Braves Rally Past Red Sox

Tom Gordon was one strike away from increasing his major-league record to 55 straight saves. Greg Maddux was that close to his fourth consecutive loss.

In a stunning comeback Saturday, Atlanta nicked Gordon for a pair of two-out singles and then Javy Lopez's game-winning two-run double gave the Braves a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

It was Gordon's first blown save in the regular season since April 14, 1998 against Oakland.

"It was disappointing, but it's over," said Gordon (0-1). "I've done a lot of good things in this role and it's something I've grown to like. There's still a long way to go."

On Saturday, he allowed five runs and 11 hits in eight innings but got the victory.

"It's been a while. It feels good," Maddux said. "You play the game to win. You pitch to pitch well. It's been a tough stretch. Hopefully, this is the start of something good."

John Rocker pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Rookie Brian Daubach's second run-scoring single of the game had given Boston a 5-4 lead in the eighth and Maddux appeared to be on his way to his fourth straight loss.

"I've been watching him pitch forever," Daubach said, "but you try to forget about it when you're facing him."

Gordon entered the game and retired the first two batters in the ninth before Chipper Jones singled. Then Brian Jordan had a 1-2 count and fouled off two more pitches before his third hit of the game single sent Jones to third. Otis Nixon ran for Jordan and stole second.

Lopez followed with a hard grounder just inside the third-base line for the winning hit that ended Gordon's streak.

"I didn't even know about it, but you've got to think he's a human being," Lopez said. "I didn't feel confident. I felt aggressive."

He hit a curveball, the same pitch he made outs on in his other four at bats Saurday, including two strikeouts.

"The last couple of outings I was really fighting with my control," Gordon said, "but today I was able to get ahead of hitters."

"He's a great pitcher, a great closer," Jordan said, "but today is our day."

Gordon finished last season by converting 43 successful save opportunities, although he failed in that situation in Game 4 of the playoffs against Cleveland.

His regular-season streak continued this year with 11 saves before Saturday.

"I guess he has to start another one," Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said. "He was throwing the ball well. They just got hits."

Boston's lead in the AL East slipped to a half-game over the New York Yankees as the Red Sox lost for only the seventh time in 28 games.

Until Lopez' hit, Daubach appeared to be the hero for the second time in four games. On Tuesday night, his eighth-inning solo homer gave Boston a 5-4 win over Detroit.

On Saturday, Jose Offerman started the eighth with a single. He went to second on a wild pitch and kept going to third when catcher Eddie Perez threw wildly to second base.

Daubach, who spent the last nine years in the minor leagues, then lined a single to center for his third hit of the game off Maddux.

The Braves had taken a 4-2 lead in the fifth on Jordan's homer, his 13th of the year. He made a big comeback from his 0-for-4 performance with four strikeouts against Pedro Martinez in Boston's 5-1 win Friday night.

His homer followed a two-out single by Bret Boone and a walk to Jones.

Boston tied the game with two runs in the sixth. John Valentin's single and Daubach's double put runners at second and third. Valentin scored on Nomar Garciaparra's groundout to first and Daubach came in on Troy O'Leary's single.

The Braves had taken a 1-0 lead in the first on Jordan's RBI single. Jason Varitek's triple drove in the tying run in the second, and Boston went ahead 2-1 in the third on Daubach's RBI single.

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