CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — Odrisamer Despaigne couldn’t overcome control problems in his first ugly outing after giving up fewer than three runs in each of his first five starts.
The rookie lasted only 3 2-3 innings, allowing five runs — two earned — and six hits while walking five in the San Diego Padres’ 5-3 loss to Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.
Despaigne (2-2) was making his first start since throwing 7 2-3 no-hit innings before allowing a run in a no-decision against the Mets on July 20.
“He was trying to be a little too fine, kind of hitting the corners instead of making pitches,” said Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, who had a two-run double.
“The curve ball wasn’t that sharp tonight. … His cutter he usually throws for a strike a lot. He was throwing it for balls. And again you go back to trying to be too perfect on that outside corner. Other than that I think he pitched good, you know?”
Despaigne walked three batters in Atlanta’s four-run fourth. The Cuban right-hander also hurt himself with a high throw to third base for an error in the inning.
San Diego third baseman Chris Nelson fell over the sliding Chris Johnson after reaching for the high throw. Johnson then scored on Teheran’s bunt.
Johnson and Freddie Freeman, who had three hits, had run-scoring singles in the inning. Tommy La Stella also had three hits for Atlanta.
Padres manager Bud Black also said Despaigne “was trying to be a little bit too fine.”
“He couldn’t throw the first-pitch strike, a lot of 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 counts all night,” Black said. “He just didn’t have the ability to locate a pitch when he really needed to, which has been quite a contrast from what he’s done his previous starts.”
The five walks were a high in Despaigne’s young career, but he had three or more walks in three of his first five starts.
This time, he couldn’t pitch around his mistakes.
“It’s one game,” Black said. “We’ll see. He’s made how many major league starts? Six is a small sample size. … Five pretty good ones and one where he didn’t throw strikes. … That’s why we keep playing.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Despaigne, who has an unusually large assortment of pitches and speeds, required an adjustment for Atlanta’s hitters.
“This guy looks like he pitches a wiffle ball game,” Gonzalez said. “He throws every pitch different angles and sometimes it’s 93 (mph) and sometimes it’s 64 miles per hour curve balls. But we were patient.”
Entering the game, Teheran (10-6) had a 1.23 ERA in 10 home starts. He wasn’t as dominant against the Padres as he allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings.
Teheran didn’t walk a batter while striking out five to become the first Braves pitcher to reach 10 wins.
Seth Smith had three hits for the Padres.
Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 31st save.
The Padres took a 2-1 lead off Teheran in the fourth. Grandal’s double to center field drove in Yangervis Solarte and Smith, who reached on singles. Solarte had a run-scoring single in the fifth.
Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso had one hit in his return from the 15-day disabled list. Alonso had been out since June 17 with right wrist tendinitis.
The Padres committed three errors.
NOTES: Padres OF Jake Goebbert was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. … Braves 2B Phil Gosselin reached on an error in the sixth and was picked off base following his recall from Triple-A Gwinnett. IF Tyler Pastornicky was optioned to Gwinnett. … The series continues Sunday when Atlanta’s Mike Minor faces San Diego’s Eric Stults in a matchup of left-handers.
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