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ATLANTA(AP)
Martin Prado
's 10th-inning single triggered a celebration on the field, and was only part of his terrific night.
Prado drove in the winning run to finish with a career-best four hits and four RBIs, helping the
Atlanta Braves
beat Philadelphia 5-4 on Tuesday for their first home win over the Phillies since 2007.
Prado won more than the game. He also earned at least a temporary promotion from his status as a utility player.
When asked if Prado was his starting second baseman, manager
Bobby Cox
said ''Right now, yes.''
''He's too hot to take out unless his groin flares up,'' Cox said, referring to Prado's nagging injury. ''Yeah, we'll keep
him in there for a little while.''
Kelly Johnson
, who had the full-time job after
Omar Infante
broke a bone in his hand in May, is hitting only .216. Prado is batting .299, including .354 (23 for 65) in June.
''Every time he's in there he does something really good,'' Cox said of Prado.
Despite his strong month, Prado said his season ''had been very tough.''
''This is the first night I've felt comfortable at home plate in a long time,'' he said, adding he has struggled to find his
stroke as a part-time player.
''I wish I could have the same feeling every day,'' he said. ''But it's hard for me because I play once in a while, maybe.''
Gregor Blanco
had three hits and scored twice for Atlanta, which went 0-9 against the Phillies at Turner Field last year.
''The top of their order did us in,'' said Phillies manager
Charlie Manuel
, referring to Blanco and Prado. ''They were on base (eight) times. They got some good hitting. They got us tonight.''
Matt Diaz
started the winning rally with a one-out single off
Chan Ho Park
(3-2). He moved to third on Blanco's single to left and Prado followed with a liner over left fielder John Mayberry Jr.
The NL East-leading Phillies have lost 10 of 13.
''We weren't used to getting beat late last year,'' Manuel said after the Phillies fell to 6-5 in extra-inning games.
Peter Moylan
(2-2) recorded two outs to get the win. He was on the mound when third baseman
Chipper Jones
started a double play with a diving stop of
Jayson Werth
's grounder in the 10th.
The Phillies took a 4-3 lead in the eighth when Mayberry and
Pedro Feliz
hit back-to-back homers off
Mike Gonzalez
.
Atlanta rallied in the bottom half. Blanco, a late addition to the lineup when
Nate McLouth
was held out with a sore hamstring, walked with two outs and moved to second on
Ryan Madson
's wild pickoff throw.
Prado followed with a double into the right-field corner. Prado moved to third when Werth bobbled the ball for the Phillies'
third error, matching their season high.
Philadelphia shortstop
Jimmy Rollins
was 0 for 5 in his return after being held out four straight games. Rollins, who has a career .274 batting average, has no
hits in his last 24 at-bats and is hitting only .207.
Braves fans mocked Rollins by chanting ''2-0-8!'' during his final at-bat.
Derek Lowe
, who had lost three straight starts, gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings for Atlanta. He remained in the game
after being hit on his backside by
Shane Victorino
's liner in the fifth.
Lowe threw out Victorino before leaning over in pain. Cox and teammates surrounded Lowe near the mound, and Jones couldn't
hold back a laugh with Lowe's bottom attracting so much attention. Lowe then surrendered
Chase Utley
's homer to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
Joe Blanton
gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings for Philadelphia.
After Prado's homer in the bottom of the fifth tied it, the Braves loaded the bases on singles by Jones and
Garret Anderson
and a walk to
Casey Kotchman
.
Jeff Francoeur
's groundout gave Atlanta a 3-2 lead.
Lowe struck out pinch-hitter
Chris Coste
to strand runners on second and third in the sixth.
The Braves have won five of seven against the Phillies this season. The first six games of the season series were played in
Philadelphia.
NOTES: Braves SS
Yunel Escobar
(hip flexor) missed his fourth straight start. He grounded out as a pinch hitter in the ninth. ... The Phillies placed LHP
Antonio Bastardo
on the 15-day disabled list with a strained shoulder and recalled LHP
Sergio Escalona
from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... LHP J.A. Happ will start Thursday against the Braves. ... Anderson had one hit on his 37th
birthday.
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