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Associated Press 10y

Jason Lane takes loss in first start

MLB, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros

ATLANTA -- 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 Monday 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.

"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."

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 to 2007, 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.

"To get back to the big leagues as a pitcher, that's pretty cool stuff," Atlanta third baseman Chris Johnson said.

Lane (37 years, 219 days) became the oldest San Diego starting pitcher to make his big league debut. The mark was previously held by Walter Silva, who was 32 when he started against the Dodgers in 2009. The most recent pitcher to make his first start after his 37th birthday was St. Louis' Troy Percival in 2007. Normally a reliever, Percival pitched one inning at the start on the final day of the regular season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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