Apr 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) celebrates his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning of the first MLB game at SunTrust Park. Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
ATLANTA — Ender Inciarte matched his homer total for all of last season with his third in two games and the Atlanta Braves made the opening of SunTrust Park a winning one Friday night.
Inciarte, who had homered twice at Miami on Wednesday, connected for a two-run blast against San Diego reliever Craig Stammen in the sixth inning and the Braves defeated the Padres 5-2 before a sellout crowd of 41,149.
Julio Teheran wasn’t nearly as sharp as he had been while not allowing an earned run in his first two starts, but the right-hander got the victory despite allowing 11 baserunners in six innings.
Teheran (1-0) gave up five hits, walked four and hit a pair of batters, but allowed just two runs and helped himself at the plate with an RBI hit.
Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin (1-2) took the loss despite going 2-for-2 and driving in a run. The right-hander was charged with four runs in five-plus innings while giving up eight hits, walking four and striking out three.
With the Braves ahead by a run, Stammen replaced Chacin after a leadoff walk in the sixth inning and got two outs before Inciarte picked on a 3-1 pitch and lined a homer over the right-field fence.
Freddie Freeman reached base three times for the Braves on a double, single and walk, scoring once. In addition to his two-run homer, Inciarte had a leadoff single and scored the Braves’ first of two runs in the first inning.
Jim Johnson pitched through a one-out single in the ninth inning to record his second save in three chances for the Braves.
Nick Markakis’ two-run double in the first inning gave the Braves a quick 2-0 lead. But Chacin and Manuel Margot had two-out RBI singles in the second to tie the game as Teheran’s streak of not allowing an earned run came to an end at 23 2/3 innings dating to last season.
It was Teheran’s turn to produce a timely hit in the fourth inning. His infield single with two outs put the Braves back ahead as Tyler Flowers scored from second base as the throw to first base bounced away.
NOTES: Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron tossed the ceremonial first pitch to Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox during pregame ceremonies that also spotlighted Braves legends Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Dale Murphy and Phil Niekro. … The game did not start until 7:53 p.m. ET because of the festivities. … SunTrust Park and the neighboring entertainment district Battery Atlanta are about 13 miles from Turner Field, the Braves’ downtown home for the previous 20 seasons. … San Diego reinstated C Hector Sanchez from the concussion disabled list and recalled RHP Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso. … The Padres optioned OF Jabari Blash and RHP Jake Esch to El Paso. … The Braves recalled RHP Luke Jackson from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned RHP Jason Hursh to the same team. … RHP R.A. Dickey (0-1, 4.76 ERA) will start for the Braves on Saturday night in the second game of four-game series, with LHP Clayton Richard (1-1, 2.57 ERA) pitching for the Padres.
