Andrelton Simmons had two hits and Cameron Maybin homered as the Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Wednesday night to avoid the three-game series sweep.
"To leave here getting a win is huge for us," Maybin said. "These guys have been playing great this month."
New Atlanta third baseman, Juan Uribe, who was traded earlier in the day and made the 130-foot walk to the visitor's locker room, is the only player on either team who has won every game of the series.
"He's a great teammate, he's always happy, always making everyone smile," friend and former teammate Adrian Gonzalez said. "He shows up when he's not in the lineup and is happy, he keeps everyone having a good time and everyone motivated."
Uribe got a standing ovation by the hometown fans as many in attendance at Dodger Stadium held signs that read "Thank You, Papi" for Uribe's four years of service to the Boys in Blue.
Uribe came up with the bases loaded in the first inning, but struck out on a Zack Greinke fastball. He finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his Braves debut.
"When he first got up to the plate, I said 'this is a perfect story for a grand slam,'" Greinke joked. "I just tried to make as good as pitches to him as I could."
Greinke allowed just one run for the fourth consecutive start and lowered his ERA to 1.48.
The former Cy Young winner went six strong innings scattering three hits with nine strikeouts in the no decision and tied a Dodgers' record with his 10th consecutive quality start.
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Maybin hit a solo shot off Greinke in the third inning to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Greinke regained his composure however and retired 11 straight after the homer.
"My command wasn't that great earlier," Greinke said. "I got in a hole and had to grind through it."
Greinke played both ways on Wednesday as he singled and stole a base as well.
Chris Hatcher struggled in relief for the second consecutive game. Hatcher allowed a single to Simmons and a walk before manager Don Mattingly went to the pen and Adam Liberatore got out of the inning, but not before both runs scored.
"It's been a little bit of a roller coaster with him," Mattingly said of Hatcher. "But don't lose faith in him yet."
Alex Guerrero hit a solo shot it in the bottom of the ninth inning to bring the Dodgers within a run.
Alberto Callaspo made his Dodgers debut with a runner on first and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Callaspo flew out to center to end the game.
Alex Wood dominated the Dodgers lineup allowing one run on seven hits, with six strikeouts over seven innings.
"Tonight was the best I've felt," Wood said. "Now it's all about repeating the next time I go out. Going up against Greinke, it was a really good team win tonight."
Jason Grilli picked up his 14th save of the season finishing off the Dodgers in the ninth.
Game Notes:
Yasmani Grandal made his second consecutive start in Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday as he recovers from a concussion suffered earlier in the week.
Alex Guerreo's ninth inning home run was his fifth in the seventh inning or later.
