ATLANTA -Javier Valentin hit a three-run homer to cap Cincinnati's five-run comeback in the ninth inning off closer John Smoltz, leading the Reds to an 11-8 victory over the Atlanta Braves yesterday night.
Chipper Jones' three-run homer in the seventh gave the Braves an 8-6 lead, but Smoltz (0-1) gave up four hits and five runs, walking a batter and throwing two wild pitches while recording only one out in the ninth.
Felipe Lopez singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Sean Casey's single. Casey went to second on another wild pitch and scored on D'Angelo Jimenez's double to right one out later.
Pinch-hitter Jacob Cruz was intentionally walked and Valentin followed with a homer to right on a 2-2 count. It was the fifth blown save in 45 chances for Smoltz.
Phil Norton (2-5) recorded one out in the eighth to earn the win for the Reds, who had a season-high 17 hits against eight Braves pitchers. Rookie Joe Valentine earned his second save despite walking two batters in the bottom of the ninth.
The Braves scored three runs in the sixth off Reds starter Josh Hancock and took the lead with three runs in the seventh on Jones' homer off reliever John Riedling.
The three RBIs gave Jones 91, including 57 since the All-Star break. He's trying to reach 100 RBIs for the ninth straight season.
In the first, Marcus Giles homered with one out and Hancock walked two but would have escaped the inning with only one run allowed if not for a throwing error by shortstop Anderson Machado on Adam LaRoche's grounder.
After the error, Hancock retired the next 13 Braves batters through the fifth inning.
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The Associated Press
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Claussen works the first inning against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta, Tuesday.
