Padres’ Kelly wins MLB debut, 3-0 over Braves
SAN DIEGO — Casey Kelly combined with three relievers on a four-hitter to win his major league debut, and Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run homer for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Monday night to extend their season-high streak to eight straight wins.
The 22-year-old Kelly was the key player among the four obtained from the Boston Red Sox in the trade for Adrian Gonzalez on Dec. 6, 2010.
Kelly also got his first big league hit, a single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. The Padres loaded the bases before Chase Headley struck out.
Pat Kelly was at Petco Park to watch his son’s debut. Pat Kelly, who played in three games with Toronto in 1980, is a former manager of the Braves’ Triple-A team and currently manages the Reds’ Rookie-level team in Billings, Mont.
Kelly (1-0), promoted from Double-A San Antonio earlier Monday, allowed three hits in six innings, struck out four and walked two. He was out from April 12-July 23 with a strained right elbow.
Kelly allowed a double down the right-field line to Jason Heyward with two outs in the first and then got Chipper Jones to line out to Headley at third. Kelly walked Freddie Freeman leading off the second and then allowed Dan Uggla’s one-out single before retiring the next two batters.
The Braves hit into double plays in each of the next two innings, and Kelly had a 1-2-3 fifth and sixth.
Grandal drove in all three runs for San Diego. He homered to left off Paul Maholm for a 2-0 lead in the second, his sixth. Carlos Quentin was aboard on a leadoff walk. Grandal singled in Headley in the eighth inning before getting thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth for his second save in five chances.
Maholm (11-9) allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings, struck out five and walked one.
San Diego’s winning streak is its longest since April 16-24, 2010.
NOTES: To make room for Kelly, the Padres optioned RHP Brad Boxberger to Triple-A Tucson and transferred C Nick Hundley to the 60-day DL. Hundley is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to repair torn a meniscus in his right knee. Hundley was placed on the DL on Aug. 17, retroactive to Aug. 16. He was batting .157 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 58 games with the Padres. He was optioned to Triple-A Tucson on June 30 and recalled Aug. 9. ... The Padres reinstated RHP Dale Thayer from the paternity list and optioned LHP Josh Spence to Tucson. Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcements ... The series continues Tuesday night when Atlanta’s Kris Medlen (5-1) is scheduled to start for the Braves against LHP Andrew Werner (1-0, 3.00), who is scheduled to make his second big league start.