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Braves hand Webb second straight loss

May 26, 2008 - 9:55 PM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Mark Teixeira capped a solid homestand for the Atlanta Braves on a picture perfect day at Turner Field.

Teixeira drove in four runs and Brian McCann homered to power the Braves to a 7-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

Rookie Gregor Blanco was 3-for-3 and Yunel Escobar had two hits for Atlanta, which gained a split of the four-game series and completed an 8-3 homestand.

"We went out and we played three good teams this homestand," Teixeira said of Atlanta's swing against the Oakland Athletics, the New York Mets and the Diamondbacks. "For us to come out with eight wins, we have to feel really good about ourselves."

Like most players around baseball, Teixeira had not enjoyed much success against Arizona ace Brandon Webb (9-2), failing to record a hit in five previous at-bats against the 2006 Cy Young Award winner.

Teixeira and the Braves finally solved Webb on Monday.

The switch-hitting first baseman laced a two-run double down the right field line in the first to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead. One frame later, he smashed a bases-loaded single past second baseman Orlando Hudson, plating Blanco and Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens for a 5-1 cushion.

"He threw me two pitches," said Teixeira, who finished Atlanta's longest homestand of the season batting .341 (14-for-41) with 10 RBI. "Luckily, there were guys on base and we were able to score on them."

Webb had dominated Atlanta, allowing just six hits in two complete game shutouts against the club over his last two outings. But the Diamondbacks ace, who had won his first nine decisions before losing to Florida last Wednesday, endured his worst outing of the season.

He allowed seven runs - four earned - and 10 hits while walking three and striking out eight in a season-low 4 1/3 innings. The seven runs were the most allowed by the righthander since June 22, 2007 vs. the Baltimore Orioles.

"I just wasn't sharp," Webb said. "Everything they hit seemed to find holes. I didn't have a real good fastball. My velocity was down. I got a lot of strikes, but it didn't seem like I could ever make the big pitch when it counted."

The Braves plated three unearned runs on thanks to a throwing error in the second. Jurrjens laid down a bunt down the third base line, which Mark Reynolds fielded after colliding with Webb. The Arizona third baseman threw wildly to Stephen Drew at third, allowing Greg Norton to score. Teixeira capped the frame with a broken-bat two-run single.

"Over the last couple of years, he's been the best pitcher in baseball," Teixeira said of Webb. "Fortunately, for us we were able to score runs against him today. We did a great job of swinging the bats."

McCann smacked a solo shot and Ruben Gotay drove in a run with a pinch hit single in the fifth to extend the lead to 7-1 for Atlanta, which improved to a National League-best 22-7 at home.

"An 8-3 (homestand), we'll take that if you give it to us beforehand, anytime," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Teixeira came up with four big RBIs."

Atlanta has had no problem beating anyone at home as the club has defeated Johan Santana, Randy Johnson, Webb and NL ERA-leader Edinson Volquez here this season.

However, the Braves have struggled on the road, winning just six of 22 away from Turner Field.

"It was a great homestand," Chipper Jones said. "To go 8-3 against the teams we played is tremendous. But you don't know until you get out on the road. Until you play more consistent ball and execute away from here, I don't know what to say."

Atlanta second baseman hopes that a little change in Atlanta's road routine will bring good fortune away from Turner Field.

"I hope (we bring our home white jerseys on the road)," Johnson said. "I really, really hope so. It's been joke about around here. It's should be considered. If there's enough space, they may find a way."

Jurrjens, who was bothered by two blisters on his right thumb, allowed three runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 frames, but was yanked by Cox one out before qualifying for the win.

Jeff Bennett recorded the final out of the fifth before giving way to Manny Acosta (3-1), who hurled two perfect frames for the win.

Jones finished 1-for-3 with two walks to see his league-leading average fall one point to .416. Nevertheless, the switch-hitting slugger's average is the highest for any player this late in the season since the legendary Hank Aaron hit .442 in 1959.

Hudson hit a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who completed a 2-5 road trip.

"We've had a tough May," catcher Chris Snyder said. "We have to battle through it and get back on track in June."