ATLANTA (AP) -- Keith Lockhart hardly felt like a member of the Atlanta Braves. Playing time was scarce, the hits few and far between.

But the reserve infielder took advantage of a rare chance to start Saturday night, homering for the first time in nearly a year -- a three-run shot -- as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 10-6.

"Really, I felt like today was the first time I've contributed all season," said Lockhart, who was batting just .194 before he went 3-for-4 filling in for the injured Quilvio Veras. "It's kind of rough to keep your head up. It felt good to finally do something."

Rookie Rafael Furcal also drove in three runs for the Braves, who have won seven of their last eight and have scored 56 runs during that span.

Veras, Atlanta's regular leadoff hitter, couldn't play after getting plunked on the right knee by a pitch Friday night.

Lockhart stepped in and hit his first homer since May 25, 1999, and raised his average to .250. He will probably get another chance to start Sunday with Veras still hobbling.

"He's not had any opportunities to do anything," manager Bobby Cox said. "I haven't used him enough. He's able to do that kind of stuff when he gets the chance."

The switch-hitting Furcal moved into the leadoff spot and continued to flourish, driving in a run with a left-handed single in the fourth and adding a two-run single the next inning after switching around to bat right-handed. Furcal, 19, is 14-of-26 during a six-game hitting streak that has raised his season average to .340.

"It's no surprise," the major leagues' youngest player said. "I played like this in the minor leagues."

Chipper Jones also had a two-run single in the fourth, when the Braves broke a 3-3 tie by scoring five runs. The Padres had a chance to lessen the damage, but shortstop Damian Jackson bounced a throw to first with two outs and runners scored from second and third after the ball deflected away from first baseman Ryan Klesko.

Jackson made two errors and the Padres had four overall, leading to three unearned runs.

"We threw the ball around a lot," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We didn't deserve to win tonight."

John Burkett (3-2) picked up the win despite allowing six runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

In the third, after giving up an RBI single to Klesko and forcing in a run with a walk to Bret Boone, Burkett escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam by striking out Jackson and getting Ruben Rivera on a double-play grounder.

The Padres put runners at first and third with one out in the fifth, but Boone hit into another double play. Burkett was finally knocked out in the seventh when Carlos Hernandez hit his first homer, a two-run shot.

"Hey, we won," Burkett said. "I'm kind of bummed out about the way I finished. But we won. That's the main thing."

The Padres started Will Cunnane (1-1), recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day. He had a 1-0 lead in the first on Phil Nevin's run-scoring double but couldn't hold it, surrendering six hits and five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Two more runs were unearned.

"He was erratic with his command," Bochy said.

Nevin went 3-for-3 and is 12-for-18 through the first five games of the Padres' six-game road trip. He has three homers, 13 RBI and six runs scored during his streak.

Tony Gwynn missed another game for the Padres because of a sore left knee. He has played only 16 of 42 games and isn't expected to start Sunday, though he is available for pinch-hitting duty, Bochy said.

Game notes
Braves pitcher Tom Glavine is suffering from a case of food poisoning. He took part in batting practice before Saturday's game, then headed home to rest. He will call the Braves early Sunday to let them know if he can make his scheduled start against San Diego's Sterling Hitchcock. If not, Kevin Millwood will move up to pitch on three days' rest. ... The Braves drew their second sellout and largest crowd of the year at Turner Field, 49,653. ... Gwynn has 3,080 hits, one shy of Cap Anson for 17th place on the career list. ... An 11-7 loss Friday ended a streak of 41 straight games in which the Braves won by scoring at least six runs, going back to an 8-7 setback at Toronto last July 20.