Kelly Brilliant For Padres In Win Over Atlanta

The Padres unveiled top pitching prospect Casey Kelly and the results were outstanding. Kelly pitched six shutout innings, and the Padres shut out the Braves 3-0.

All three of the Padres runs came via Yasmani Grandal. Grandal socked a two-run bomb in the bottom of the second, that put the Padres ahead 2-0. Grandal gave the Padres an important insurance run in the eighth to put the Padres up by three.

The story of the night was Casey Kelly and his golden arm. Kelly changed speeds effectively, and hit 95 MPH on the radar gun. His breaking-ball looked sharp, and Kelly showed his advanced fielding skills. Kelly, a former minor league shortstop also delivered with his first career hit — a sharp single up the middle.

Kelly turned the game over to the bullpen, and they slammed the door short. Tom Layne pitched a scoreless seventh, and turned things over to Dale Thayer. Thayer made his first appearance since the birth of his daughter. The Padres new closer, Luke Gregerson slammed the door for his 2nd save.

Kelly looked poised and could make a case for a rotation spot for 2013. With results like tonight, Padres fans have to be encouraged about his future.

NOTES: To make room on the 25-man roster, the Padres optioned Brad Boxberger to AAA Tucson. The Padres opened a 40-man roster spot for Kelly by placing catcher Nick Hundley on the 60-day DL.