|
 Shields pitched six shutout innings, but Upton Jr. hit a pair of
two-run homers as San Diego thumped the Atlanta Braves, 9-0, on
Tuesday.
"Mel's been getting some key hits and contributing to wins, but that
was a breakout performance," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said.
"It's great to see. It's much-needed for him. It was good for him."
Shields (9-5) allowed five hits, walked two and struck out seven as
the Braves lost their ninth straight at Petco Park. It was Shields'
second win in 14 starts and his first at home in more than a month.
"I've seen his velocity a lot better than today for whatever reason,
but he didn't give in," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He
changed speeds really, really well, especially with people on base."
It was the center fielder Upton's seventh multi-homer game, with his
second home run to left field coming in the seventh.
"I didn't see that coming, but I felt pretty good at the plate." he
said. "I believe in what I'm doing. It was just good to show a flash
of it today."
Shields was appreciative of the support of Upton.
"A lot of people don't understand, this guy's been taking some
really good swings the last month," Shields said. "Unfortunately he
hasn't gotten a crazy amount of hits, but he's been taking really
good at-bats, he's been taking his walks, which I'm most impressed
about. He's showing patience at the plate and things are coming
together for him."
San Diego hit two homers in its five-run sixth inning in which it
sent 11 batters to the plate against three Braves relievers.
Second baseman Yangervis Solarte hit a three-run shot into the
second deck, which followed Upton's two-run blast.
Also in the inning, left fielder Justin Upton doubled, shortstop
Alexi Amarista singled, with second baseman Cory Spangenberg and
pinch-hitter Brett Wallace drawing walks.
Matt Wisler (5-3) worked five innings and was charged with two runs,
six hits and two walks. The former Padre walked two.
"I definitely have to be more efficient on the mound," Wisler said.
"I thought I made some strides the last couple of innings after
having almost 50 pitches in the first two and then after that I
thought I got down to like 15 pitches an inning. I've got to attack
guys early in the count, get ahead, and I haven't done that as much
as I should have been lately."
Wisler also took a line drive off his right triceps from a Shields
line drive but he said he was fine.
"It definitely could be worse," he said. "It definitely will be a
little sore."
After Shields stifled the Braves, Odrisamer Despaigne and Kevin
Quackenbush blanked them the final three innings.
Atlanta has lost 17 of their past 25 games and are 11-24 since July
8.
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The Padres stretched their lead in the fourth to 2-0 on an RBI
single by center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. He knocked in catcher
Derek Norris after his double.
The Braves loaded the bases in the fourth when catcher A.J.
Pierzynski walked before base hits by third baseman Adonis Garcia
and second baseman Jace Peterson. But Shields struck out first
baseman Joey Terdoslavich and induced shortstop Andrelton Simmons to
hit into a 6-4-3 double play, with first baseman Yonder Alonso
making a nifty scoop on second baseman Cory Spangenberg's relay.
"We had a chance to get Shields with the bases loaded and he wiggled
out of it," Gonzalez said. "Instead of tying the score or being
ahead we never got a run."
Wisler escaped from a jam in the first when he walked third baseman
Yangervis Solarte and left fielder Justin Upton. But Wisler wasn't
as fortunate in the third.
Spangenberg laced a one-out triple to right-center field. Right
fielder Matt Kemp followed with a sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0
Padres lead.
In the second, the Braves wasted a leadoff double by Garcia as
Shields countered with two strikeouts and a ground out.
But a tight game turned into a larger.
"You remove the sixth inning from the box score and it's a good
game," Gonzalez said. "It's 2-0 at the time and you feel like you
are bringing those guys in to keep it like that. Then it's a battle
of the bullpen and we didn't get it done today.
NOTES: The Padres traded OF Will Venable to the Rangers for minor
league C Marcus Greene Jr. and a player to be named later. ... INF
Jedd Gyorko was rested after his first start at shortstop. ... INF
Alexi Amarista started his team-high 73rd game at short. ... Braves
1B Freddie Freeman (oblique, wrist) will be activated off the
disabled list for Wednesday's game. ... SS Andrelton Simmons hasn't
committed an error since June 15.
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