Atlanta's futility in one-run games ends
BRAVES 5, PADRES 4
Associated Press
Friday, May 09, 2008

ATLANTA --- The Atlanta Braves waited until the last inning of a memorable homestand to put an end to a streak of one-run futility.

The Braves finally won a one-run game when Matt Diaz hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning to beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Thursday.

Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games. The Braves were the only team in the majors without a one-run victory.

Chipper Jones was grateful to see the streak end.

"Amen! Hallelujah!" Jones said.

The Braves completed a 6-0 homestand to improve to 14-4 at Turner Field. They have the best home winning percentage (.778) in baseball, but now return to the road, where they are only 4-11.

"It's our first one-run win, which is nice and good for us," Jeff Francoeur said. "Now we need to take this momentum on the road, where we haven't exactly been sharp this year."

Atlanta trailed 4-1 after five innings, had its first two pitchers leave with injuries and won with its only earned run of the game.

"We caught some breaks," said Jones, who was 0-for-4 before contributing to the ninth-inning rally with a single. "We didn't deserve to win today but we took advantage of some of their mistakes."

The Padres, who lost their fourth in a row, committed three errors that led to four unearned runs.

"I can't remember playing a game when we allowed so many unearned runs," manager Bud Black said. "We have played sure-handed ball. Today we let a couple balls get away."

Yunel Escobar led off the ninth with a bunt single off Joe Thatcher (0-4). Jones followed with a single to left. After the runners advanced on Mark Teixeira's groundout, Thatcher issued an intentional walk to Francoeur, loading the bases for Diaz.

Diaz then lined a 2-2 pitch to left to drive in Escobar for the one-run win.

"Now we got that monkey off our back and we can hopefully get the road monkey off our back," Diaz said.

Manny Acosta (1-1) earned the win on the same day he lost a save awarded Wednesday night because of an official scorer's error.

Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes left in the third inning after starting to develop a blister on his left index finger. Buddy Carlyle, who relieved Reyes, was knocked out of the game in the fifth after he injured his neck in a baseline collision with Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Reyes said a raw spot on his finger would have become a blister if he remained in the game. He said he doesn't expect to miss a start. Carlyle said he should be available when the Braves open a four-game series at Pittsburgh today.

Reyes gave up five hits and two runs in 2w innings.

San Diego starter Wil Ledezma gave up one unearned run and two hits in four innings. Shawn Estes gave up two runs, both unearned, in 1w innings.

From the Friday, May 09, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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