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Uggla's pinch-hit HR lifts Braves over Reds

Jul 23, 2011 - 4:47 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla's first career pinch-hit homer came at the perfect time. His tiebreaking two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning powered Atlanta to a 6-4 win over Cincinnati in the opener of a three-game series.

Alex Gonzalez singled to center off Nick Masset (1-4) leading off the ninth inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Brooks Conrad and a lineout from Nate McLouth, Uggla faced a 3-2 count on the seventh pitch of his at-bat when he hammered a 96 mph fastball over the wall in right-center field. That extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his major league-leading 31st save of the year. Jonny Venters (5-1) pitched the eighth inning to get the win.

Martin Prado, Jason Heyward and Brian McCann each went deep off Bronson Arroyo, as the Braves remained four games behind Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. The Phillies shut down San Diego, 3-1, Friday night.

"The first half [of the season] was not clicking like we kind of thought it would, but we kept battling and we always have enough to win," Uggla said. "The second half has been clicking a lot better and we've been scoring a lot more runs."

Zack Cozart homered in the opening inning off Jair Jurrjens. Fred Lewis and Drew Stubbs hit back-to-back long balls off the Atlanta starter in the sixth inning to give the Reds the lead, but Prado tied the game at four in the seventh with his 10th homer of the season, a shot to center field.

The Reds, who had just five hits, lost for the third time in four games. They haven't won consecutive games since a three-game sweep at the Dodgers from June 13-15.

Cozart homered to left field with one out in the first before Heyward and McCann went deep on consecutive pitches in the fourth to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead.

Alex Gonzalez tacked on an RBI single in the sixth, but Eric Hinske was thrown out at home.

The Reds seized the opportunity to go ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Lewis homered to right with Joey Votto on base.

"I don't like to say it, but it's a cheap home run," Jurrjens said. "When I give up one I take my hat off and I accept it, but that was one of the cheapest ones I've ever given up."

Stubbs followed by hitting a ball over the wall in left.

Stubbs, though, lost out on a chance for a great catch that would have kept the Reds ahead in the seventh. Prado's hit barely went over the wall when it deflected off the glove of a leaping Stubbs.

"One of the worst executions I've had my whole career," admitted Arroyo. "One job is to keep Martin Prado in the ball park. I'm trying to throw a ball down and away and the worst he could probably do is hit a double. I threw it up in the zone."

Game Notes

The game-time temperature was 93 degrees...Prior to the game, the Reds placed third baseman Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder. In a corresponding move, Cincinnati recalled infielder Todd Frazier from Triple-A Louisville. Frazier got his first major league hit, a single in the seventh inning...Jurrjens was charged with four hits and fanned nine batters over six innings, while Arroyo gave up nine hits through 6 2/3 frames. He's surrendered 29 homers this season, worst in the majors.