SAN DIEGO — Will Venable’s two-run home run highlighted a 10-run fourth inning and Kyle Blanks homered, doubled and drove in a career-high five runs as the San Diego Padres routed the Atlanta Braves 17-2 in their home opener on Monday.
The Padres hit and scored as if they were playing in a bandbox rather than spacious Petco Park. Their 17 runs, on 19 hits, were the most by any team at the downtown ballpark since it opened in 2004.
Venable (triple, single, homer) and Blanks (double, homer, single) each finished a hit shy of the cycle. No Padres batter has ever hit for the cycle. Venable scored four runs and drove in two, and Blanks scored three times.
Kevin Correia (1-1), a San Diego native who made the start because of to Chris Young’s balky right shoulder, held Atlanta to two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He also had a two-run single in the fourth.
Correia and relievers Edward Mujica and Adam Russell held the Braves to four hits.