Braves roll to 8-1 win over Padres
ATLANTA -- Matt Wisler turned in his second strong outing since being recalled from the minor leagues, pitching the Atlanta Braves to an 8-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Wisler (6-11) allowed one run and four hits in six innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters. The right-hander, obtained from the Padres before the 2015 season, has allowed two runs in 14 innings since his return from a three-week Triple-A exile.
The Braves iced the game by scoring four times in the sixth inning when pinch-hitter Gordon Beckham delivered a two-run double and Ender Inciarte extended his hitting streak to 11 with a two-run single.
They added two runs in the eighth on Freddie Freeman's RBI single and Matt Kemp's league-leading 10th sacrifice fly.
Atlanta got one scoreless inning of relief apiece from Jose Ramirez, Mauricio Cabrera and Jim Johnson to nail down the team's second straight win. Johnson, the team's closer, struck out the side in the ninth in a non-save situation.
The victory ensured the Braves would win the series, just the third time they've done that at home this season.
The losing pitcher was Paul Clemens (2-4). The right-hander struggled with control and left with the bases loaded in the fourth. He walked four and gave up four hits in three innings but allowed just two runs (one unearned) and struck out two. He retired only one of the final eight batters he faced.
The Braves scored a run in the first inning. Inciarte reached on an error, stole second and third base, then scored on a balk.
Atlanta scored again in the third. Wisler led off with a single and scored when Adonis Garcia rattled a double off the wall in left. The Braves had runners at second and third when Clemens walked Freeman and air-mailed ball four to the backstop. Inciarte broke for the plate as soon as he saw the wild pitch, but the favorable carom bounced straight back to catcher Derek Norris, who applied the tag for the out.
The Padres cut the lead to 2-1 when right fielder Oswaldo Arcia smacked his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot into the seats in right.
The Braves loaded the bases in the fourth, causing the departure of Clemens. But reliever Jose Dominguez struck out Dansby Swanson and got Wisler to roll into a double play.
NOTES: The Padres placed C Christian Bethancourt on the 15-day disabled list with a left intercostal strain and recalled Hector Sanchez from Triple-A El Paso. They also moved RHP Tyson Ross from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL with right shoulder inflammation to clear a roster spot. Ross, the ninth player on the 60-day DL, felt soreness after his first rehab start and threw from flat ground on Wednesday. He could return later this month. ... The final game of the three-game series at 12:10 p.m. ET Thursday will mark San Diego's final game at Turner Field. The Padres will send RHP Jarred Cosart (0-1, 4.23 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.30).