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Braves-Padres Preview

Aug 5, 2009 - 6:41 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Atlanta (54-53) at San Diego (44-64), 3:35 p.m. EDT

An offensive outburst may have untracked the Atlanta Braves. Another meeting with the last-place San Diego Padres might help.

The Braves look to continue their success against the Padres on Wednesday when the teams conclude a three-game series at Petco Park.

Atlanta (54-53) equaled its season high with 17 hits to beat San Diego 9-2 on Tuesday. That scoring output matched the Braves' total from the previous four games, dropping three of them, including a 4-2 loss to the Padres (44-64) on Monday.

"It's nice to break out the bats a little bit and push some runs across," said Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche, who tied his career high with four hits. "The last few losses haven't been real good."

The Braves have won 19 of the last 25 meetings with the Padres, posting a 10-4 mark at Petco with a .296 batting average and 26 homers while outscoring them 94-59. Plus, San Diego's 4.64 ERA this season is among the worst in the majors.

LaRoche, acquired from Boston for Casey Kotchman at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, is hitting .351 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 21 games at San Diego.

Rookie Tommy Hanson (5-2, 3.25 ERA) hopes to benefit from another strong offensive showing after getting no runs of support in losing his last two starts. He allowed six runs and 17 hits in 13 innings in those defeats after going 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his previous seven starts.

The 22-year-old right-hander, who has never faced the Padres, gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings Friday as the offense was held to three hits in a 5-0 loss to Los Angeles.

San Diego may have Adrian Gonzalez back in the lineup after he saw his consecutive games streak end at 314 when he was held out of the starting lineup Tuesday for the second straight game to give him additional rest. It was the longest streak in the majors.

"These two days were days that I talked to (manager) Buddy (Black) about taking off and letting my body heal after the All-Star Game and tough travel," Gonzalez said. "It kind of caught up to me and I needed to let my body rest."

The two-time All-Star's 28 homers tie him with Minnesota's Justin Morneau for third in the majors while his 61 RBIs lead San Diego.

The Padres will give Chad Gaudin (4-9, 4.76) his first start against the Braves as he tries to rebound from his shortest start in more than four years.

The right-hander surrendered seven runs - three earned - and six hits before exiting with two outs in the second inning of Friday's 11-7 win over Milwaukee. He hadn't been pulled that early from a start since giving up seven runs in one inning with Toronto in a 12-4 loss at Oakland on June 5, 2005.

Gaudin, who has spent the majority of his career as a reliever, is 0-3 with a 4.31 ERA in his last six starts since yielding one hit in eight innings of a 1-0 win at Texas on June 28.

He has allowed one hit in three scoreless innings over two relief outings against Atlanta.