Tommy Hanson kept the pitching dominance going with seven shutout innings and 10 strikeouts as the Braves ended the road trip on a good note, winning 7-0.
Hanson pitched seven shutout innings on four hits - all singles - with one walk and 10 strikeouts. He induced seven groundouts to three flyouts, throwing 113 pitches, 74 for strikes. It's the most strikeouts for Hanson since June 10 of last year. This is back-to-back solid outings for Hanson now, who seems to have his fastball command back to where it was. Even if it is the Padres, it's good to see his stuff as sharp as it is right now.
The Braves started the scoring in the first on a Chipper Jones groundout RBI following a Martin Prado leadoff double. This marked a run scored for the Braves in the first inning every game this series. They exploded for five runs in the second inning thanks in large part to a two-run error by Brad Hawpe, which led to all five unearned. Chipper tripled in two and Brian McCann added an RBI double.
Jason Heyward added an RBI single in the ninth for insurance.
Chipper went 1-4 with a triple and three RBIs. McCann went 2-3 with a double and one RBI, his first double of the season. Heyward went 2-5 with an RBI. Prado added two hits, including a double. Nate McLouth did the same. Freddie Freeman also added a double.
Behind Hanson, Cory Gearrin made his second career appearance, pitching a perfect inning and striking out one. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning with a walk.
For the Padres, Mat Latos allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, walking one and striking out five. Five of the runs were unearned, but he certainly helped cause them. It was another shaky outing for Latos, who has yet to turn a corner this season since returning from the disabled list.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Padres fans check out Gaslamp Ball.