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Greene leads Padres past Braves

Jul 8, 2007 - 12:56 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Khalil Greene tied a career high with his 15th homer and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the San Diego Padres topped the Atlanta Braves, 8-5, on Saturday.

Greene, who opened the scoring in the second inning with his blast, reached on a fielder's choice in the seventh against Atlanta reliever Chad Paronto that scored Adrian Gonzalez, giving San Diego a 6-5 edge.

Two batters later, Kevin Kouzmanoff delivered a two-run double, helping the Padres snap a four-game losing streak against the Braves.

"I thought today we strung together some good at-bats," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We ran deeper counts through the innings that we scored some runs. We took our walks and got some timely hits. We played good baseball today."

Neither starting pitcher made it out of the fourth inning in this one. Making his major league debut, Atlanta's Jo-Jo Reyes was chased after allowing five straight baserunners in the fourth.

"I started settling in after the first (batter) and getting that first inning out of the way," Reyes said. "The team gave me the lead and I made those two walks (in the fourth), and I made a mistake (to Mike Cameron) and it hurt me."

Cameron highlighted the Padres' four-run fourth, plating three of the runs in the frame with his 11th homer of the season. Reyes was tagged for five runs, five hits and three walks with one strikeout in three-plus innings.

"That was a slider that (Cameron) hit," Reyes said. "A hanging slider, and we had a base open, so I didn't want to give in to him."

"I got a pitch I could hit and got it up in the air," Cameron said. "It's just a matter of staying composed and trying to get a good pitch to hit. Today was a case where we got some consecutive base hits and a couple of walks, and boom, we got a hit here and scored a couple of runs. That's what it takes."

San Diego starter David Wells was ejected in the top of the fourth after arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Ed Hickox. The portly lefthander lost his cool following a two-run shot by Jeff Francoeur and fired the baseball into the netting behind home plate as he exited the field.

"After the home run, I walked up and asked Ed if those pitches were close," Wells said. "I wasn't mad, I just asked him where those pitches were at. He really didn't say anything. He didn't really like it and told me to get back on the mound and that he didn't want to hear another word.

"I went back and said, 'Ed, I want to ask you a question,' and he threw me out and that was it."

The 44-year-old Wells lasted three-plus innings - his shortest outing at Petco Park this year - surrendering three runs and four hits.

Doug Brocail, who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game, came on and tossed three scoreless innings for his longest appearance of the season.

"I thought that was probably the biggest key to the game," Black said of Brocail's outing. "He is a veteran pitcher and knows his role. Those are the types of situations that are tenuous. He was our long guy today."

Heath Bell (3-2) entered in the seventh and allowed two runs and three hits in the inning but still picked up the win. Scott Linebrink worked a scoreless eighth and Trevor Hoffman retired the side in order in the ninth to notch his 25th save in 27 opportunities and 507th career.

Tyler Yates (2-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs - one earned - one hit and two walks while retiring just one batter in the seventh.

"The walks hurt," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "(Yates) threw good. (Paronto) had him bailed out, but the ball was just hit (by Greene in the seventh) too soft."

Andruw Jones forged a 5-5 tie in Atlanta's half of the seventh, delivering a two-run triple off Bell. Jones is 19-for-53 (.358) lifetime with nine homers and 24 RBI at Petco Park.

Matt Diaz and Edgar Renteria each had two hits for Atlanta, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Milton Bradley singled and scored a run in his first game for the Padres, who had lost 10 of 13 at home.