Final
Diamondbacks-Braves Preview
May 16, 2009 - 4:25 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior WriterArizona (13-22) at Atlanta (17-17), 7:10 p.m. EDT
After a winning road trip, the Atlanta Braves appear poised to carry over that success at home against one of the major league's worst teams.
The surging Braves look for a third straight victory Saturday in the continuation of a three-game set against the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks.
Chipper Jones homered and Yunel Escobar hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to give Atlanta a 4-3 win on Friday.
Coming off a 6-2 swing versus NL East foes Florida, Philadelphia and New York, the Braves (18-17) surpassed the .500 mark for the first time since they were 9-8 on April 25.
Friday's victory in the opener of a 10-game homestand also snapped a four-game losing streak at Turner Field, where Atlanta is 6-9. The Braves haven't won consecutive home games since sweeping a three-game set with last-place Washington from April 10-12.
"Hopefully it's something to build on. We started it on the road and we want to keep it going," said Jones, who used a pregame meeting to ask his teammates to keep up their intensity from the road trip. "We've got to win ballgames here."
Jones' fourth homer was just the sixth for Atlanta at Turner Field. The six-time All-Star is 5 for 10 with two doubles and three RBIs in his last three games, and batting .429 (9 for 21) with two homers and four RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona (13-23) has lost five of six to Atlanta, and is 1-6 since A.J. Hinch replaced the fired Bob Melvin as manager last week. Batting a major-league low .232, the Diamondbacks will face Atlanta's 31-year-old rookie Kenshin Kawakami (2-4, 5.79 ERA) for the first time.
The former Japan Central League star allowed two runs and five hits in six innings while striking out six and walking four in a 4-2 win at Philadelphia on Sunday for his first victory since his major-league debut on April 11.
The right-hander had lost his previous four decisions.
"There's no need for anybody to get down on him," manager Bobby Cox told the Braves' official Web site. "I like his stuff. Just give him time."
Still searching for his first career victory in his second season, Max Scherzer (0-3, 3.98) makes his seventh start of the year and 14th overall for the Diamondbacks.
Arizona's first-round pick in 2006 allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings of a 10-8 win over Washington last Saturday.
"It's just one of those things," Scherzer told the Diamondbacks' official Web site. "I'm more concerned about the team winning than my first win."
The right-hander makes his first start against Atlanta, but has pitched 3 2-3 scoreless innings of relief versus the Braves.
On Friday, Stephen Drew had two hits, including a solo homer that tied the game in the top of the ninth for Arizona, which has lost four in a row and 10 of its last 12 contests.
Though batting .231, Drew is 3 for 8 with two RBIs in two games since being activated from the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. He is hitting .333 (11 for 33) with two doubles, two triples and two homers during a seven-game hitting streak versus the Braves.
- NL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ARIZONA 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 1 6 12 11 0
ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: ARI - MAX SCHERZER, SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS (7TH), JUAN GUTIERREZ (7TH),
ESMERLING VASQUEZ (8TH), CHAD QUALLS (9TH) AND CHRIS SNYDER
ATL - KENSHIN KAWAKAMI, JAMES PARR (6
May 16 10:21 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY CHRIS SNYDER (2) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN THE
9TH OFF BUDDY CARLYLE SCORED STEPHEN DREW, MARK REYNOLDS AND ERIC
BYRNES.
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 12, ATLANTA 0
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: E VASQUEZ (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Diamondbacks 12, Braves 0 Top 9, 0 OutsMay 16 10:10 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ERIC BYRNES SCORED JUSTIN UPTON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, E BYRNES ON FIRST, M REYNOLDS ON SECOND, S
DREW ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 8
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C TRACY (.195, 0-FOR-2, 2 BB)
Diamondbacks 8, Braves 0 Top 9, 0 OutsMay 16 10:05 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO MARK REYNOLDS SCORED GERARDO PARRA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M REYNOLDS ON FIRST, S DREW ON SECOND, J
UPTON ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 7
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: E BYRNES (.202, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
Diamondbacks 7, Braves 0 Top 9, 0 OutsMay 16 10:04 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO MIGUEL MONTERO SCORED MARK REYNOLDS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M MONTERO ON FIRST, C SNYDER ON SECOND, C
TRACY ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 6
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: F LOPEZ (.315, 1-FOR-4)
Diamondbacks 6, Braves 0 Top 8, 0 OutsMay 16 9:42 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY GERARDO PARRA SCORED CHAD TRACY AND CHRIS SNYDER.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G PARRA ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 5
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: J UPTON (.307, 1-FOR-2, BB)
Diamondbacks 5, Braves 0 Top 7, 0 OutsMay 16 9:14 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY GERARDO PARRA SCORED FELIPE LOPEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G PARRA ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 3
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: J UPTON (.310, 1-FOR-1)
Diamondbacks 3, Braves 0 Top 3, 0 OutsMay 16 7:55 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CHRIS SNYDER SCORED ERIC BYRNES.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 2
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M SCHERZER (.300, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
Diamondbacks 2, Braves 0 Top 2, 0 OutsMay 16 7:38 PM - NL
AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ERIC BYRNES SCORED MARK REYNOLDS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E BYRNES ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 1
ATLANTA 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C TRACY (.200, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
Diamondbacks 1, Braves 0 Top 2, 0 OutsMay 16 7:31 PM
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