Smoltz, Braves Shut Down Padres

John Smoltz gave the Atlanta Braves’ pitching staff a much-needed lift.

Smoltz served as the stopper with a four-hit shutout to lift the Braves past Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres, 2-0, Saturday night at Atlanta.

Smoltz (1-1), relying on a change-up he says he threw about 25 times, got his 16th career shutout and 51st complete game.

“This is the type of performance I expect,” said Smoltz, who earned the first victory of the season by an Atlanta starter.

The Braves’ starting staff entered the game with the worst earned-run average in the major leagues.

“I would say normally it’s no big deal but when you’ve dealt with what we’ve dealt with over the last week and a half ... this hopefully will get guys thinking more positively,” Smoltz said.

Peavy (1-2) gave up only four hits and two runs in seven innings as the Braves were held under four runs for the first time.

He struck out eight batters and issued two walks, one intentional.

“Against John Smoltz, you have to be really good to win,” Peavy said. “I wasn’t good enough.”

Milwaukee 8, New York 2 -- Tomo Ohka (1-1) gave up five hits in seven innings at New York and the Brewers stopped the Mets’ seven-game winning streak.

New York was trying for the first 9-1 start in franchise history and for its first eight-game winning streak since taking nine in a row April 16-25, 2000.

Houston 10, Arizona 0 -- Adam Everett drove in three runs with a homer and a double and Wandy Rodriguez (2-0) gave up two hits through seven innings to lead the Astros past the Diamondbacks at Phoenix.

Colorado 10, Philadelphia 6 -- Matt Holliday homered and drove in five runs and the Rockies pounded out 14 hits to end a three-game losing streak at Denver.

Washington 2, Florida 1 -- John Patterson gave up three hits in eight innings and matched a career high with 13 strikeouts and the Nationals won at Miami.

Pittsburgh 2, Chicago 1 -- The Pirates ended an eight-game home losing streak to Chicago that dated to April 15, 2005.

St. Louis 9, Cincinnati 3 -- Albert Pujols, Hector Luna and Scott Spiezio homered and the Cardinals improved to 3-2 at new Busch Stadium.