GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (66-60) at CINCINNATI (55-70)

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (2) VS CINCINNATI (4) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .313
b-M Diaz ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .346
E Renteria ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
a-Y Escobar ph-ss 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .318
C Jones 3b 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 .335
M Teixeira 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 4 .293
B McCann c 4 1 1 1 0 1 6 .275
J Francoeur rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303
A Jones cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 .214
K Johnson 2b 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .294
L Cormier p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
c-C Woodward ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .203
M Acosta p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
d-S Thorman ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .217
T Yates p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 2 9 2 3 8 14

a-grounded to shortstop for E Renteria in the 1st; b-grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop for W Harris in the 6th; c-struck out swinging for L
Cormier in the 6th; d-flied out to center for M Acosta in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Jones (31, B Arroyo). HR - B Mccann (15, 4th inning off B
Arroyo 0 on, 0 Out), A Jones (24, 6th inning off B Arroyo 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - B
McCann (74), A Jones (82). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Teixeira
1, B McCann 3. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - W Harris (17, 2nd base off B Arroyo/J Valentin).

FIELDING: E - B McCann (11, catch). DP: 1 (K Johnson-Y Escobar-M Teixeira).



CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .283
J Keppinger ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .381
K Griffey Jr rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .281
B Phillips 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .277
A Dunn lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .264
S Hatteberg 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .298
J Valentin c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .291
E Encarnacion 3b 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
B Arroyo p 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 .107
M Stanton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Ellison ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125
J Burton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 29 4 7 3 2 6 8

a-struck out swinging for M Stanton in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - K Griffey Jr (18, M Acosta). HR - J Hamilton (16, 4th inning off
L Cormier 0 on, 0 Out), J Keppinger (3, 4th inning off L Cormier 0 on, 0 Out).
RBI - J Hamilton (36), J Keppinger (21), B Arroyo (2). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Keppinger 1. GIDP - S Hatteberg. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Hamilton (3, 2nd base by T Yates/B McCann).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 000 101 00 -- 2
CINCINNATI - 000 220 00 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
L Cormier 5 4 4 3 1 3 2 9.00
M Acosta 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0.00
T Yates 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.17

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo 5 1/3 6 2 2 3 5 2 4.54
M Stanton 1 2/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 5.59
J Burton 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.73

Pitches-strikes: L Cormier 63-40; M Acosta 25-18; T Yates 17-8; B Arroyo
99-64; M Stanton 24-16; J Burton 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: L Cormier 6-6; M
Acosta 3-1; T Yates 1-0; B Arroyo 5-6; M Stanton 2-1; J Burton 0-2. Batters
faced: L Cormier 20; M Acosta 7; T Yates 4; B Arroyo 25; M Stanton 7; J Burton
4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: 96 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, right to left.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - PITCHING CHANGE
CIN: DAVID WEATHERS (2-4, 3.53) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2, CINCINNATI 4

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M DIAZ (.346, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Weathers relieved J Burton.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 2
CINCINNATI 4 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M Diaz (.346, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 9 1
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 x 4 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: ATL - LANCE CORMIER, MANNY ACOSTA (6TH), TYLER YATES (8TH) AND BRIAN
MCCANN

CIN - BRONSON ARROYO, MIKE STANTON (6TH), JARED BURTON
(8TH), DAVID WEATHERS (9TH) AND JAVIER VALENTIN

HOME RUNS: ATL - BRIAN MCCANN (15) OFF BRONSON ARROYO IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
ANDRUW JONES (24) OFF BRONSON ARROYO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CIN - JOSH HAMILTON (16) OFF LANCE CORMIER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
JEFF KEPPINGER (3) OFF LANCE CORMIER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 9 1
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 x 4 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: ATL - LANCE CORMIER, MANNY ACOSTA (6TH), TYLER YATES (8TH) AND BRIAN
MCCANN

CIN - BRONSON ARROYO, MIKE STANTON (6TH), JARED BURTON
(8TH), DAVID WEATHERS (9TH) AND JAVIER VALENTIN


WP - BRONSON ARROYO (7-13)
LP - LANCE CORMIER (0-4)
SAVE - DAVID WEATHERS (27)

HOME RUNS: ATL - BRIAN MCCANN (15) OFF BRONSON ARROYO IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
ANDRUW JONES (24) OFF BRONSON ARROYO IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

CIN - JOSH HAMILTON (16) OFF LANCE CORMIER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
JEFF KEPPINGER (3) OFF LANCE CORMIER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:36 ATT: 22,924

PROBABLES: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE (7-5, 4.66)
CIN - ELIZARDO RAMIREZ (0-1, 3.86)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (2) VS CINCINNATI (4) - FINAL

