Chavez leads Diamondbacks over Braves

Phoenix, AZ –  Eric Chavez went 2-for-3 and recorded two of his three RBI during a four-run fifth inning that paved the way for the Arizona Diamondbacks' 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game set.

Didi Gregorius and Cody Ross each drove in a run during the rally, which made a winner out of Ian Kennedy (2-3), who had given up two runs in his fifth and final inning.

He struck out seven and allowed three runs in all on five hits. It's Kennedy's first victory since defeating the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day.

Heath Bell worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his sixth save and give the D'backs the series victory. Arizona has won seven of its last 10 games.

Tim Hudson (4-3) couldn't stop the bleeding for Atlanta, which is just 10-17 since its 12-1 start to the season. The righty was tagged for all five runs on eight hits over five frames.

"Just losing two out of three, you feel like we won a couple of those games because of the way we hit the ball," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 and plated all three runs for the Braves.

The Diamondbacks had just five hits in their last 56 tries with runners in scoring position coming into the contest, but matched that hit total during Wednesday's performance on eight chances.

"We just try and get good at-bats, for some reason we're not pushing a lot of runs across the board right now," said Chavez. "But that's going to change, just keep swinging the bats, have good approaches and put some runs on the board."

After putting Arizona in a two-run hole in the fifth, Kennedy was pinch-hit for in the bottom half by Jason Kubel, whose one-out walk sparked a four-run inning.

Gerardo Parra followed with a single and Gregorius pounded one up the middle to plate a run. Two batters later, Chavez ripped a double to center to put the D'backs back in front before Ross made it 5-3 with an RBI single into right.

Paul Goldschmidt ripped his first of three doubles on the day in the first inning and Chavez gave the D'backs a 1-0 lead when he grounded a base hit past the diving reach of shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

Kennedy was cruising along until he surrendered a pair of two out singles in the third and then threw eight straight balls in walking Justin Upton and Freeman to force in a run.

Freeman came to bat again in the fifth, and with runners on first and second, sent a double in the gap in center field to clear the bags and stake Atlanta to a 3-1 edge.

Hudson, though, couldn't hold the lead. He gave it right back in the bottom half as eight Diamondbacks came to plate before getting out of the frame behind by two runs.

Game Notes

Hudson suffered his career defeat to the Diamondbacks. He was 7-0 in nine career outings coming in ... The Braves have lost five of their last six games ... Atlanta was just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position ... Arizona had 10 hits and scored more than three runs for the first time in five games.

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Big eighth inning helps Braves beat Reds

Published May 08, 2013

Sports Network

Cincinnati, OH –  Dan Uggla smacked two solo homers in the Atlanta Braves' 7-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Juan Francisco added a grand slam as part of a five-run eighth for Atlanta, which had dropped four of its previous six tilts.

Mike Minor (4-2) struck out seven and surrendered a run on four hits and three walks over seven innings to pick up the win.

"Mike gave us a great opportunity to win the game," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Mike Leake (2-2) fanned six, but allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk over seven-plus frames for the Reds, who had won four of their last five games coming in.

Zack Cozart crushed a two-out solo homer into the second deck in left in the third for the game's first run, but Uggla cracked solo shots in consecutive at-bats to give the Braves the lead.

Uggla knotted the contest in the fourth with a one-out blast into left and gave Atlanta the advantage in the sixth when he ripped a two-out homer into the front row of seats just inside the left-field foul pole to make it 2-1.

The Braves broke the game open in the eighth, as Jordan Schafer and Andrelton Simmons both singled to lead off the frame.

"Schafer made me pay for getting behind. It was an unfortunate hit right after him," Leake said.

Sean Marshall took over for Leake and Freddie Freeman brought Schafer home with a line-drive base hit to right. J.J. Hoover then replaced Marshall on the bump and walked Justin Upton to load the bases. Francisco stepped up to the plate two batters later and launched a grand slam down the right- field line to increase the margin to 7-1.

Jay Bruce led off the ninth with a homer to center.

Game Notes

Atlanta was 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while the Reds finished 0-for-5 with RISP ... Simmons went 4-for-5, while Schafer tallied three hits ... Uggla has seven homers this season.

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Rockies edge Braves in extras

Denver, CO –  Yorvit Torrealba cracked a out-out single to left field to drive in the winning run as the Colorado Rockies avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves in 12 innings at Coors Field.

Wilin Rosario led off the decisive frame with a double to left. Michael Cuddyer was intentionally walked, and after relief pitcher Matt Belisle struck out attempting to bunt the runners over, Torrealba came to the plate and won it for Colorado, which got back to its winning ways after a three-game losing skid.

Belisle (1-1) earned the win after tossing two perfect innings out of the pen.

Cuddyer and Josh Rutledge each homered for the Rockies while Jonathan Herrera went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Dexter Fowler drove in two.

