Late bloomer: Padres’ Lane impresses in first start as pitcher, but loses to Braves 2-0

Atlanta (AP — At an age when most players are thinking retirement, Jason Lane is trying to get started on a new career. He might be on to something. The 37-year-old former outfielder threw six scoreless innings in his first big league start as a pitcher before surrendering a homer to Evan Gattis that carried the Atlanta Braves to a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday

The Padres gave me this opportunity,” said Lane, who allowed six hits, struck out two and didn’t walk anyone before he was lifted with no outs in the seventh. “Beyond that, I’m not sure what the situation will be. But I’ll be ready to go.”

Ervin Santana (10-6) pitched five-hit ball over eight innings, matching his career high with 11 strikeouts. Relying heavily on his slider, the right-hander allowed only runner past first base.

“He has that in him,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “When he gets momentum, he’s pretty good.

Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 32nd save, giving the Braves their third straight win.

Gattis led off the seventh with his first homer since June 18, before he went on the disabled list for nearly three weeks with a bulging disk in his back. He also drove in Atlanta’s other run with a two-out single off Dale Thayer in the eighth.

Lane (0-1) kept the Braves off-balance with a variety of fastballs in the mid-80s. But when he hung an 0-1 slider, Gattis drove it into the left-field seats for his 17th homer of the season.

“It’s a little frustrating to make a mistake like that,” Lane said. “There’s not a lot of room for error. And it cost me.”

A journeyman outfielder with Houston and the Padres from 2002-07, Lane homered in the 2005 World Series for the Astros. He became a full-time pitcher before the 2012 season.

Lane threw 4 1-3 scoreless innings for San Diego in two June relief appearances, and was recalled from Triple-A to start in place of ailing Ian Kennedy.