It’s Hampton to the rescue for Braves

ATLANTA -- Cast in the unlikely role of last man standing among the Braves’ four former 20-game winners, Mike Hampton prospered.

Hampton gave up two runs in six innings and Atlanta beat the San Francisco Giants, 11-5, Saturday night to end a five-game losing streak, including four in a row at Turner Field.

Hampton gave the Atlanta rotation a lift on the day 300-game winner Tom Glavine confirmed he’ll sit out the rest of the season because of an elbow injury. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson already have had season-ending surgeries.

“It’s just been a weird year; I don’t think anyone would expect it,” Hampton said. “I wouldn’t wish it on any staff to go through.”

Hampton (2-1) sat out the 2006 and 2007 seasons because of elbow surgeries and had his 2008 debut pushed back almost four months because of other injuries.