Adam LaRoche went 4-for-6 with a pair of homers, a double and five RBI as the Braves beat the Padres 15-12 in 11 innings on Friday.
The wild game featured a rare blown save from Trevor Hoffman and 10 runs in the final three innings. LaRoche's second homer gave the Braves a one-run lead in the 10th, but Jorge Sosa couldn't hold on to hit. LaRoche finally put it away with a two-run double in the 11th. Sosa, who blew leads in both the ninth and 10th, got the win. Tyler Yates pitched a scoreless 11th for a save.
Chipper Jones hit his 12th and 13th homers in the Braves' win over the Padres on Friday.
The All-Star break didn't cool off Chipper. He's 17-for-32 with five homers and 14 RBI in eight games during July.
After Ken Ray pitched a perfect eighth, Jorge Sosa blew leads in both the ninth and 10th innings Friday against the Padres.
It could have been an easy ninth if Brian McCann had held on to Josh Barfield's foul tip to end the game at 11-9. Barfield fouled off a couple of more balls before getting one he could hit. He singled in a run from second, and Josh Bard doubled him home to tie the game up. The Braves went back ahead with a solo homer in the 10th, but Sosa, who hit for himself in the inning, stayed in and gave up the tying run again. Sosa ended up getting the win after the Braves went back ahead in the 12th, but Ray has to be the favorite for saves in the Atlanta pen again.
Tim Hudson lasted only three innings and surrendered five runs in a no-decision Friday against the Padres.
The Atlanta bullpen will get blamed again, but Hudson has been quite the bust this year. The Braves should be pretty concerned about owing him $13 million in both 2008 and 2009. He's 0-4 in his last six starts and his ERA is up to 4.81.
The Braves confirmed that John Thomson (shoulder) will go on the DL prior to Saturday's game.
Peter Moylan will replace him on the roster, but he'll only be up until a fifth starter is needed on Tuesday. Manager Bobby Cox didn't say who would start in Thomson's place.
Horacio Ramirez (hamstring) will get an extra day of rest as a precaution and start Monday in the series opener at St. Louis.
Ramirez felt a twinge in his right hamstring during Friday's start against Cincinnati, but he felt fine in a bullpen session Thursday. Chuck James will move up a day and start Sunday's series finale against San Diego's Jake Peavy.