Chipper homers in return as Braves rout D-backs

[August 09, 2008]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Chipper Jones returned from the disabled list with a pair of hits, including a home run estimated at 434 feet, powering the Atlanta Braves to an 11-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Martin Prado went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs, and Casey Kotchman also had three hits for the Braves, who have won three of their last four. Jones, out since July 24 with a strained left hamstring, raised his major league-leading batting average to .371.

Jorge Campillo (7-4) gave up five runs and eight hits over 6 1-3 innings to win his fourth consecutive decision. Campillo struck out five and didn't walk a batter for the second straight start.

Jeff Bennett pitched the last two innings, surrendering Tony Clark's RBI single in the ninth, for his third save in as many chances.

Alex Romero went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple and Stephen Drew homered for the Diamondbacks, who lost their third straight.

The Braves scored two runs each in the second and third innings and four runs in the fifth off Arizona starter Doug Davis (4-7) and reliever Billy Buckner, opening an 8-1 lead before the Diamondbacks rallied.

Romero tripled and scored on Chris Snyder's sacrifice fly in the fifth, Conor Jackson hit an RBI double and scored on Mark Reynolds' sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Snyder drove in Romero with a double in the seventh to make it 8-5.

But Yunel Escobar led off the ninth with an infield single and Jones followed with his 19th home run onto the porch overhanging the center-field fence to give the Braves a 10-5 lead.

Bennett also chipped in, driving home Omar Infante with a ground-rule double.

Drew gave the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead when he hit Campillo's third pitch into the right-field stands for his first career leadoff home run.

The Braves' offense took over from there. Prado drove in two runs in the second with a ground-rule double, and Infante hit a two-run double in the fourth for a 4-1 lead.

Atlanta extended its lead to 8-1 in the fifth on RBI doubles by Brian McCann and Prado and a two-run single by Kotchman.

Davis surrendered a season-worst seven runs on nine hits with four walks.

Notes:@ Lyon has allowed five runs on eight hits in his last two outings, each lasting an inning. ... Bennett's double was his second hit in nine at-bats this season. ... Infante has hit safely in 13 of 16 games since coming off the disabled list July 23. ... Davis has allowed 12 runs on 15 hits over six innings in his last two starts. The outing before that, Davis flirted with a no-hitter at San Diego. ... Braves RHP Tim Hudson underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday, performed by Dr. James Andrews. Hudson went 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 starts before leaving his July 23 outing after six scoreless innings.

[Associated Press]

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