Brooks Conrad's pinch-hit grand slam capped a seven-run ninth inning and lifted Atlanta to a 10-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, the Braves third consecutive win in their last at-bat.
The Reds battered Braves starter Tommy Hanson for eight runs on eight hits over 1 2/3 innings. But it was Atlanta pouring it on when it counted.
Trailing 9-3, the Braves opened the ninth with four consecutive singles against Mike Lincoln -- the last a two-run hit by Nate McLouth. Following a walk, the inning was kept alive with the help of a Miguel Cairo throwing error to make it a three-run contest.
After a strikeout, closer Francisco Cordero (1-3) came on to face Conrad and the 30-year-old reserve infielder blasted his first career grand slam to cap the remarkable rally.
Braves rookie Craig Kimbrel (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for his first major league win.
Joey Votto's 10th homer of the season -- a grand slam during the eight-run second -- did half the damage for the Reds. Laynce Nix followed later in the inning with a two-run double and added a solo homer in the fifth to stake starter Mike Leake to a 9-1 lead.
Leake allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits and struck out six over six innings, before Cincinnati's bullpen blew the lead in spectacular fashion.
Cincinnati | Atlanta | |
Mike Leake | Player | Tommy Hanson |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
6.0 | IP | 1.2 |
6 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 8 |
1.50 | ERA | 43.20 |
Cincinnati | Atlanta | |
Laynce Nix | Player | Troy Glaus |
3 | Hits | 3 |
3 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
7 | TB | 3 |
.600 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Cincinnati | 13 | 2 | 21 | .342 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
Atlanta | 10 | 1 | 14 | .270 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |