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Braun, Wolf lead Brewers past Braves, 9-3

Jul 17, 2010 - 4:00 AM By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA(AP) -- Randy Wolf knew it had been a long time since he beat the Atlanta Braves. He just didn't know how long.

"You mean it has been seven years?" Wolf asked.

At least the left-hander doesn't have to keep track of the drought any longer.

Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer, the Milwaukee Brewers had 16 hits and Wolf beat the Braves 9-3 on Friday night.

Wolf (7-8) allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings for his first win over the Braves since Sept. 9, 2003, with Philadelphia - also at Turner Field. He improved to 5-12 in his career against Atlanta.

"They put pressure on us all night," Wolf said. "That's why it's so gratifying to pitch well against this team, especially considering my history of not being a Cy Young against them."

Wolf outlasted Tommy Hanson (8-6), who gave up six hits and four runs, three earned, in five innings.

Atlanta's Chipper Jones sustained a mild left hamstring strain on a seventh-inning swing. He grabbed the back of his leg after the swing and left the game after hitting a popup with the bases loaded to Rickie Weeks at second base.

Jones said he has a 50 percent chance of playing on Saturday.

"It's nothing major," he said. "It's just a precautionary measure right now."

The team said Jones is day to day.

Jones, who was 0 for 3 with a walk, said Wolf, like Milwaukee's Dave Bush, is tough with his slow curveballs.

"He kept the guys off balance," Jones said. "Those guys know what they're doing with it. It just goes to show you don't have to throw 95 (mph) to be effective in this league as long as you change speeds and locate."

Prince Fielder's two-run double in the Brewers' three-run eighth padded the lead. The Brewers had five of their 16 hits off Kenshin Kawakami in the eighth.

The Braves scored only one run in the seventh, when Wolf left the game.

Hanson pitched scoreless fourth and fifth innings before he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth.

"I wish I could have found it sooner and given us a better chance to stay in the ballgame and not give them that lead early," Hanson said.

Casey McGehee had three hits, including a run-scoring single in the eighth.

The Braves began the night five games ahead of the second-place Mets in the NL East.

Alcides Escobar and Wolf drove in runs in the second before Braun's two-run homer in the third pushed the lead to 4-0.

The Brewers added two runs in the sixth off Kris Medlen. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said before the game Medlen still is the Braves' No. 5 starter, but an off day on Monday gives the right-hander a chance to stay sharp while pitching in relief.

Medlen gave up three hits and two runs. Only one run, on Weeks' run-scoring single, was earned. First baseman Troy Glaus was charged with an error when he couldn't handle a low throw from new shortstop Alex Gonzalez on a single by Hart, allowing George Kottaras to score.

Gonzalez, acquired in an All-Star break trade that sent Yunel Escobar to Toronto, went 1 for 3 and scored a run.

Jason Heyward had a single in the fourth to snap an 0-for-16 drought. Heyward scored on a double by Glaus.

The Braves added a run in the sixth when Martin Prado led off with a triple and scored on Brian McCann's two-out single.

NOTES: Brewers LHP Doug Davis was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow. He missed two months with inflammation of the lining around his heart before coming off the disabled list on July 6. ... The Brewers recalled OF Lorenzo Cain from Triple-A Nashville. Cain lined out to left field in the ninth in his first major league at-bat. ... Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton celebrated his 50th birthday. His son, Terry Jr., sang the national anthem, received a hug from his dad, and led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday." ... Cox said Jair Jurrjens will start Tuesday against San Diego in what would have been Medlen's normal spot. ... LHP Mike Dunn gave up one hit with two strikeouts in one inning in his major league debut for Atlanta.