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Young looks to re-establish road success against Braves

May 7, 2007 - 2:00 PM San Diego (17-14) at Atlanta (19-11) 7:05 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Ever since Chris Young broke into the major leagues, he has experienced a great deal of success away from home.

Young will look to rekindle his past road success as the San Diego Padres visit the Atlanta Braves on Monday in the opener of a four-game series.

Young (3-2, 3.34 ERA) became just the second pitcher in major league history to go undefeated in 25 straight road starts before losing to the Dodgers on April 15, when he lasted only two innings.

After a road win against Colorado, the righthander lost again at Arizona, giving up six runs and six hits with three walks in a 7-4 loss on April 26.

Both of the righthander's losses this season have come away from Petco Park and account for half of the four career defeats he has suffered away from home over his four-year major league career with the Padres and Texas Rangers. Young is 14-4 with a 3.35 lifetime away from home.

The former Princeton basketball player was sharp in his last outing, giving up three hits with three walks over eight innings of Tuesday's 3-0 home win over Washington. He will like to repeat that performance against the Braves, as he was 0-1 with a 19.50 ERA in two starts against Atlanta last year.

Chuck James (3-2, 4.83) will start the opener for Atlanta. The lefthander gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings but didn't get a decision in a 4-3 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

In his only career start against the Padres, James was awarded the win in a 10-5 victory on July 16, 2006.

This series marks the return of former Brave second baseman Marcus Giles, who signed with the Padres as free agent during the offseason after spending his first six seasons in Atlanta. Giles is batting .328 with 20 runs and 16 RBI as the leadoff hitter for the Padres, who have dropped four straight against the Braves.

Kelly Johnson, who replaced Giles at the top of Atlanta's lineup, is hitting .314 with 27 runs and 17 RBI. Edgar Renteria is hitting .362 (25-for-69) during a 15-game hitting streak.