody Martin, and shortstop Alexi Amarista drove in
an insurance run with a two-bagger against Luis Avilan.
Kimbrel had no trouble in the bottom of the 11th, retiring the
Braves in order and striking out left fielder Todd Cunningham to end
the game.
"It was a little different coming out of another bullpen and with no
music," said Kimbrel, who has an uncharacteristic 4.09 ERA with his
new team. "But the fans were nice. They cheered for me."
Brandon Mauer, who pitched a perfect 10th for the Padres, improved
to 3-0 with the victory. Martin, who didn't get an out, is 2-3.
Braves starter Shelby Miller allowed five hits and a run over seven
innings in lowering his ERA to 1.84, but he was deprived of his
sixth victory. The right-hander struck out six and walked one while
throwing 70 of his 94 pitches for strikes.
Not only did former Braves Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. have roles
in the San Diego victory, but so did left fielder Justin Upton. He
drove in center fielder Will Venable, who had doubled off reliever
Jim Johnson, with a grounder in the eighth inning to make it a
one-run game.
[to top of second column] |
The Braves and Padres made two trades during the offseason, and
players in both contributed for each team in the series opener.
Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin had two singles and a stolen
base in his fifth consecutive multi-hit game, and second baseman
Jace Peterson also had two hits.
Maybin is 13-for-25 (.520) during the hot streak, lifting his
average at .299.
Padres starter Ian Kennedy needed 107 pitches to make it through
five innings. He allowed eight hits and three runs while walking
none and striking out six.
Spangenberg put the Padres ahead with a two-out double in the second
inning that scored Alonso, who singled with one out. Spangenberg
fouled off five two-strike pitches from Miller before pulling a
cutter down the right field line.
The Padres' lead didn't last long, though, as Kennedy gave up three
runs on four hits in the third. Maybin and first baseman Freddie
Freeman delivered run-scoring singles, and right fielder Nick
Markakis had an RBI double.
The Braves' bullpen, which has the highest ERA in the majors,
couldn't get the job done. Kimbrel and five other Padres relievers
could.
"Craig is on this way to a very nice career," San Diego manager
Buddy Black said.
NOTES: RHP Brandon Morrow returned to San Diego for an MRI exam
Monday after he experienced discomfort during his second rehab
outing with Double-A San Antonio on Sunday. He was 2-0 with a 2.73
ERA before going on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
... San Diego CF Melvin Upton Jr., who had been on the disabled list
all season with a foot injury before finishing a rehab stint with
Triple-A El Paso, was activated and appeared as a pinch runner. ...
LHP Donnie Veal, designated for assignment by the Braves on June 1,
was released. ... Braves OF/3B Kelly Johnson (oblique) began a rehab
assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday. ... San Diego RHP James
Shields (7-0, 3.58 ERA) will start Tuesday against Atlanta rookie
RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 4.29). The only San Diego pitcher to open
a season with a better record than Shields was Andy Hawkins, who
began 11-0 in 1985.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
