Braves blow big lead, still beat D-backs 11-7

[June 11, 2010]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Brooks Conrad scrambled home to break a ninth-inning tie and the Atlanta Braves, after blowing a five-run lead, beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-7 Thursday.

The speedy Conrad hit for David Ross, who had a double, single and two RBIs. Conrad singled, stole second and made a headfirst slide to score on pinch-hitter Brian McCann's one-out single off closer Chad Qualls (1-3).

Jason Heyward and Eric Hinske also had RBI singles off Qualls. A sacrifice fly by Troy Glaus off Carlos Rosa capped the late burst.

Atlanta matched its season high with 16 hits yet still left 12 on base for a total of 47 in the four games. The Diamondbacks struck out 16 times, a season high for them and for Braves pitchers.

Reliever Jonny Venters' throwing error on what should have been an inning-ending double play set up a three-run double by ex-Brave Kelly Johnson in the eighth that tied it at 7.

Peter Moylan (3-1) got the final out of the eighth for the win. He was on the mound when outfielders Nate McLouth and Heyward collided on a game-winning inside-the-park home run by Gerardo Parra in Wednesday night's 2-1 loss.

Arizona loaded the bases in the ninth against Billy Wagner, but Rusty Ryal and pinch hitter Chris Snyder struck out to end it.

Atlanta leadoff batter Martin Prado reached five times on three hits and two walks.

Tommy Hanson, looking for his fourth straight win, had a 7-2 lead when he left after 5 1-3 innings. His two-run single had been the highlight of a five-run Atlanta fifth inning. All five runs were charged to reliever Cesar Chavez in just two-thirds of an inning after erratic Dontrelle Willis was lifted with the game tied 2-2 through four.

Chris Young led off the Arizona seventh with his 10th home run, then Johnson singled and later scored on Stephen Drew's groundout to cut the lead to 7-4.

In the eighth, Venters walked Mark Reynolds with one out to bring up Ryal, who bounced to the pitcher for what looked to be an inning-ending double play. Venters, though, threw the ball into center field and both runners were safe. He regrouped to strike out Adam LaRoche, but walked Young to load the bases.

The lefty stayed in to face the left-handed hitting Johnson, who lashed an offspeed pitch just inside the right field line to clear the bases.

After Willis' nine scoreless but shaky innings since his arrival in Arizona, his lack of control caught up with him in the fourth. He walked Glaus and Yunel Escobar to start the inning and runners moved up on a wild pitch. Omar Infante's sacrifice fly brought Glaus home, then Escobar scored on Ross' RBI single.

Willis gave up two runs and three hits, throwing 95 pitches in four innings. He walked six with two wild pitches, two balks and two strikeouts.

NOTES: McLouth had the day off after his collision with RF Jason Heyward Wednesday night. McLouth's head slammed to the ground on the play. ... Willis had 3-0 counts on the first three batters and four of the first five. He walked three of them. .... The Braves are 4-4 on their longest trip of the season, which ends with three at Minnesota.

[Associated Press; By BOB BAUM]

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