McCann's slam helps Braves bounce back to beat Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

08/11/2010 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian McCann's grand slam capped a six-run 10th inning as the Atlanta Braves downed the Houston Astros, 8-2, in the finale of a three-game set.

Alex Gonzalez drove in two runs while Omar Infante finished with an RBI and a run scored for the Braves, who took the last two of the set after dropping the opener.

Tommy Hanson went seven innings in the start and was charged with just one unearned run and two hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He also went 1- for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Billy Wagner (6-2) got the win despite blowing the save in the ninth.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Chris Johnson drove in the other run for the Astros, who have dropped six of seven.

Wandy Rodriguez was effective over seven innings, giving up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts. Brandon Lyon (6-5) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs in 1 1/3 frames.

After blowing a one-run lead in the ninth, the Braves promptly took the lead back and then some in the 10th. With one out and two runners on, Infante put the go-ahead run on the board with a double off the wall in left. After an intentional walk to Melky Cabrera, Gonzalez plated another run with a single, and McCann followed with a pinch-hit grand slam to right for an 8-2 lead.

Takashi Saito pitched around an error in the bottom of the frame to seal the win.

The Braves jumped on top in the first inning as Cabrera hit a one-out double, moved to third on a passed ball and crossed the plate on a Gonzalez groundout for a 1-0 lead.

Hanson retired the first nine batters he faced, but Houston got to him in the fourth. Michael Bourn led off with a single and promptly stole second and third. After Jeff Keppinger walked, Pence singled to bring home Bourn. Hanson retired the next three batters to limit the damage.

Atlanta, though, got the run back in the fifth as Brooks Conrad punched a two- out single, Rick Ankiel followed with a walk and Hanson helped his cause with an RBI single for a 2-1 lead.

Hanson kept Houston from doing anything over the next three innings as the only baserunner he allowed with a one-out walk to Johnson in the seventh.

Jonny Venters worked around a one-out walk in the eighth inning, but Wagner came on to close the game and promptly gave up the lead. Pence started the frame with a single, raced to third on a single from Carlos Lee and came home on a sacrifice fly from Johnson to send the game to extras.

Game Notes

It was the seventh grand slam and second this season for McCann...Atlanta has off on Thursday before beginning a four-game set at home against the Dodgers...Houston starts a three-game set with Pittsburgh at home on Friday...Atlanta took five of the six games against Houston this season.

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