CINCINNATI -AP- Justin Upton hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning Friday night, rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds after left-hander Mike Minor came up four outs short of a no-hitter.Upton's 25th homer, off Manny Parra (0-1), gave Atlanta its seventh victory in eight games.David Hale (4-4) pitched out of a two-on threat in the 11th. Craig Kimbrel got the last three outs for his 38th save in 42 chances. 
The Reds managed only two hits -- a pair of singles by Billy Hamilton -- in their seventh consecutive loss. They fell seven games under .500 for the first time since 2009. Cincinnati (61-68) has dropped out of contention by going 10-24 since the All-Star break.Minor has only one complete game in his career, but he held the Reds without a hit into the eighth, bidding to become the first Braves pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Kent Mercker in 1994.Zack Cozart drew Minor's fourth walk and advanced on a groundout. Hamilton lined an RBI single to center with two outs to end the no-hitter on Minor's 107th and final pitch.Cincinnati's defense kept it in the game even though the Reds couldn't get a hit until late.Mat Latos gave up nine hits -- matching his season high -- but limited the Braves to one run in six innings with the help of several run-saving defensive plays.Upton extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single, helping the Braves load the bases with one out in the third. Cozart saved at least one run by making a diving stop on Tommy La Stella's grounder to the hole at shortstop and getting a forceout at second, holding Atlanta to one run on the play.Second baseman Brandon Phillips saved two more runs in the sixth. With runners on second and third and two outs, he made an over-the-shoulder catch of Jason Heyward's fly to shallow right field.Atlanta (68-61) stranded six runners in scoring position over the first six innings.
The Reds managed only two hits -- a pair of singles by Billy Hamilton -- in their seventh consecutive loss. They fell seven games under .500 for the first time since 2009. Cincinnati (61-68) has dropped out of contention by going 10-24 since the All-Star break.Minor has only one complete game in his career, but he held the Reds without a hit into the eighth, bidding to become the first Braves pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Kent Mercker in 1994.Zack Cozart drew Minor's fourth walk and advanced on a groundout. Hamilton lined an RBI single to center with two outs to end the no-hitter on Minor's 107th and final pitch.Cincinnati's defense kept it in the game even though the Reds couldn't get a hit until late.Mat Latos gave up nine hits -- matching his season high -- but limited the Braves to one run in six innings with the help of several run-saving defensive plays.Upton extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single, helping the Braves load the bases with one out in the third. Cozart saved at least one run by making a diving stop on Tommy La Stella's grounder to the hole at shortstop and getting a forceout at second, holding Atlanta to one run on the play.Second baseman Brandon Phillips saved two more runs in the sixth. With runners on second and third and two outs, he made an over-the-shoulder catch of Jason Heyward's fly to shallow right field.Atlanta (68-61) stranded six runners in scoring position over the first six innings.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
