Padres easily beat Braves 11-2

Veteran second baseman Ian Kinsler had three extra-base hits and sparked the first of two five-run rallies to support starter Matt Strahm and help the visiting San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 11-2 on Thursday afternoon. Kinsler was 3-for-6 with two doubles and a home run, scored three runs and drove in two more to help the Padres split the four-games series in Atlanta. Kinsler entered the series hitting .134 but went 5-for-13 in the four games and left town batting .174.

Strahm (1-2) pitched six innings and allowed two runs on eight hits. He struck out six. Over his last five starts, Strahm has a 1.80 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 30 innings. He has made four consecutive starts without allowing a walk. Eric Hosmer added three hits for the Padres, who set a season high with 17 hits and 11 runs.

Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) was knocked out of the game after he pitched 4 2/3 innings. He gave up eight hits and six runs, only two earned, and struck out three. His throwing error helped fuel San Diego's breakout inning. Kinsler led off the third inning with his third homer of the season.

The Padres took a big lead with five runs in the fifth. Kinsler doubled home Austin Hedges, who reached on a bunt single. Franmil Reyes singled to put runners on the corner. Manny Machado bounced to Foltynewicz, who threw the ball into the outfield while trying to retire Reyes. San Diego followed with Hosmer's sacrifice fly and RBI singles from Wil Myers and Manuel Margot. The Padres plated five more runs in the sixth against reliever Shane Carle. San Diego produced runs on a double by Machado, a single by Hosmer and a triple by Ty France, which notched his first career RBI. Myers ended the scoring with a long two-run homer, his sixth.

Atlanta ruined the shutout in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Nick Markakis, who extended his hitting streak to nine games. Atlanta moved left fielder Charlie Culberson to the mound to work the last inning and did not allow a run. It was the second appearance of his seven-year career.