San Francisco, CA (Best E Casino) - Mike Hampton was solid on the mound to pick up his first win since August 14, 2005, and added an RBI double, as the
Atlanta Braves pounded the
San Francisco Giants, 11-4, in the second contest of a three-game set.
Hampton (1-0), who has been sidelined by two elbow surgeries, a strained chest muscle and an injured groin, tossed seven frames and was touched for just two runs on four hits to move to 14-4 lifetime against the Giants.
"It can put me on my way and I do feel like that," Hampton said of the win. "I'm a believer that winning builds confidence and doing things right and doing things well builds confidence."
Yunel Escobar and Omar Infante had a hit and two RBI apiece for the Braves, who still only have three wins over their last 11 games. Kelly Johnson went 3- for-3 with an RBI and scored three times.
Jonathan Sanchez (8-8) took the loss as he yielded three runs on seven hits while striking out five. Sanchez is 0-4 over his last six starts, recording his last win on June 29 and his last home win on June 2.
Fred Lewis had a solo home run, the first homer since July 27 for the Giants, who have dropped two of their last three overall. Aaron Rowand, Bengie Molina and Jose Castillo each added an RBI in defeat.
"We got some guys that can drive the ball and to go that long (without one) is surprising," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "But these things run in streaks sometimes, so hopefully we'll start driving the ball, hit the gaps and it's not just home runs."
The Braves added five insurance runs to a 6-4 lead in the ninth. Martin Prado was hit by a pitch and Johnson dropped down a sac bunt, which Rich Aurilia threw away, putting runners on the corners. Pinch-hitter Greg Norton golfed a single into right field to score pinch-runner Gregor Blanco before Escobar popped up for the first out.
Mark Kotsay then brought home another run with a single to right and Casey Kotchman added an RBI ground-rule double to left-center. Infante kept it going with a two-run double on a bloop hit to left and it was 11-4.
Mike Gonzalez was on the hill trying to close it out for the Braves in the ninth, but gave up a lead off single to Castillo. Emmanuel Burriss, though, grounded into a double play, and Eugenio Velez went down swinging to make it official.
The Braves hung a three-spot to break the scoreless tie in the fifth. Brian McCann got things going with a single and Jeff Francoeur put runners on the corners with another base hit. Prado then grounded into a double play, allowing McCann to cross home, before consecutive doubles from Johnson, Hampton and Escobar knocked in two runs to make it 3-0.
The Giants got a run back in the home fifth. Lewis led off with a single, moved to third on Aurilia's single and crossed home as Castillo grounded into a force out.
Osiris Matos took the hill for San Fran in the seventh and gave up consecutive singles to Francoeur, Prado and Johnson, the last scoring Francoeur. Hampton's sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position and Escobar's sac fly scored Prado and left Johnson at third. Kotsay then worked a walk before Geno Espineli was called on in relief. Espineli uncorked a wild pitch, which scored Johnson and made it 6-1.
Lewis led off the home seventh with a long homer to right field, making it a 6-2 ballgame.
Jeff Bennett took over on the hill for Atlanta in the eighth. Randy Winn singled with one out and moved to second as Bennett uncorked a wild pitch. Pinch-hitter John Bowker then drew a walk and Rowand had an RBI single, leaving runners on the corners. Molina followed with another RBI single and it was 6-4.
Game Notes
Hampton made his first appearance in the majors since August 19, 2005 when he started Atlanta's 10-9 loss at Philadelphia on July 26. The left-hander was understandably rusty on that day and wound up with a no-decision after giving up six runs in four innings...The Braves and Giants are meeting for the first time this season after Atlanta took four of seven games in the 2007 series. The clubs split four games in San Francisco.
