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Braves fall to Diamondbacks 7-4
0608Braves
Atlanta Braves' Martin Pardo flips his helmet off after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning Monday in Phoenix. - photo by Matt York
PHOENIX — Stephen Drew drove in four runs, Mark Reynolds hit his 13th home run of the season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Atlanta 7-4 on Monday night, the third loss in four games for the NL East leaders.

Drew had an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run triple in Arizona's five-run fourth.

Derek Lowe (8-5), winner of his previous three starts, gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings, his shortest outing of the season.

Dan Haren (6-4) got his first win in four starts, although he was far from his best. He scattered nine hits and walked two, allowing three runs in 5 2-3 innings. The Braves stranded 12 runners.

Chad Qualls walked the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but got his 11th save in 15 tries when Yunel Escobar hit into a double play.

The Diamondbacks have returned from an 0-9 road trip, and a 10-game losing streak, to win three of four.

The Braves were opening a four-game series after splitting four in Los Angeles, where their nine-game winning streak came to an end four games ago.

Reynolds started Arizona's fourth-inning onslaught with a solo shot on a 1-1 pitch into the seats in left-center, the first home run Lowe surrendered in five games. Chris Young's single, followed by walks to Chris Snyder and Kelly Johnson, loaded the bases with two outs.

Conor Jackson dribbled a grounder up the middle that the shortstop Escobar ranged far to his left to field. He tried to flip the ball backhand to second as he ran away from the base, but it sailed away from Martin Prado and a run scored.

That brought up Drew, who lashed the first pitch into the right field corner to clear the bases on his sixth triple of the season, tied with Philadelphia's Shane Victorino for most in the majors.

Atlanta loaded the bases with one out against reliever Carlos Rosa in the eighth. Aaron Heilman came on and hit David Ross with a pitch to bring in a run and make it 7-4. Prado flied to right, and the Braves decided not to test Justin Upton's arm. Upton's throw was up the line but by then it was too late. Omar Infante bounced out to the pitcher to end the inning.

NOTES: Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones took a cortisone shot and could return to the lineup on today. Jones has missed five games with inflammation in his right ring finger. ... Haren worked eight scoreless innings in a 1-0, 10-inning loss at Los Angeles on June 1. ... Johnson's leadoff single in the first was his first career hit against Lowe in 13 at-bats. ... Lowe had allowed four runs combined in his previous three starts.
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