Wisler K’s career-high 10 as Braves beat Padres

ATLANTA — For much of the season, Braves manager Brian Snitker has reiterated the phrase that it often takes a step back to take a step forward. And after flirting with a no-hitter in his first start back from Triple-A, Matt Wisler stayed true to that progression as he struck out a career-high 10 batters in Wednesday’s 8-1 win over the Padres at Turner Field.

Oswaldo Arcia was the only San Diego batter to break through against Wisler, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 2-1 with a solo homer in the fourth inning. The blast marked Arcia’s second of the series, but Wisler bounced back from his lone hiccup to strike out six of the next 10 batters he faced and pass his previous career-high of nine, which he set vs. the Indians on June 28.

The Braves’ offense, meanwhile, struggled to capitalize on its scoring chances in the early going, stranding eight runners through the first five innings. But after loading the bases with one out in the sixth, Gordon Beckham helped provide some much-needed breathing room when he sparked a four-run frame with his pinch-hit two-run double.

With its win tonight, Atlanta has now clinched a series vs. the Padres for just the second time since the 2012 campaign.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDOn the attack: When the Braves optioned Wisler to Gwinnett in July, they hoped the right-hander would be able to regain the aggression he showed in the first two months of the season, when …

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