San Diego, CA – Kris Medlen matched a career-high with nine strikeouts over eight stellar innings Tuesday, as the Atlanta Braves blanked the San Diego Padres, 2-0, in the middle portion of a three-game series at Petco Park.
Medlen (6-1) extended his scoreless-innings streak to 28 1/3 innings after giving up five hits without walking a batter for the Braves, who have won the last 17 games that Medlen has started.
It is the longest such streak by a team in any pitcher's starts since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 consecutive games started by Chris Carpenter in 2005.
"It doesn't matter to me," said Medlen of the scoreless-innings streak. "We're winning games. That's all that really matters."
Craig Kimbrel finished off the shutout as he worked around a leadoff single by striking out the next three batters to nail down his 32nd save of the season.
Chipper Jones smacked an RBI double and Dan Uggla added a solo shot, as Atlanta won for the third time in its last four games.
Andrew Werner (1-1) pitched well in defeat, allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over six frames, but the Padres saw their season-high eight-game winning streak come to an end.
The Braves grabbed the lead in their first at-bat as Martin Prado smacked a one-out single, advanced on a groundout, stole third and then scored when Jones laced a two-out double into right-center field for a 1-0 edge.
Uggla clubbed his 1,000th career hit in the fifth when he belted a leadoff homer into left field to double Atlanta's advantage.
The lead was more than enough for Medlen, who hasn't allowed a run in 17 innings against the Padres this season and improved to 5-0 with a 0.66 earned run average since moving to the starting rotation on July 31.
"He's a fine young pitcher," Padres manager Bud Black said of Medlen. "He's got three pitches he throws for strikes...changes speeds. He pitches."
Game Notes
Medlen hasn't allowed a home run over his last 39 2/3 innings pitched. He improved to 11-2 over 24 career starts ... San Diego had won five straight at home ... Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin celebrated his 30th birthday Tuesday. He finished 0-for-4.
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