Braves Use Big Inning to Win

The Braves had a lead but gave it up, then they used a seven run eighth inning to blow the game wide open and beat the Arizona Diamondback on Saturday, 11-5.
Atlanta had eleven hits for the second straight game, but this time they made the most of their opportunities and scored runs. Justin Upton led the Braves with three hits and he also scored two runs. Brian McCann had two hits and drove in two runs, Jason Heyward and Chris Johnson each added two hits and an RBI. Freddie Freeman had a two-run homer that originally got the Braves on the board, it was his eighth of the season. Dan Uggla also added a hit and drove in two runs to complete the scoring for the Braves.
Tim Hudson started the game and had his worst start of June. He pitched five and two-thirds innings and gave up four runs on five hits, including a homer to the Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock. Alex Wood, Anthony Varvaro and Luis Avilan combined to pitch the next inning and a third perfectly. Jordan Walden pitched the eighth inning and surrendered a home run to Miguel Montero that looked to doom the Braves. Luckily for Walden, and Atlanta, they came back to win, Walden picked up the victory and is 3-1 on the year. David Carpenter pitched a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory.
The Braves are now 47-34 on the year and they will finish their series with the Diamondbacks tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 p.m. Paul Maholm (8-6) will make the start for the Braves against Trevor Cahill (3-9) for the D-Backs.

Freddie Freeman watches as the ball sails over the fence for a two-run homer in the third inning of the Braves' 11-5 victory on Saturday.
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press