Braves 4, Padres 1
ATLANTA -- Rookie Williams Perez scattered four hits and allowed only one unearned run over seven innings to pitch the Atlanta Braves to a 4-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday at Turner Field.
Perez (2-0) retired the last eight batters he faced and struck out five. In five starts since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, the right-hander has allowed one or fewer runs four times. Perez also singled and scored a run.
Reliever Brandon Cunniff pitched a scoreless eighth and Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth to earn his third save.
Tyson Ross (3-6) took the loss for the Padres. He allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks, with five strikeouts.
Atlanta totaled 14 hits, with catcher A.J. Pierzynski and left fielder Kelly Johnson with three singles apiece. Johnson had been activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day. The Padres were able to minimize the damage by turning three double plays.
The Braves scored two runs in the second inning. Right fielder Nick Markakis singled, took second on an infield grounder and scored on an RBI single by left fielder Kelly Johnson. Johnson was thrown out trying to steal but catcher A.J. Pierzynski kept the inning alive with an infield single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, when Ross intentionally threw behind Andrelton Simmons. The shortstop responded with an RBI single to center field.
Atlanta added a run in the third inning to make it 3-0 as Perez singled to lead off the inning and scored when first baseman Freddie Freeman grounded into a bases-loaded double play.
The Padres cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the fifth. Ross reached on a swinging bunt and took second when Pierzynski's throw to first was wild and rolled into right field. Ross scored on a one-out double by second baseman Cory Spangenberg.
The Braves tacked on a run in the seventh to make it 4-1. Pierzynski singled and went to second when pinch hitter Todd Cunningham dropped down a bunt that rolled dead on the third-base line. Second baseman Jace Peterson walked to load the bases and center fielder Cameron Maybin drove in Pierzynski with an opposite field single to right.
NOTES: Atlanta activated OF Kelly Johnson from the 15-day disabled list and optioned OF Joey Terdoslavich to Triple-A Gwinnett. Johnson had been on the DL with a right oblique strain since May 15 and missed 24 games. Terdoslavich was 1-for-4 since activated on June 5, including a game-winning home run on June 9 against San Diego. ... The Padres recalled RHP Nick Vincent from Triple-A El Paso and optioned 2B Jedd Gyorko to the same club. Vincent is making his third stint with the Padres and is 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in 7 1/3 innings. Vincent was 2-3 with a 3.32 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings in 19 games at El Paso. Gyorko was batting .210 (25-for-119) in 45 games. ... OF Melvin Upton Jr. got his first start with the Padres since coming off the DL and it came against his former team. Upton had served as a pinch hitter and pinch runner in two previous games in the series. ... Starting pitchers for the final game of the four-game set features RHP Andrew Cashner (2-8, 4.05) for San Diego vs. RHP Julio Teheran (4-2, 4.87) for Atlanta.