Kelly Johnson returns with three-hit game; Perez, Braves beat Padres 4-1

Kelly Johnson returned from the DL today and had himself a day at the plate with three hits in support of Williams Perez, and the Braves top the Padres 4-1.

Kelly returned to his hitting ways in the second inning, singling home Nick Markakis for the game's first run against Tyson Ross, but then he was immediately caught stealing. A.J. Pierzynski then reached on an infield hit where the ball kicked off Yonder Alonso, and he lobbed the throw wide of Tyson Ross covering. A.J. appeared to be in pain, but stayed in.

Then came Andrelton Simmons. Some of the Padres believed his slide into Derek Norris yesterday was dirty and intentional, so Ross threw behind him, allowing A.J. to reach second. Retaliation wasn't unexpected, but it came at an inappropriate time with a runner on base. Simmons made Ross and the Padres pay for it with a run-scoring single.

Atlanta loaded the bases in the third inning with no outs, but managed only a single run, and that was on a double play. San Diego would get their lone run in the fifth on Cory Spangenberg's RBI double; the hit scored Tyson Ross, who was on second after Pierzynski's throwing error. Spangenberg had three of San Diego's five hits; two of them doubles.

Williams Perez lasted seven innings, allowing just four hits, and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning. He struck out five.

Cameron Maybin singled home Atlanta's fourth run with the bases loaded in the seventh. Brandon Cunniff pitched a scoreless eighth and Jim Johnson needed just nine pitches to dispatch the Padres in the ninth for his third save.

In addition to his three hits, Kelly made a nice catch to rob Melvin of a hit in the fourth inning.

Perez: 7 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K; 1-2, 1 run
K. Johnson: 3-4, 1 RBI
Pierzynski: 3-4, 2 runs
Markakis: 2-3, 1 run
Maybin: 2-3, 1 RBI

Win Expectancy