Braves take 2 of 3 from Padres in Season Series Opener.

San Diego Stadium,

Game 1,

Atlanta brought their bats as the battered the Padres for 12 runs on 20 hits. Clete Boyer and Orlando Cepeda each reached the seats as the Braves offense poured it on.  Brave second sacker, Felix Millan got in the act with 4 hits of his own.  The recipient of these offensive surge was Knuckle ball hurler Phil Niekro, who threw 7 strong innings for his first win of the year.  The loss was credited to Pat Dobson who coughed up 10 runs in the game.  Braves 12....Padres 4.

Game 2,

Padre hurler Al Santorini was the story in game 2 as he quieted the Braves bats after the first game. Santorini pitched 8 innings. However, he tired after 8 innings and was relieved by Tom Dukes in the ninth. San Diego broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single by Nate Colbert that drove in the winning run to secure San Diego's first win of the season.  Padres 3...Braves 2.

Game 3,

Clete Boyer hit a 2 run dinger in the fifth inning to give Atlanta an early lead. The Braves added another run in the ninth to secure the win and series as Jim Nash earned the victory. The hard luck loser for the Friars was Clay Kirby who went the distance but his team could not muster much offense as they banged out only one run on six hits....Braves 3...Padres 1.