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.
Advertisement
Nick Markakis had singled to start the ninth and A.J. Pierzynski drew a four-pitch walk before Kimbrel struck out Adonis Garcia for the first out of the inning.
The Padres did not fare well on their last homestand, producing more than three runs only once while going 2-4.
Colin Rea’s second big league start was less dramatic than his first. It was a nice bounceback effort by the 24-year-old Venezuelan rookie after surrendering 15 runs and 19 hits over his previous two outings. The 28-year-old went 2-for-4 with his career-high 10th home run and two runs scored as Atlanta suffered its fifth loss in seven games and third in a row on the road.
Perez (4-4) allowed seven hits, four runs and four walks in 6 1/3 innings and lost his fourth consecutive start since returning from a five-week stint on the DL for a bruised foot after being struck by a line drive.
The first two batters reached and the Braves scored a run with one out. The Braves’ last win in San Diego came on August. 28, 2012 in a 2-0 win.
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.
Matt Kemp homered to right for San Diego in the fifth, his 14th. Gyorko last played there in college at West Virginia.
NOTES: INF Jedd Gyorko became the fourth Padres player to start at shortstop this season.
Advertisement
The Padres jumped on Perez for three runs in the second inning, with former courageous Justin Upton getting things started with a leadoff single.
