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Ludwick homers twice as Padres beat Braves in extras

Apr 26, 2011 - 7:23 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Ludwick's second homer of the game was a game-winner, as the Padres outlasted the Braves, 5-3, in 13 innings.

Cristhian Martinez (0-2), in his third inning of relief, hung a breaking ball into Ludwick's wheelhouse with one on and one out in the 13th. Ludwick, who also had a solo homer in the third, turned on the pitch and found the first row of seats in left-center to end the Padres' four-game slide and snap the Braves' three-game winning streak.

"It's good to see Ryan get a couple homers," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He's feeling better about his offensive game right now."

Jason Heyward hit a solo homer for the Braves, who had several baserunning mistakes in extra innings.

In the 12th, Brandon Hicks, pinch-running for Chipper Jones following the veteran's leadoff double, was thrown out at third on a bouncer back to the mound.

The Braves stranded two that inning, and Martinez was doubled off to end the next frame by Chris Denorfia, who made a sensational diving grab on Martin Prado's fly ball down the right-field line and threw behind Martinez at first.

Martinez walked Nick Hundley with one out in the bottom half, and surrendered Ludwick's blast shortly thereafter.

"When you get in extra innings anything can happen," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Cory Luebke (1-1) got the win by throwing two scoreless innings, anchoring a Padres bullpen that allowed just four hits and no walks while fanning eight over seven frames.

Heyward hit an opposite-field shot that found the first row of seats in left field in the first inning, but the Padres scratched out runs in their second and third at-bat.

Orlando Hudson singled leading off the second, moved to third on Brad Hawpe's double and scored on Will Venable's groundout to first.

Ludwick's third homer of the year the next inning gave the Padres the lead, but run-scoring singles up the middle by Alex Gonzalez and Atlanta starter Derek Lowe in the fifth put the Braves back in front.

Scott Linebrink relieved Braves reliever Eric O'Flaherty in the seventh and was greeted by Hundley's RBI double off the center-field wall.

Game Notes

Both starters lasted six innings and neither factored in the decision. Lowe was charged with two runs on five hits, while Dustin Moseley remained winless on the season despite another quality start. Moseley, whose earned-run average rose to 1.99, gave up three runs on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts.