Rookie Rea wins 2nd straight start for Padres, 5-3 vs Braves

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Colin Rea's second big league start was less dramatic than his first. It ended the same way: with a victory for the San Diego Padres right-hander.

Rea became the seventh starter in Padres history to begin his big league career 2-0, pitching into the sixth inning of San Diego's 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.

Odrisamer Despaigne did it last season.

"I was pretty excited. I was still nervous but I was able to focus on the game," said Rea, who allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings while striking out four and walking one.

His only big mistake was allowing a home run to former Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin leading off the fourth, his 10th.

Last Tuesday, Rea won his big league debut in San Diego with more than 70 friends and family members in attendance.

On Monday night, his personal cheering section included only his wife.

"It was nice to just kind of come to the field and worry about pitching tonight," he said.

Rea was lifted after allowing A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single with two outs in the sixth. He pitched five innings for a 1-0 victory against Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Craig Kimbrel, obtained from the Braves the day before the season started, pitched a shaky ninth for his 34th save. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk.

Rea got all the backing he needed when the Padres scored three runs on four hits off William Perez (4-4) in the second inning. Derek Norris hit an RBI single with one out and Will Venable followed with a two-run single to right.

"I thought he was better tonight," interim manager Pat Murphy said of Rea. "I felt like he made pitches tonight. Breaking ball was good; little baby cutter, good; even threw a splitter or two that was good. I thought he commanded his fastball for the most part. I was real pleased with what he did. He showed great poise again. You've got to take notice."

Rea was San Diego's 12th-round pick in the 2011 amateur draft.

Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said Rea reminded him of former Padres farmhand Matt Wisler, who is scheduled to start for the Braves on Tuesday night.

"Same type guy. Mixes his pitches well. He's got a little sink to his fastball, a little run to his fastball," Gonzalez said. "He pitched pretty darn good, really, for a young kid. Him and Wisler were in this organization and that is what he looked like when I saw him out there for the first time."

Matt Kemp homered to right for San Diego in the fifth, his 14th. Yonder Alonso homered to right with two outs in the eighth, his fifth.

Perez allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, struck out two and walked four.

Jedd Gyorko became the fourth Padre to start at shortstop this season. Gyorko last played there in college at West Virginia. He's made 63 starts at second base this season.

The Braves lost for the 16th time in 24 games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: Alonso returned to the lineup after getting struck in the temple Saturday night when Justin Upton threw his batting helmet in the dugout. ... OF Wil Myers (wrist) has increased his swinging regimen and could take batting practice this week.

UP NEXT

Braves: Rookie RHP Matt Wisler (5-2, 4.74 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Padres, who traded him to Atlanta as part of the deal that brought them Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr.

Padres: RHP James Shields (8-5, 3.89) is scheduled to start for the Padres. He has won only once in his last 13 starts and pitched seven innings only three times in that span.