Myers and Miceli Rescue Padres

San Diego’s bullpen couldn’t have set up any better than on Tuesday night, when the opponent happened to be the Atlanta Braves.

It’s only August, but the Padres would love to have this situation again in October.

With runners on first and second and none out and the Padres leading by two, Randy Myers and Dan Miceli pitched a perfect eighth in relief of Joey Hamilton.

Trevor Hoffman then blew through the ninth to save San Diego’s 3-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series between the National League’s top teams.

“That was a situation that we kind of got burned on in Atlanta the first time we went through,” said Hoffman, who struck out two and retired the Braves on only eight pitches for his major league-leading 39th save.

“Myers has been a tremendous addition. I think more so than him just getting those people out, it was just his poise and to be able to handle that situation. To not let anybody score, that’s probably the play of the game, what Randy and Dan did in the eighth inning.”

The Padres are 2-3 against the Braves this year, with four games to go in the season series. The Braves lead the Padres by two games in the race for home-field advantage should they meet in the playoffs.

Steve Finley homered for the Padres, who ended Atlanta’s four-game winning streak and five-game road winning streak.

Hamilton (10-9) walked Greg Colbrunn, pinch-hitting for starter Denny Neagle, leading off the eighth and gave up a single to Ozzie Guillen before making way for Myers.

The Braves pinch-hit Tony Graffanino for lefty Keith Lockhart, but Myers struck him out. Chipper Jones was forced to bat right-handed, and he lined to left. Miceli then got Andres Galarraga to fly out.