Final
Prado helps Braves slip past Rays
May 19, 2012 - 6:09 AMVideo
Freddie Freeman added a pair of hits, two runs batted in and a run scored for the Braves, who have won six of their last eight contests.
Tommy Hanson (5-3) surrendered two runs on six hits and two walks over seven strong frames while Craig Kimbrel notched his 12th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
"He definitely has a feel for his off-speed pitches and pitched well," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said of Hanson.
B.J. Upton stung a hard one-hop infield single off of Chipper Jones' leg in the third, which caused the 40-year-old to leave the game after the seventh inning.
"It's pretty ugly right now," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Jones' leg. "Swollen up and bruised really bad...he'll have a tough time trying to play tomorrow (Saturday)."
James Shields (6-2) fanned eight but allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks for Tampa Bay, which has dropped two straight on the heels of a four- game winning streak.
Atlanta pushed across a pair of two-out runs to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth frame. Prado walked, moved to second when Shields committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt and scored on Freeman's double to left. Brian McCann's single through the hole on the right side brought home Freeman to make it 4-2.
Prado smacked a solo shot into the seats in left to extend the Atlanta margin to 5-2 in the seventh inning.
The Rays got a run back in the eighth frame on Luke Scott's line-drive RBI single to right, which cut the deficit to 5-3, but Kimbrel needed just eight pitches in the ninth to seal the win.
The Braves tallied a two-out run in the opening frame and put across another in the second.
Prado laced an RBI double to left, which plated Freeman in the first. In the second, Jones, who reached with a leadoff single, scored on a Shields wild pitch to make it 2-0.
But Tampa Bay retaliated and plated a run apiece in the second and third innings to tied the score.
With one away and runners on second and third in the second, Dan Johnson pushed a well-placed squeeze bunt past Shields on the first-base side of the infield. Luke Scott lifted a sacrifice fly to right in the third to tied the contest.
Game Notes
Prado extended his hitting streak to 10 games...The Braves are 130-111 against the American League since interleague play began in 1997, the second winning percentage amongst NL teams...Atlanta is 16-6 all-time against Tampa Bay.
- ATLANTA: 5
TAMPA BAY: 3
Final
May 18 10:15 PM - Luke Scott singled to right scored Sean Rodriguez. Runner on first with two outs and Jeff Keppinger due up.
Braves 5, Rays 3 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 18 10:01 PM - Freddie Freeman struck out swinging. None on with two outs and Dan Uggla due up.
Braves 5, Rays 2 Top 7, 2 OutsMay 18 9:25 PM - eze311 Braves playing elite teams tough, go BRAVES!! tho I am a RAYS fan in AL
Braves 4, Rays 2 Top 7, 0 OutsMay 18 9:21 PM - Brian McCann singled to right center scored Freddie Freeman. On the play, Dan Uggla advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and Chipper Jones due up.
Braves 4, Rays 2 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 18 8:55 PM - Freddie Freeman doubled to left scored Martin Prado. Runner on second with two outs and Dan Uggla due up.
Braves 3, Rays 2 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 18 8:49 PM - Luke Scott sacrifice fly out to right scored B.J. Upton. On the play, Matt Joyce advances to third. Runners on first and third and with two outs and Jeff Keppinger due up.
Braves 2, Rays 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsMay 18 8:23 PM - Elliot Johnson bunt single to first scored Luke Scott. On the play, Jeff Keppinger advances to second. Runners on first and second with one out and Rich Thompson due up.
Braves 2, Rays 1 Bot 2, 1 OutMay 18 7:54 PM - Chipper Jones scores on a wild pitch. None on with two outs and Tyler Pastornicky at the plate.
Braves 2, Rays 0 Top 2, 2 OutsMay 18 7:35 PM - Freddie Freeman singled to center scored Martin Prado. Runner on first with one out and Dan Uggla due up.
Braves 1, Rays 0 Top 1, 1 OutMay 18 7:15 PM - ATLANTA: 0
TAMPA BAY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 18 7:10 PM
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