Newcomb continues to shine on mound

Fourth straight quality start results in first win, 3-0 shutout.

SAN DIEGO — The Braves are undecided about their starting rotation plans beyond this week, but it’s safe to assume Sean Newcomb isn’t going back to the minors anytime soon. Or maybe ever, if the big lefthander keeps pitching like he did again Tuesday night.

His fourth major league start was perhaps the best in an impressive string for Newcomb, who picked up his first win and allowed six hits and one walk with a personal-best eight strikeouts in six innings of the Braves’ 3-0 series-opening shutout of the Padres at Petco Park.

The 23-year-old is the first Atlanta-era Braves pitcher to start his career with four consecutive quality starts, surpassing the previous best of three, accomplished by Zane Smith in 1984 and Mike Minor in 2010.

“He was really good again. Lot of strikes, on the attack,” said manager Brian Snitker, whose Braves won for the eighth time in 10 games. “Breaking ball’s good. Real impressive outing . ... Every outing he’s had has just been so encouraging and so positive. It’s nice to see.”

Newcomb (1-2) lowered his ERA to 1.48 and finally got enough run support and a solid bullpen performance to close out

his first win in his first road start. He has a 1.86 ERA in his past 12 starts, dating to his final eight at Triple-A Gwinnett.

“He’s been impressive for us, man,” Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte said. “Just watching him pitch from center field, it looks nasty. Those pitches — that curveball, fastball — he’s been really sharp and it’s great for us.”

After averaging more than five walks per nine innings while in Triple-A, including three or more walks in seven of 11 starts, Newcomb has issued just eight walks in 24⅓ innings in the majors, with three coming in the sixth and final inning of his second start June 16.

“I’m just competing every single pitch rather than maybe taking some off like I did in the past,” said Newcomb, who threw 68 strikes in 103 pitches before being replaced after Carlos Asuaje’s leadoff infield single in the seventh.

He used his mid-90 mph fastball and big curveball with sharp command against the Padres, getting several big strikeouts when he needed them, including Hunter Renfroe after Wil Myers’ two-out double in the first inning and Erick Aybar with two on to end the sixth inning.

“My command was pretty good,” Newcomb said. “I was going low-and-away to righties pretty good, getting those low-and-away corners, and then everything else was working off that.”

Hitters are 2 for 17 against Newcomb with runners in scoring position, albeit with seven walks.

“I feel like I’ve always done a pretty good job (with runners on base),” he said. “I just really buckle down and know I have to get the batter. There’s nothing I can do about the guy that’s already out there. So just make sure he’s got his feet still if he’s on second, keep him over at first and then just make a pitch, just one pitch at a time.”

Snitker said, “That’s one of the things I’ve liked is kind of a quiet competitiveness he has in those situations. It’s been refreshing to see from the get-go. It’s like he gets in trouble and kind of gets down that hill (mound) and is competing.”

ALEX GALLARDO / AP Left-hander Sean Newcomb finally earned his first win out of four quality starts. He lowered his ERA to 1.48 and got enough run support and a solid bullpen performance in his first road start.

HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM Catcher Tyler Flowers confers on the mound with Sean Newcomb, who has put in a stellar showing since being moved up from Gwinnett.