Phoenix, AZ – Justin Upton showed no mercy on his former club in his first game back at Chase Field.
The former D'back went 4-for-5 and his towering two-run shot began a game- breaking four-run sixth inning, as the Atlanta Braves pounded Arizona, 10-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
After six seasons with Arizona, Justin Upton was shipped to Atlanta this past offseason and has produced in a big way. He blasted his 13th homer of the season -- his first since April 27 -- and fell a triple short of the cycle on Monday.
"To come out and get four hits, its always a good feeling," said Justin Upton.
Another former Diamondback, Chris Johnson, produced a two-run homer and drove in three while accumulating three hits. Brian McCann belted a solo homer and knocked in three runs while Mike Minor (5-2) tossed 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball. He struck out four and gave up eight hits.
Arizona, losers of three straight, continued to struggle offensively despite recording 10 hits. In the D'backs' last six games, they've scored only 12 runs.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer and Martin Prado, who Arizona acquired for Upton, went 2-for-2. Wade Miley (3-2) took the loss after surrendering seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits over five-plus frames.
Justin Upton received a mix of boos and cheers upon his first plate appearance, which ended in his only out of the game on a grounder.
Goldschmidt sent Arizona in front early, launching his 10th homer of the year in the home half of the first, but the D'backs never scored again.
B.J. Upton helped Atlanta from falling behind by two in the fourth, gunning down Prado at the plate off Wil Nieves' fly out into center.
The troubles for Arizona then began in the fifth, when Prado's throwing error to begin the frame allowed Evan Gattis to reach first. Gattis later scored on a sac fly from Dan Uggla and Johnson took Miley deep over the left field wall to put the Braves in front, 3-1.
After his brother B.J. was hit by a pitch to start the sixth, Justin Upton gave the fans of his former club a souvenir when he crushed an offering from Miley well into the center field seats to put Atlanta ahead 5-1.
"I just started missing up," said Miley. "Earlier in the game I was hitting spots, was pitching down in the zone and then just like that, I couldn't get outs anymore."
Freddie Freeman followed with a double and later scored on McCann's single into right, which chased Miley from the contest. Josh Cellmenter took the hill and after getting a force out at second on a grounder from Uggla, he served up an RBI double to Johnson, creating a six-run spread for the Braves.
The Diamondbacks again failed to get on the board when another runner was thrown out at the plate. Prado doubled to left in the sixth and Cody Ross, who had reached with a single, tried hustling all the way around but Andrelton Simmons' relay throw home beat him by several steps.
McCann homered to begin the eighth and added a sacrifice fly in the ninth, with Reed Johnson's RBI single earlier in the ninth accounting for the final margin.
Game Notes
Justin Upton hit his 68th career homer at Chase Field ... B.J. Upton left the game in the seventh after injuring his shoulder when he was hit by a pitch in the sixth ... The Braves have won nine of the last 11 meetings with Arizona ... The D'backs were 0-for-6 with RISP and are just 2-for-38 in their last six games.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.