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San Diego downs Atlanta in 10 behind Phillips' homer

May 30, 2011 - 8:57 PM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Kyle Phillips hit his first career home run to lead off the 10th inning to give San Diego a 3-2 victory over Atlanta in the opener of a three-game series.

Phillips hit the second pitch George Sherrill (1-1) threw over the right-field wall to give the Padres a 3-2 lead. Phillips took over behind the plate for Rob Johnson in the top of the ninth after Jorge Cantu pinch-hit for Johnson in the eighth.

"Obviously to hit a game-winning homer for my home-town team, a team I grew up watching born and raised in San Diego, its pretty special," said Phillips. "To come in late in the game and put a good swing on the ball, have some results, its kind of icing on the cake for us as well."

Chad Qualls (3-2) earned the win when he pitched a scoreless ninth inning and Heath Bell hurled a perfect 10th to earn his 13th save of the season and give the Padres their fourth win in five games.

Brian McCann had three hits and knocked in both of the Braves' runs as they had their brief, two-game win streak snapped.

Starters Aaron Harang and Tim Hudson both lasted six innings. Harang allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts for San Diego, while Hudson allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and fanned seven for Atlanta.

San Diego jumped out to an early lead in the first after Eric Patterson led off the game with a single, stole second, moved to third on Hudson's throwing error on a pick-off attempt and then came home on a Ryan Ludwick groundout.

Atlanta tied the game in their half of the first on a McCann double that plated Martin Prado. Prado reached first on a fielder's choice before coming around to score on McCann's double off the center-field wall.

The Padres took the lead back in the third after Harang hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a single by Patterson and scored on a single by Ludwick to give San Diego a 2-1 advantage.

The Braves answered back again in their half of the third when Prado doubled and then crossed the plate on a single by McCann to knot the game at two.

Atlanta had a lead off double in the sixth, men on first and third with two outs in the seventh and a man on second with two down in the eighth, but could not get the clutch hit it needed. Altogether the Braves went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

"It was a tough loss. It's another one of those where I feel like we should have won," said Hudson. "We've got to come out tomorrow and try to get some momentum going, try to get a 'W' on the board."

Game Notes

The Braves have now played eight extra-inning games in their last 18 games overall...Chase Headley extended his hit streak to nine games...San Diego has gone 15-7 this year in day games...Hudson is still unbeaten against San Diego in his career.