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.
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