SAN DIEGO – The Atlanta Braves will take a third shot at earning their first series win of the season.
Ian Anderson pitched one-run ball into the sixth inning, and Matt Olson hit one of three homers for the Braves as they beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Saturday.
“I felt like I was back to my normal self,” said Anderson (1-1), who allowed two hits and struck out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings. “It felt good to get back out there and pound the zone the way I did.”
The Braves won 5-2 for the second day in a row, with Friday night’s victory following a 12-1 humbling for the World Series champions Thursday in their first road game of the season. Atlanta is 5-5 this season entering Sunday’s finale of the four-game series in San Diego, having split four games with the Cincinnati Reds to open before dropping two of three to the Washington Nationals, a rival in the National League East Division where Atlanta is the four-time reigning champion.
Anderson took the loss in Atlanta’s 6-3 setback against the Reds last Sunday, when the 23-year-old right-hander lasted 2 2/3 innings after allowing five runs on five walks and three hits.