Padres Fall to Braves 4-1

From the Padres' perspective, it looked like another tough-luck loss for Tyson Ross.

Ross gave up three runs in six innings but San Diego couldn't muster much offense in a 4-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

Ross (3-6) allowed nine hits and two walks in his fifth loss when allowing no more than three runs. His ERA rose slightly to 3.81.

"They didn't hit him real hard," said Padres manager Bud Black. "They hit the ball in the right spots again and they strung some hits together."

Atlanta rookie right-hander Williams Perez (2-0) allowed only four hits and one unearned run in seven innings.

"We had some loud outs -- I counted seven loud outs," Black said. "They made two diving plays."

Former Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin provided the biggest defensive play in the fifth inning.

Maybin chased down Yonder Alonso's drive in front of the center-field wall after Cory Spangenberg's run-scoring double. Spangenberg had three hits, including two doubles.

"Not too many center fielders make that play, to challenge the wall there in center," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.

The Padres have seen Maybin's defense before.

"Cam's a good defender and there's a lot of room out there in this ballpark and he ran some balls down," Black said.

Kelly Johnson returned from the disabled list with three hits, including a run-scoring single in the second, for Atlanta.

Perez has a 2.78 ERA in seven games, including a 1.80 mark in five starts.

Johnson had an RBI single in the second inning in his return after missing 24 games with a strained right oblique. Maybin drove in a run with two of Atlanta's 14 hits.

Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save. Closer Jason Grilli was rested after pitching two straight days.

Johnson's second-inning single off Tyson Ross drove in Nick Markakis, who slapped a single to left field to lead off the inning. A.J. Pierzynski, who had an infield hit, scored on Andrelton Simmons' single later in the inning.

MR. PRESIDENT

Former President Jimmy Carter and wife, Rosalynn, sat near the Braves' dugout. They live in Georgia.

MELVIN STARTS

Former Braves outfielder Melvin Upton Jr., making his first start since coming off the disabled list Monday, was 0 for 4 and was booed before every at-bat. He was robbed of a hit in the third on Johnson's diving catch in left field.

GYORKO DEMOTED

Before the game, the Padres optioned second baseman Jedd Gyorko to Triple-A El Paso and recalled right-hander Nick Vincent. Gyorko was hitting .210 with two homers and 11 RBIs and lost his starting job to Spangenberg.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: Black said after the game Will Myers will come off the 15-day DL and start in center field Thursday. Myers has been out since May 11 with left wrist tendinitis. Myers is hitting .291 with five homers, 19 RBIs and three stolen bases.

Braves: To clear a spot for Johnson, OF Joey Terdoslavich was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett one day after his pinch-hit homer gave Atlanta the lead in its 6-5 win over the Padres. Gonzalez said Terdoslavich "took it really well" and can help the team off the bench later in the season.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner, who gave up eight hits and seven runs in his last start at Cincinnati, will try to get on track against the Braves in Thursday's final game of the four-game series. Cashner (2-8) has allowed a combined 12 earned runs in his last two starts.

Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (4-2) will look for his first win since May 21. He has a loss and two no-decisions while allowing a combined 15 earned runs in his last three starts.

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