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D-backs Turn Away Braves 7-4 Despite Shaky Pitching, Win 3 Of Last 4 Games

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Stephen Drew drove in four runs and Dan Haren pitched into the sixth inning as Arizona held off Atlanta, 7-4, to begin a four-game series.

Mark Reynolds homered for the Diamondbacks, who won for the third time in four contests since snapping a 10-game skid.

Haren (6-4) gave up nine hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings.

"I had good stuff, good life on the ball," Haren said. "They just made me work. Besides the first inning, I was battling all night, kind of a bend and not break kind of a thing."

Derek Lowe (8-5) was pounded for eight hits and seven runs over four frames as the Braves lost for the third time in four tries since their nine-game winning streak.

"He wasn't hit hard, the one ball by Reynolds, can't hardly remember any other balls," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's a sinker baller that had one of those nights where everything that was hit was just right, not hard, we couldn't make plays on them."

Melky Cabrera and David Ross each drove in two runs in defeat.

The Diamondbacks built a 7-1 lead through four innings, but then had to withstand jams in the final two frames.Chad Qualls walked the bases loaded in the ninth inning before Yunel Escobar grounded into a game-ending double play. Qualls recorded his 11th save of the year.

Carlos Rosa gave up singles to Eric Hinske and Cabrera, and also walked Escobar to load the bases in the eight. Aaron Heilman then hit Ross with a pitch to make it a three-run difference, but Martin Prado flied out and Omar Infante bounced back to the mound. Heilman nearly committed a huge error, but his high throw to first was caught by a leaping Adam LaRoche to end the inning.

More trouble ensued in the ninth, but Qualls escaped trouble as the Diamondbacks finally closed it out. Their previous seven games were decided by a run, the longest streak in the majors this season.

Arizona started the first with consecutive singles from Kelly JohnsonConor Jackson and Drew for a 1-0 lead. Jackson scored on a LaRoche fielder's choice.

Brian McCann came home on a force play in the fourth inning, but the Braves, who left 12 on base, only mustered a run in the frame despite loading the bases.

Reynolds homered with one out in the fourth, and the Diamondbacks loaded the bases later in the frame before extending the lead. Jackson singled for a 4-1 game and Drew's three-run triple to right field made it a six-run difference.

Cabrera singled in a run and scored on a Ross double in the sixth.

Drew has six triples this season, tied for most in the National League...Arizona selected RHP Barret Loux of Texas A&M with the sixth overall pick in Monday's MLB Draft...Arizona is seven wins shy of 1,000 in franchise history...Prado has a 12-game hitting streak...Reynolds has 13 homers this year.