Luis Ayala (0-1) gave up the final run after Craig Kimbrel blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning for his first missed save opportunity of the season. Tim Hudson started for Atlanta and went six innings, allowing just three runs and six hits.

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Rockies managed two runs off Kimbrel, who hadn't allowed a run all season entering today. Fowler's two-out double brought Herrera and Troy Tulowitzki around to score. Kimbrel then got Rosario on strikes to end the inning and send the game into extras.

Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood, who was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier this morning, scattered nine hits and three walks while yielding five runs -- four earned -- in six innings.

Cuddyer and Rutledge hit back-to-back homers in the second to give Colorado a 2-0 lead.

After three solid innings of work, Chatwood lost his composure in the top of the fourth. Justin Upton led off with a single to left and Freddie Freeman doubled deep to right field, bringing Upton around to score.

Following an Evan Gattis three-pitch strikeout, Juan Francisco singles to score a run and Dan Uggla followed with a hit. Jordan Schafer walked and Hudson popped a single to right, bringing in the go-ahead run.

Chatwood helped himself at the dish in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI- infield single. Hudson worked the count to 0-2 before Chatwood made contact and bounced a fastball off the dirt in front of Hudson. The ball ricocheted high in the air and Chatwood reached first base before the Braves pitcher could make a play on the ball. Chris Nelson, who tripled earlier in the stanza, came around to score and tie the game at 3-3.

Atlanta broke the tie in the sixth inning thanks to Herrera's throwing error on what should have been a routine groundout to shortstop. Gattis doubled to lead off the inning and scored on the overthrow off an Uggla grounder. Schafer knocked in another run when he took a Chatwood changeup to right field, plating Uggla.

Colorado's bullpen allowed just three baserunners in a combined six scoreless innings.

Game Notes

Hudson remained at 199 career victories ... The Braves fall to 12-1 when scoring at least four runs ... Atlanta's top two hitters in the order, Ramiro Pena and B.J. Upton, went 0-for-10 combined ... Every Rockies starter reached base at least once ... Colorado left fielder Carlos Gonzalez went 0-for-5 with a walk.

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Freeman, Braves open season with win over Phillies

Atlanta, GA –  Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the season opener for both teams at Turner Field.

Justin Upton and Dan Uggla both had solo homers and Gerald Laird drove in a run for the Braves, who lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the one-game National League Wild Card round last season.

"It was a great start, I'll tell you that," said Upton, who was acquired from Arizona in a trade this past offseason. "Being able to contribute to the first win in my first game here is a great feeling. Hopefully we can keep going out and play good baseball."

Upton was dealt to Atlanta in a seven-player deal in January, joining his brother B.J. Upton, who signed with the club in November.

Luis Avilan (1-0) earned the win after allowing one hit over 1 2/3 innings of relief. Starter Tim Hudson allowed three runs on six hits over 4 1/3 frames.

Craig Kimbrel, who tied Cardinals closer Jason Motte for the NL lead in saves with 42 in 2012, picked up his first this year with a perfect ninth inning.

Chase Utley was a double shy of the cycle with a solo homer and three RBI and Ryan Howard knocked in a run for the Phillies, who missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2006.

"I worked hard this offseason to get to this point," said Utley, who hasn't played in a Phillies' season opener since 2010 because of various injuries. "I thought tonight (the Braves) swung the bats pretty well. You have to tip your cap. We had some opportunities there to tie the game, we just didn't get the big hit. We will take tomorrow off and stay ready to rock."

Cole Hamels (0-1) was shelled for five runs on seven hits, including three homers, over five innings to absorb the loss.

Freeman's two-out blast in the first inning gave the Braves an early 2-0 edge. Jason Heyward walked and Freeman crushed a 2-1 fastball deep into the right- field seats.

Uggla added a solo shot in the second and Freeman plated Andrelton Simmons with a base hit in the third to make it 4-0.

Utley got the Phillies on the board with a leadoff homer in the fourth, and drove in a pair in the fifth help the visitors pull within 4-3.

With the bases loaded in the fifth, Utley roped a base hit to right field to score Hamels and Ben Revere.

The Phillies, though, couldn't push another run across as Howard struck out and Domonic Brown grounded out to second to end the inning.

Justin Upton belted a solo homer in the fifth, and Atlanta added a pair of runs in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead.

Uggla drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and moved to third on Chris Johnson's double down the left-field line. Laird followed with a base hit to left to plate Uggla. Following a pitching change, Reed Johnson grounded into a double- play, but Johnson was able to score.

Utley tripled in the seventh and scored on Howard's ground out, and Erik Kratz's base hit in the eighth scored John Mayberry to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Atlanta held a 12-6 edge in the season-series in 2012 ... The Braves are 22-26 in season opener's since moving to Atlanta in 1966 ... Hudson made his sixth career Opening Day start ... Utley hit his 200th career homer ... Hamels made his first start in a season opener.

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