Kris Medlen turned in another solid performance as a starter, but won't have a win to show for it. That didn't matter, because his teammates bailed him out, fending off a big rally and breaking the game open late for a 6-1 win over the Astros.
Medlen held the Houston offense in check through five innings, allowing just three singles and no runs while issuing a pair of walks, but Braves hitters couldn't do much early against Astros starter Bud Norris, either. David Ross hit an opposite-field home run in the second inning, but like Medlen, Norris held Atlanta hitters to three hits through five.
The sixth inning, though, is where all the excitement started. Medlen was pulled after giving up consecutive one-out singles to Marwin Gonzalez and Brett Wallace, and Cory Gearrin was given the task of holding them there. Braves villain Justin Maxwell, though, spoiled those plans, doubling in a run to tie the game. Jonny Venters quelled the rally with a strikeout and a groundout, and he would be rewarded for his efforts.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Chipper Jones and Freddie Freeman reached base against Norris, but a Dan Uggla pop-up left little hope that a two-out rally would develop. However, David Ross reached on an infield single to load the bases. Paul Janish stood at the plate when Norris flung a wild pitch way high to allow Chipper to score the go-ahead run; moments later, Janish smacked a two-run single for a 4-1 lead.
Atlanta added single runs in each of the next two innings against Houston's bullpen to put the game out of reach: Chipper doubled home Jason Heyward with two outs in the seventh and Michael Bourn contributed an RBI single with two outs in the eighth, scoring David Ross.
Jonny Venters earned the win in relief, his fourth of the season.