Padres take 3 of 4 from Bravos

Atlanta,

Game 1,

Bob Horner connected for a go ahead pinch hit two-run homerun in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the Braves a short lived 2-1 lead. San Diego erupted for a 5 spot in the top of the 9th to regain the lead and did not look back.  Five straight batters connected for RBI singles to help the Padres take the first game of the 4 game set.  Gene Richards led the Padres with 3 safeties. Luis Deleon pitched only two-thirds of an inning but it was good enough to set his record at 1-0. Gene Garber got the loss as he was battered for 5 runs in only one inning of relief work.  Padres 6....Braves 2.

Game 2,

Eddie Whitson allowed only four hits and no runs over 7 innings pitched and even his record at 2-2.  Padre shortstop Garry Templeton drove in two of the Padres runs as San Diego put up four runs in their half of the seventh inning. Pascual Perez was the loser as he sinks to 1-1. Padres 5...Braves 2.

Game 3,

Niekro won his first game with a complete game shutout of the Padres as the Braves took their first game of the series.  Phil Niekro's knuckleball was dancing and bouncing as he kept the Padres hitters baffled all day with his wiggly slow pitch.  The only runs for either team on the day came off the powerful bat of third sacker Bob Horner. Horner struck for a homerun with a runner on in the seventh frame.  That was all Phil needed to down the Padres and send Eric Show to his first loss of the year (3-1)...Braves 2...Padres 2.

Game 4,

Andy Hawkins threw 8 strong innings of 2 hit ball to win his first game of the season. Mark Davis came in the ninth to relieve a tiring Hawkins. Davis retired sluggers Murphy and Horner on strikeouts and got Gerald Perry to ground out weakly back to the box. Padre centerfielder Kevin McReynolds blasted his first round tripper of the year to help lead the Padre hitters.  Rick Mahler (2-1) got the loss for Atlanta.  Padres 4...braves 3.