The San Diego Padres attempt to awaken their bats from a brief slumber when they kick off a six-game homestand with the opener of a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
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The 2005 Roberson graduate slugged his career-best 10th home run for the Atlanta Braves in Monday’s 5-3 loss at San Diego. The 33-year-old Californian has won only once in his last 13 outings, defeating Colorado on July 17 by holding the Rockies to one run despite yielding seven hits and four walks over five frames. He struck out four and walked two.
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta’s all-time saves leader, navigated his way through a shaky 9th inning against his former squad, earning his 34th save of the season. “The Braves trailed 3-0 before his leadoff homer in the fourth, Maybin”s career-high 10th of the season.
Maybin, in his first game in San Diego since being traded to the Braves on the eve of opening day, homered for the second consecutive game and had his fifth two-hit game in a row.
Alonso hit a solo shot in the eighth.
Matt Kemp homered to right for San Diego in the fifth, his 14th.
Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said Rea reminded him of former Padres farmhand Matt Wisler, who is scheduled to start for the Braves on Tuesday night.
He was happy to get some help from his teammates in the field as Justin Upton hauled in a fantastic catch in left-field, crashing into the wall to rob Pedro Ciriaco of extra bases in the 8th.
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Rea got all the backing he needed when the Padres scored three runs on four hits off William Perez (4-4) in the second inning. Upton advanced to third on first baseman Yonder Alonso’s ground-rule double to left center. You might recall that Will Middlebrooks has even made some starts at shortstop this season. Gyorko last played there in college at West Virginia. OF Wil Myers (wrist) has increased his swinging regimen and could take batting practice this week.
