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Braves lose lead, split series with Padres
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Home plate umpire Jordan Baker separates Atlanta Braves pitcher Julio Teheran, left, and San Diego Padres' Matt Kemp after Teheran hit Kemp with a pitch during the first inning of Thursday's game in Atlanta. - photo by Associated Press

ATLANTA — Padres manager Bud Black said he was pacing the clubhouse "like a caged lion" after getting ejected in the seventh inning of a steamy game that lasted nearly four hours and started 56 minutes late because of rain.

"From the edge of the dugout to the video room to my office to the coaches' room to the kitchen to the training room. You name it," Black said. "I know every little spot in the clubhouse."

Yangervis Solarte hit a two-run single in the 11th inning, and San Diego beat theAtlanta Braves 6-4 Thursday following a benches-clearing incident and Black's ejection.

Players left dugouts in the first after Julio Teheran hit Matt Kemp with a 90 mph fastball. No punches were thrown and no one was ejected.

Black was tossed for arguing with umpires Jordan Baker and Jerry Meals.

Craig Kimbrel, facing his former team for the second time in the series, earned his 15th save in 16 chances with a perfect 11th that included Andrelton Simmons' groundout and strikeouts by Christian Bethancourt and pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes.

San Diego improved to 4-2 in extra-inning games.

"That just shows how good of a team we have," Kemp said. "We have to win those games. That was a good comeback."

Atlanta's struggling bullpen, which began the day with a major league-worst 4.75 ERA, combined with Bethancourt to blow a 4-1 lead during San Diego's three-run eighth.

After a walk loaded the bases with no outs and chased Teheran, Bethancourt's passed ball allowed Solarte, who entered as a pinch-hitter, to score and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Luis Avilan walked Yonder Alonso, forcing in a run. David Aardsman struck out two batters, but Wil Myers scored the tying run when Bethancourt was called for catcher's interference against Cory Spangenberg.

Brandon Cunniff (2-2) walked Derek Norris opening the 11th and allowed Spangenberg's infield single. One out later, Alexi Amarista loaded the bases with a single, and followed with the go-ahead hit.

Dale Thayer (2-0) gave up a hit and walk in 10th.

Baker threw Black out of the game after the Braves went up 3-1 on Jace Peterson's infield RBI single.

Black approached Baker, the home plate umpire, to argue the ball hit Peterson's bat twice before rolling down the first-base line and allowing Simmons to score from third.

Black asked crew chief Jerry Meals to have the umpires convene, but Meals refused. Visibly angry, Black was soon ejected by Baker.

"When there's a foul ball or a ball that looks like it's foul — in that case a double hit — the umpires' mechanics are to say it immediately," Black said. "When no one did, the home plate umpire said it wasn't a foul ball. And from my vantage point, I found that hard to believe. And that's all I'm going to say about that."

Cameron Maybin followed with a sacrifice fly that gave the Braves a 4-1 lead and chased starter Andrew Cashner.

Freddie Freeman drove in Atlanta's first two runs. His RBI double in the first tied the score at 1-1 and his 11th homer in the sixth made it 2-1.

Cashner gave up four runs, seven hits and four walks in 6 2-3 innings.

Teheran allowed four runs — three earned — four hits and three walks in seven-plus innings.

Kemp went 2 for 14 with an RBI in the series. He declined to comment directly about the incident with Teheran.

"That was a good game, wasn't it?" Kemp said.

Teheran insisted he wasn't throwing at Kemp.

"You don't want nobody to get hit like he was, especially with two strikes," Teheran said. "I was trying to throw the same pitch that I threw before and he was swinging. He got upset, but it's part of the game."