By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Padres clip Braves in 10 innings
Placeholder Image

ATLANTA -- Tim Hudson had to calm himself down after a tough first inning.

It was bad enough that Eric Patterson led off with a single, stole second base and scored.

But Hudson blamed himself for letting Patterson reach third with an errant throw on pickoff attempt that sailed over shortstop Alex Gonzalez's head and into the outfield.

"That was brutal," Hudson said. "It was nowhere in the same area code as Gonzo. Cost us a run right there."

Pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips broke a 2-all tie in the 10th inning with his first career home run and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 Monday for their third straight win.

Phillips, a rookie with a .167 average in 30 at-bats, led off the inning and hit the second pitch from George Sherrill (1-1).

Heath Bell pitched the 10th for his 13th save in 14 opportunities. Chad Qualls (3-2) earned the victory with a scoreless ninth, giving up one walk and facing four batters.

For a fourth straight start, San Diego's Aaron Harang didn't earn a decision, but he was sharp, allowing six hits, two runs and two walks with five strikeouts.

In his last three starts, Harang has a 1.29 ERA.

Hudson, the Braves' starter, allowed five hits and two runs - one earned - with no walks and seven strikeouts in six innings.

"Huddy threw outstanding." Atlanta center fielder Jordan Schafer said. "If I catch that line drive (in the third) and throw out (Harang) at second, then that bloop hit doesn't happen. We win the game 2-1. I need to learn from that and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Hudson, who missed his previous start with lower back stiffness, reported no problems.

What's wrong with Atlanta is offense. The Braves have scored three runs or more just four times since May 14, but each of those games went at least 11 innings.

Since May 18, Atlanta ranks 15th in National League and 29th overall with 29 runs scored.

"We have all the confidence in the world," Hudson said, "that we'll start putting up some crooked numbers."

The Padres led 1-0 in the first when Patterson scored on Ryan Ludwick's RBI groundout.

Atlanta tied it at 1-1 on Brian McCann's RBI double.

In the third, San Diego went up 2-1 on Ludwick's RBI bloop single. The 6-foot-7, 261-pound Harang lumbered around from second to score.

McCann's RBI single scored Martin Prado from second to make it 2-2 in Atlanta's third.

Scott Proctor pitched a scoreless seventh, Cory Gearrin a scoreless eighth for Atlanta and Jonny Venters a scoreless ninth after escaping a bases-loaded jam for Atlanta.

San Diego reliever Ernest Frieri escaped a jam in the seventh with a runners on first and third when Martin Prado popped out. In the eighth, Mike Adams stranded a pair of runners in eighth by striking out Alex Gonzalez.

Bell earned the save on flyouts by Prado and McCann and a strikeout of Eric Hinske.

Ludwick, who has 22 RBIs this month, began the day tied for third in the NL this month with 20.

The big blow, however, came from Phillips.

"It's the major leagues," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "If you can swing the bat you can hit one out."

Notes: Boos at Turner Field are becoming more prominent for Uggla, who went 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts, dropping his average two points to .178. ... Padres 1B Brad Hawpe stayed in the game despite slamming his right forearm against a concrete wall in the fifth. Hawpe stretched out over a rolled-up rain tarp and made the catch as 2B Logan Forsythe accidentally hit him from behind.

 

Friends to Follow social media