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Bolsinger falters after early lead

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger works in the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta, Saturday, July 5, 2014. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Bolsinger could take some comfort even though he didn't win his previous three starts.

Despite going 0-2 during that stretch, Bolsinger had a 2.70 ERA and was feeling confident.

His mindset changed quickly, however, as he lost command of his curveball against the Atlanta Braves.

"Today was probably the worst," Bolsinger said. "Everything I was throwing was kind of up. I really didn't have a feel for my curveball and I couldn't throw inside with a fastball to righties. That was a big difference maker."

Bolsinger dropped his fourth straight decision and Arizona's offense nearly dried up after the first inning in the Diamondbacks' 10-4 loss Saturday to Atlanta.

Andrelton Simmons drove in four runs and Aaron Harang won his third straight start as the Braves took their season-high ninth straight victory.

Arizona, which has dropped eight of 12, lost its 53rd game, most in the majors.

The Diamondbacks, plagued by injuries all season, are reeling.

"When we were at our place (last month), we played these guys really good," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We're capable of doing that."

Bolsinger (1-5) gave up 10 hits, seven runs — five earned — and walked two in 3 2-3 innings. He struck out five.

Justin Upton added a two-run homer and a third RBI for the Braves, who have won 11 of 12 and are 11 games over .500 for the first time this season.

Harang (8-6) has a 3.00 ERA over his last three starts after allowing nine hits and four runs with one walk and one strikeout in eight innings.

Simmons had an RBI single in the first and a two-run double in the fourth. He appeared to turn his left ankle while running the bases in the sixth but stayed in the game. He drove in his fourth run with a groundout in the seventh to make it 10-4.

The Diamondbacks went ahead 3-0 in the first on Goldschmidt's RBI double, Montero's RBI single and Gerardo Parra's RBI single. Parra got an at-bat after manager Kirk Gibson successfully challenged that Aaron Hill, the previous batter, was safe at first on Atlanta's double-play attempt.

"We had a rough first inning there, but nobody panicked," Harang said. "Our confidence is real high right now, and everybody's feeling good about how we're swinging the bats and playing defense."

After Simmons cut the lead to 3-1 in the first, the Braves made it 3-2 in the third on Jason Heyward's RBI single.

Atlanta took a 7-3 lead with a five-run fourth off Bolsinger.

Tommy La Stella scored from third when B.J. Upton reached on Didi Gregorius' throwing error. Simmons' two-run double was followed by Freddie Freeman's RBI triple and Upton's sacrifice fly.

Ender Inciarte homered in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-4, but Upton hit 17th homer, a two-run, shot off Matt Stites to make it 9-4 in the sixth.

"It hasn't been a very good trip for us, but we've got to win tomorrow," Gibson said. "We were in this situation in Pittsburgh. We're in the same spot now going into this game. We need a big game from Wade (Miley) tomorrow."