Braves Rally To Beat Mariners in 9th

ATLANTA (AP) - Greg Norton doubled home the tying run and then

scored on Brian McCann's single in the ninth inning, rallying the

Atlanta Braves over the Seattle Mariners 5-4 tonight.

The Braves won for the first time in 30 games this season when

trailing after eight innings. Down 4-1, Atlanta scored two runs in

the eighth and twice more in the ninth.

With All-Star closer J.J. Putz on the 15-day disabled list with

a hyperextended pitching elbow and backup closer Brandon Morrow in

Seattle recovering from back spasms, Seattle turned to Miguel

Batista to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth.

Batista (3-9) blew the save without recording an out. A sellout

crowd of 47,158, the largest of the season at Turner Field, cheered

the comeback.

Kelly Johnson walked to open the ninth and Norton, who began the

season with Seattle, hit an RBI double to right-center. Batista

loaded the bases by issuing an intentional walk to Mark Teixeira

and hitting Jeff Francoeur with a pitch, and McCann followed with a

broken-bat single to right.

Blaine Boyer (2-5) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

Yuniesky Betancourt drove in three runs for Seattle, now 1-1

under manager Jim Riggleman.