Grant-Lilliquist Deal Works Against Padres

The Braves’ Tom Glavine rallied from a two-run deficit and, with a little help from former Padre Mark Grant, defeated the Padres, 7-3, Friday night.

Grant said the save, his first of the season, “probably was a little sweeter, coming against my former teammates. That made it just a little more exciting.”

Grant came to the Braves in the deal that sent Friday’s losing pitcher, Derek Lilliquist (3-10), to San Diego.

“Derek’s a very good competitor and he was pumped up coming in, but he ran out of gas,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said.

Glavine was two runs down after three innings, but he wasn’t concerned.

“We were behind, 2-0, but they were hitting everything on the ground,” said Glavine (8-11), who scattered six hits and no more runs in six innings. “When I do that, it’s a pretty good indication.”

Two of the ground balls, both by Tony Gwynn, were converted into double plays, although a run scored on each.

“Those got me out of two jams,” Glavine said. “I’ve had pretty good success against him, but that may be because I know he’s such a good hitter and concentrate a little harder against him.”

Jim Presley doubled home the first of five Atlanta runs in the fourth inning and homered in the fifth, his 19th. Ron Gant hit his 29th homer in the seventh.

“A five-run inning does tend to take the pressure off a little bit,” Glavine said.

Gant opened the fourth with a walk, took second on Dave Justice’s single and scored on Presley’s double. Francisco Cabrera’s single scored Justice with the tying run.

One out later, Greg Olson and Mark Lemke hit consecutive RBI singles for a 4-2 lead. When Lilliquist walked Glavine to load the bases, Eric Show relieved and the fifth run came home as Lonnie Smith grounded out.

A triple by Gwynn and a single by Joe Carter produced San Diego’s final run in the seventh.

Padre Notes

It was Derek Lilliquist’s fourth appearance and first start against his former team . . . Tony Gwynn remained one RBI shy of matching his career-best of 71 in 1984 . . . San Diego’s Jack Clark, with 87 walks, is the National League leader despite missing 40 games this season. He also led the league in walks last season . . . The game was the beginning of a stretch in which the Padres play 16 of 20 games on the road . . . Tom Glavine is 2-5 in his last 11 starts . . . The Braves need a 7-3 record in this 10-game home stand for their first .500 season at home since 1987 . . . Ron Gant needs five runs to become the first Brave since Dale Murphy in 1987 (115) to score 100 or more . . . Jim Presley’s double was his 34th, a career-high.