ICYMI: Offense stymied as Braves guarantee split
For the second night in a row at Turner Field, a team collected 14 hits in a game. Unfortunately that team was not the Padres on Wednesday night, as the Braves rolled on to a 4-1 victory over the Friars, who had accomplished the same 14-hit feat the previous evening. Starter Tyson Ross was pegged with the loss -- despite a decent pitching performance by the 28-year old veteran -- after he surrendered three earned runs on nine hits and two walks. Ross did put in six innings of work, however, and collected five strikeouts while also earning a quality start.
While Ross' pitching was effective for the most part, the Padres' offense could not put together the "big inning" to help push the team over the Braves. The Friars collected five hits on the evening, most of which came off the bat of second baseman Cory Spangenberg. Spangenberg went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI that scored the lone Padres run on the evening. The other two Padres hits came off the bat of shortstop Alexi Amarista and Ross.
Notably, Melvin Upton Jr. made his first start of the season for the Padres in center field on Wednesday, and he went 0-for-4 at the plate. Additionally, catcher Derek Norris and outfielder Matt Kemp received the night off for the Friars, allowing Upton Jr. to start and giving rookie Austin Hedges a chance to catch behind the dish. The Padres will be right back at it again at 9:10 a.m. PT (12:10 p.m. ET) at Turner Field for the conclusion of the four-game series with Andrew Cashner on the mound.
In case you missed it, here are some stories and highlights you may not have seen on Wednesday:
Padres post-game recap: Ross relinquishes nine singles in loss to Braves
Amarista shows fielding prowess by preserving a double-play ball in the fourth
Video: SD@ATL: Amarista stretches at second to turn two
Spangenberg put the Padres on the board with an RBI double in the fifth
Video: SD@ATL: Spangenberg doubles home Ross in the 5th
Alonso keeps Simmons honest by catching the Braves trying to stretch a single
Video: SD@ATL: Alonso catches Simmons stretching a single
Season of strife and struggle sends Gyorko to Triple-A: Gyorko sent down to El Paso; Vincent recalled
Recovering leadoff man may return before week's end: Myers could be activated as soon as Thursday
Fifteenth-round big first baseman may hold big potential: Padres intrigued by Zunica's raw power
Down on the farm: Smith and Pena pace Triple-A El Paso
Buddy's Bullets: Gyorko sent to Triple-A; Johnson, Luebke closer to rehab assignment
Game Note Highlights: Game Notes @ ATL (06.10) Friars Look to Bounce Back and Secure Split behind Ross
Looking forward:
Friar Forecast: Cashner will hope to save series split in morning finale
Thursday's probable pitchers: Andrew Cashner vs. Julio Teheran