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .313
b-M Diaz ph-lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .344
E Renteria ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336
a-Y Escobar ph-ss 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 .318
C Jones 3b 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 .334
M Teixeira 1b 4 0 1 0 1 2 5 .289
B McCann c 4 1 1 1 0 1 6 .275
J Francoeur rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303
A Jones cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 .214
K Johnson 2b 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .294
L Cormier p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
c-C Woodward ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .203
M Acosta p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
d-S Thorman ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .217
T Yates p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 36 2 9 2 4 9 15

a-grounded to shortstop for E Renteria in the 1st; b-grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop for W Harris in the 6th; c-struck out swinging for L
Cormier in the 6th; d-flied out to center for M Acosta in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Jones (31, B Arroyo). HR - B Mccann (15, 4th inning off B
Arroyo 0 on, 0 Out), A Jones (24, 6th inning off B Arroyo 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - B
McCann (74), A Jones (82). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Teixeira
2, B McCann 3. Team LOB - 11.

BASERUNNING: SB - W Harris (17, 2nd base off B Arroyo/J Valentin).

FIELDING: E - B McCann (11, catch). DP: 1 (K Johnson-Y Escobar-M Teixeira).



CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .283
J Keppinger ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .381
K Griffey Jr rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .281
B Phillips 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .277
A Dunn lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .264
S Hatteberg 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .298
J Valentin c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .291
E Encarnacion 3b 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
B Arroyo p 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 .107
M Stanton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Ellison ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .125
J Burton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 29 4 7 3 2 6 8

a-struck out swinging for M Stanton in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - K Griffey Jr (18, M Acosta). HR - J Hamilton (16, 4th inning off
L Cormier 0 on, 0 Out), J Keppinger (3, 4th inning off L Cormier 0 on, 0 Out).
RBI - J Hamilton (36), J Keppinger (21), B Arroyo (2). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Keppinger 1. GIDP - S Hatteberg. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Hamilton (3, 2nd base by T Yates/B McCann).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 000 101 000 -- 2
CINCINNATI - 000 220 00x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
L Cormier (L, 0-4) 5 4 4 3 1 3 2 9.00
M Acosta 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0.00
T Yates 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.17

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
B Arroyo (W, 7-13) 5 1/3 6 2 2 3 5 2 4.54
M Stanton (H, 11) 1 2/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 5.59
J Burton (H, 7) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.73
D Weathers (S, 27) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.48

Pitches-strikes: L Cormier 63-40; M Acosta 25-18; T Yates 17-8; B Arroyo
99-64; M Stanton 24-16; J Burton 14-9; D Weathers 19-10. Ground balls-fly
balls: L Cormier 6-6; M Acosta 3-1; T Yates 1-0; B Arroyo 5-6; M Stanton 2-1; J
Burton 0-2; D Weathers 1-1. Batters faced: L Cormier 20; M Acosta 7; T Yates 4;
B Arroyo 25; M Stanton 7; J Burton 4; D Weathers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

T--2:36. Att--22,924.
Weather: 96 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 13 mph, right
to left.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ATLANTA 2
CINCINNATI 4 FINAL</div>

 

Arroyo keys Reds past Braves

<h3>CINCINNATI 4, ATLANTA 2</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Bronson Arroyo used his arm and his batto help the Cincinnati Reds continue their dominance of theAtlanta Braves this season.


Arroyo allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings and had a keyrun-scoring single to lead the Reds to a 4-2 victory over theBraves at the Great American Ballpark on Wednesday.

Josh Hamilton and Jeff Keppinger hit back-to-back home runs forthe Reds in the fourth inning as Cincinnati improved to 5-1against Atlanta on the season.


The Braves entered Wednesday's contest six games behind the NewYork Mets in the National League East, and one game behind theSan Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL wildcard standings.


With the Reds leading, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning,Arroyo helped his own cause when he bounced a base-hit to leftfield, scoring Javier Valentin from second base. The throw fromWillie Harris got away from Brian McCann into the dugout, whichallowed a second run to score and give the Reds a 4-1advantage.


Arroyo (7-13) had escaped a key one-out bases loaded jam in thetop of the fifth inning to preserve what was a slim one-runlead. Mark Teixeira fouled out to third and then Brian McCanngrounded into a fielder's choice to shortstop to end the inning.

Relievers Mike Stanton and Jared Burton combined to pitch ascoreless 2 2/3 innings, and David Weathers finished off theninth for his 27th save to secure the victory.


McCann and Andruw Jones each hit solo home runs for the Braves,who left 11 men on base and have now lost five of their lastseven games.


Atlanta got on the board first with McCann's 15th home run ofthe season, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead in the top of thefourth. The catcher has now homered in each of the three gamesagainst the Reds this series.


