Photo credit: AP Photo/David Tulis

By Pearl Allison Lo

The Major League-leading team, Oakland, went down in order in six innings, never putting a runner on base after they scored, as the Atlanta Braves homered their way to victory Friday.

Though Braves’ starter Alex Wood gave up at least three walks for the third game in a row, he has only given up a combined five earned runs his last four outings. Wood pitched six innings, giving up four hits while walking three and striking out one as Atlanta managed to stay above a .500 record. It was the second time this month the the Braves have scored seven runs in a game. They also had four home runs on August 8.

The last time A’s starter Jason Hammel gave up three home runs in a game was April 9. Hammel only pitched three innings, while giving up six hits, five earned runs, one walk and striking out one. It was his third outing against the Braves  in the last three years and his first bad start against them. “”Otherwise I felt great,” said Hammel. My body hasn’t felt that good in a while.”

It was Oakland’s third loss in a row.

The A’s had an early chance with two runners on due to walks with one out. However, Jonny Gomes was picked off after an earlier safe call challenge was overturned.

Atlanta struck first in the bottom of the second. Justin Upton, who was day to day, had a leadoff home run and one out later, Evan Gattis homered to make it 2-0.

In the consecutive inning, the Braves made it 5-0. With one out, Jason Heyward and Phil Gosselin singled and Freddie Freeman had Atlanta’s third homer of the night. Hammel wasn’t out of the woods yet though. A double after one more out,a hit batter and a passed ball by his catcher Derek Norris loaded the bases. After that, Hammel got Tommy La Stella to fly out.

Norris responded with a leadoff double in the fourth. Teammate Nate Freiman then homered to bring home some run support for Hammel.

The Braves got two more runs, one due to an error, in the bottom of the sixth. Oakland had two outs, but Heyward got on base due to a fielding miscue. Gosselin then responded with the long ball to make it 7-2.

Game notes: David Carpenter, one of Woods’ three relievers, struck out two of the batters he faced.The series continues Saturday at 4:10pm PST.