SAN DIEGO (AP) - 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 Braves, who had won back-to-back games after losing six-of-seven, dropped five games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East.
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. He was also a former University of Tennessee football commitment before being drafted on the diamond.
Kelly also got his first big league hit, a single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. The Padres loaded the bases in the inning, but Paul Maholm struck out Chase Headley to escape the threat.
Maholm (11-9) was charged with all three runs in 6.2 innings.
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 due to a strained right elbow.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