Cincinnati answered right back in the bottom of the fourthinning to take the lead on the back-to-back homers by Hamiltonand Jeff Keppinger off starter Lance Cormier (0-4).

Cormier retired the first nine Reds he faced, but ended upallowing four runs and four hits while striking out three infive innings.


Jones' solo blast to left field cut the Braves deficit to 4-2 inthe top of the sixth inning, but Teixeira struck out to end thegame while representing the tying run.


Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria, who missed 17 games with asprained right ankle, was activated off the disabled list beforethe game but left after one pitch in the top of the firstinning when he aggravated the injury.

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATLANTA (2) AT CINCINNATI (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ATLANTA 4TH: B McCann homered to right. J Francoeur flied out to center.
A Jones flied out to left. K Johnson flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors)
ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 4TH: J Hamilton homered to center. J Keppinger homered to left.
K Griffey Jr lined out to right. B Phillips struck out swinging. A Dunn
popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 2.

CINCINNATI 5TH: S Hatteberg grounded out to third. J Valentin singled to
right. E Encarnacion walked, J Valentin to second. B Arroyo singled to left,
J Valentin scored, E Encarnacion to third, E Encarnacion scored, B Arroyo to
third on throwing error by left fielder W Harris. J Hamilton struck out
swinging. J Keppinger grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error)
ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 4.

ATLANTA 6TH: J Francoeur flied out to left. A Jones homered to left.
M Stanton relieved B Arroyo. K Johnson reached on infield single to shortstop.
C Woodward hit for L Cormier. C Woodward struck out swinging. M Diaz hit for
W Harris. M Diaz grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, K Johnson out at
second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, CINCINNATI 4.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATLANTA (2) AT CINCINNATI (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Atlanta Starting Lineups -- W Harris LF, E Renteria SS, C Jones 3B, M Teixeira 1B,
B McCann C, J Francoeur RF, A Jones CF, K Johnson 2B, L Cormier RHP.

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- J Hamilton CF, J Keppinger SS, K Griffey Jr RF,
B Phillips 2B, A Dunn LF, S Hatteberg 1B, J Valentin C, E Encarnacion 3B,
B Arroyo RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Gorman (HP), Paul Nauert (1B), Chad Fairchild (2B),
Gerry Davis (3B).

Gametime Weather: 96 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 13 mph.


ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris grounded out to third. Y Escobar hit for E Renteria.
Y Escobar grounded out to shortstop. C Jones singled to center. M Teixeira
walked, C Jones to second. B McCann struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: Y Escobar at shortstop. J Hamilton grounded out to second.
J Keppinger lined out to right. K Griffey Jr lined out to right. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, CINCINNATI 0.

ATLANTA 2ND: J Francoeur struck out looking. A Jones grounded out to
pitcher. K Johnson walked. L Cormier grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, K Johnson out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0,
CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: B Phillips grounded out to catcher. A Dunn flied out to
center. S Hatteberg grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, CINCINNATI 0.

ATLANTA 3RD: W Harris flied out to center. Y Escobar struck out swinging.
C Jones doubled to center. M Teixeira struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 3RD: J Valentin grounded out to first. E Encarnacion fouled out
to first. B Arroyo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0,
CINCINNATI 0.

ATLANTA 4TH: B McCann homered to right. J Francoeur flied out to center.
A Jones flied out to left. K Johnson flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0
Errors) ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 4TH: J Hamilton homered to center. J Keppinger homered to left.
K Griffey Jr lined out to right. B Phillips struck out swinging. A Dunn
popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 2.

ATLANTA 5TH: L Cormier struck out swinging. W Harris singled to right.
W Harris stole second. Y Escobar walked. C Jones singled to left center,
W Harris to third, Y Escobar to second. M Teixeira fouled out to third.
B McCann grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Jones out at second.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 2.

CINCINNATI 5TH: S Hatteberg grounded out to third. J Valentin singled to
right. E Encarnacion walked, J Valentin to second. B Arroyo singled to left,
J Valentin scored, E Encarnacion to third, E Encarnacion scored, B Arroyo to
third on throwing error by left fielder W Harris. J Hamilton struck out
swinging. J Keppinger grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error)
ATLANTA 1, CINCINNATI 4.

ATLANTA 6TH: J Francoeur flied out to left. A Jones homered to left.
M Stanton relieved B Arroyo. K Johnson reached on infield single to shortstop.
C Woodward hit for L Cormier. C Woodward struck out swinging. M Diaz hit for
W Harris. M Diaz grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, K Johnson out at
second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 6TH: M Diaz in left field. M Acosta relieved L Cormier.
K Griffey Jr doubled to deep center. B Phillips singled to center, K Griffey Jr
to third. A Dunn struck out swinging. S Hatteberg grounded into double play,
second to shortstop to first, B Phillips out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, CINCINNATI 4.

