Braves Upset Padres 5-4 After Three-Run Rally

Atlanta, GA (AHN) - The Padres thought they had the game in hand Thursday when they led 4-1 going into the sixth inning, but the Braves tied it up and ended the ninth inning with a game-winning single off the bat of Matt Diaz.

"Amen! Hallelujah!" third baseman Chipper Jones exclaimed.

It wasn't just the day's win that excited Jones. The Braves have given their fans a glimpse of greatness. They are on a powerful winning streak, having won their last six games, all of them at home.

Atlanta was 12-15 going into their homestead rally, sitting just above Washington in the National League East. Now, they've closed the gap to two games and are vying for first against Philadelphia and Florida.

Though the Braves have rallied, the Padres helped as much as they could, with three errors leading to four unearned runs.

"I can't remember playing a game when we allowed so many unearned runs," manager Bud Black told ESPN. "We have played sure-handed ball. Today we let a couple balls get away."

Moreover, they broke a potentially crippling tendency to drop the ball in clutch situations. They have lost their last nine one-run games, the first team to do that since the Houston Astros back in 2000.

"It's our first one-run win, which is nice and good for us," right fielder Jeff Francoeur told ESPN. "Now we need to take this momentum on the road, where we haven't exactly been sharp this year."

Atlanta will be on the road Thursday, taking on Pittsburgh, where they hope to keep their streak going.