Padres at Braves
Freddy Galvis tormented the Atlanta Braves during his time with Philadelphia, and the San Diego Padres shortstop comes into Saturday’s third contest of a four-game road series after collecting five hits in Friday’s 9-3 road victory. Galvis blasted a three-run homer in the seventh inning Friday and raised his career average against the Braves to .284 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 80 career games to help power the Padres to their 12th victory in the past 17 games.
San Diego's Jose Pirela belted a two-run homer in the first inning - his first home run in his 268th at-bat of the season, after hitting 10 longballs in 312 at-bats last season. Atlanta starter Brandon McCarthy settled down and did not give up another run in 5 2/3 innings after Pirela's blast, but the Padres scored seven against the Braves' bullpen. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to nine games with a fifth-inning homer that put Atlanta ahead 3-2. Freeman finished 1-for-3 with a walk to exit Friday with a .342 batting average and 15 homers - six in his past nine games - but it was not enough as the National League East leaders lost for just the second time in their past six contests.
TV: 5:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jordan Lyles (2-3, 4.83 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (7-2, 2.92)
Lyles moved into the starting rotation in early May and pitched well in his first five starts, striking out 31 in 29 2/3 innings while posting a 3.64 ERA. But the 27-year-old has been hammered in losing his first two starts of June, giving up 12 runs on 22 hits - including four homers - in just 10 1/3 innings. The Braves bashed him for eight runs on 11 hits across 4 1/3 innings on June 5, and Lyles followed up by giving up four runs on 11 hits in six innings Monday at St. Louis.
Newcomb looks to shake off one of his rougher starts of the season after allowing five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings Sunday in Los Angeles, suffering his first loss since April 2. The 25-year-old is emerging as a potential All-Star candidate in his first full major-league season, posting a 1.96 ERA and holding opponents to a .195 average with 29 walks and 62 strikeouts in his 11 starts before Sunday. Newcomb held the Padres to three hits over six scoreless innings in a victory June 5.
WALK-OFFS
1. Galvis is hitting .415 in his past 11 road games against the Braves.
2. The Braves announced RHP Julio Teheran would start Sunday’s series finale, while the Padres are leaning toward a bullpen game in the series finale.
3. San Diego won for just the third time in its past 16 games at Atlanta.