ATLANTA 7TH: Y Escobar struck out swinging. C Jones fouled out to first.
M Teixeira singled to left center. B McCann grounded into fielder's choice to
second, M Teixeira out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2,
CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 7TH: J Valentin grounded out to first. E Encarnacion popped out
to shortstop. J Ellison hit for M Stanton. J Ellison struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, CINCINNATI 4.

ATLANTA 8TH: J Burton relieved M Stanton. J Francoeur flied out to center.
A Jones struck out swinging. K Johnson singled to center. S Thorman hit for
M Acosta. S Thorman flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2,
CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 8TH: T Yates relieved M Acosta. J Hamilton walked. J Hamilton
caught stealing second, catcher to second. J Keppinger singled to center.
K Griffey Jr struck out swinging. B Phillips grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, J Keppinger out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2,
CINCINNATI 4.

ATLANTA 9TH: D Weathers relieved J Burton. M Diaz flied out to right.
Y Escobar walked. C Jones grounded out to catcher, Y Escobar to second.
M Teixeira struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, CINCINNATI 4.</div>

 

Arroyo keys Reds past Braves

<h3>CINCINNATI 4, ATLANTA 2</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Bronson Arroyo used his arm and his batto help the Cincinnati Reds continue their dominance of theAtlanta Braves this season.


Arroyo allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings and had a keyrun-scoring single to lead the Reds to a 4-2 victory over theBraves at the Great American Ball Park on Wednesday.

Josh Hamilton and Jeff Keppinger hit back-to-back home runs inthe fourth inning as Cincinnati improved to 5-1 against Atlantaon the season.


With the loss, the Braves (66-61) remained six games behind thefirst-place New York Mets (71-54) in the National League EastDivision but dropped to two games behind the San Diego Padres(67-58) in the wild card standings.


"There isn't really a lot of urgency," Atlanta manager Bobby Coxsaid. "We have a good team. We just need to win a couplegames."


With the Reds leading, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning,Arroyo helped his own cause when he bounced a base hit to leftfield, scoring Javier Valentin from second base. The throw fromleft fielder Willie Harris got away from catcher Brian McCannand went into the dugout, allowing a second run to score for a4-1 advantage.


Arroyo had taken a pitch before missing a bunt attempt duringhis at-bat. Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin thenremoved the bunt sign.


"Managers get ragged on certain things," Mackanin said. "Oncein a while, you like to take credit. It's nice when it works,especially if it helps win a ballgame."


"I took a pitch, then looked horrible trying to bunt," Arroyosaid. "(Atlanta starter Lance Cormier) hadn't thrown me acutter yet, so I thought I'd be able to get a four-seamer overthe plate and sneak one through. I guess Pete had moreconfidence in me swinging away after he saw me try to bunt."

Arroyo (7-13) had escaped a key one-out, bases-loaded jam in thetop of the fifth to preserve what was a slim one-run lead.Mark Teixeira fouled out to third and McCann grounded into aforceout to end the inning.


"I felt good," said Arroyo, who threw 34 pitches in the firstinning. "It was hot, but it really didn't bother me. I feltbetter in the sixth than I did in the first."


Relievers Mike Stanton and Jared Burton combined to pitch ascoreless 2 2/3 innings before David Weathers worked the ninthfor his 27th save.


McCann and Andruw Jones each hit solo home runs for the Braves,who left 11 men on base and have now lost five of their lastseven games.


"It's frustrating," McCann said. "When we pitch, we don't hit.When we hit, we don't pitch. We need to start playing better.We had an opportunity to win that game and should have won,regardless."


Atlanta got on the board first on McCann's 15th home run of theseason, which opened a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. TheAll-Star catcher has now homered in each of the three gamesagainst the Reds this series.


Cincinnati answered right back in the bottom of the inning totake the lead on the back-to-back solo homers by Hamilton andKeppinger.


Cormier (0-4) retired the first nine Reds he faced but yieldedfour runs and four hits while striking out three in fiveinnings.


"Cormier's pitched well since we brought him up," Cox said. "Hedid decent tonight. He gave up a couple home runs and walkedthe eighth hitter, which isn't always good."


Jones' solo blast to left field in the sixth cut the Braves'deficit to 4-2. But Teixeira, who was representing the tyingrun, struck out in the ninth to end the game.


Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria, who missed 17 games with asprained right ankle, was activated from the disabled listbefore the game but left after one pitch in the top of the firstinning when he aggravated the injury.


"He hurt it backing away from the pitch," Cox said. "We gavehim tests and you couldn't tell he even had an injury before weactivated him. We'll evaluate him tomorrow."