updated 4:38 a.m. ET July 28, 2007

PHOENIX - A game that went to extra innings in unconventional fashion ended with an old-fashioned home run.

Tony Clark homered to lead off the bottom of the eleventh inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 8-7 Friday night after squandering a seven-run lead.

“It’s good to come away with a win on nights like this,” Clark said.

Clark’s homer followed a game-winning shot by Eric Byrnes the previous night, and is the Diamondbacks’ fifth game-winner this season. Arizona has won seven straight to move within one game of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Edgar Gonzalez (4-2), the Diamondbacks’ fifth pitcher, worked the 10th and 11th for the win.

“It came down to Edgar coming in, putting up the zeros and giving us the opportunity to get that one run,” the Diamondbacks’ Chris Young said.

Wilfredo Ledezma (0-2) entered the game in the 11th and gave up the homer to Clark, the only batter he faced. The Braves have lost three straight and remain four games behind the New York Mets in the NL East.

Clark’s homer was his first this season batting right-handed.

“It’s not like he hasn’t done it in the past,” said Arizona manager Bob Melvin. “He just hasn’t done it recently, and the reason is he doesn’t get consistent at-bats right-handed. He might get some more now.”

Arizona was one out away from securing the victory in the ninth, but a mental error by Jose Valverde helped send the game to extra innings.

Valverde got two quick outs before walking pinch hitter Yunel Escobar. Valverde circled to the right of the mound with his back to first base bag as Escobar trotted down the line. Escobar paused at first long enough to touch the bag, and when Valverde crouched at the side of the mound, Escobar broke for uncovered second base.

“I saw him take off and I was yelling, the crowd was yelling, but nobody could hear anything,” said Clark, who was near first base when Escobar bolted for second. “It was a gutsy call. If he gets caught it’s game over.”

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said Escobar made the decision to go on his own.

Slide show   The Week in Sports Pictures Fireworks, crash landings, Wimbledon theatrics and more. more photos

“He’s always alert and that’s the way you’re supposed to play the game,” Cox said. “You’d be shocked how many times players could do that and don’t.”

The next hitter, Willie Harris, fisted a bloop single into shallow center, tying the game at 7.

“It’s good that we came back but it would have been better to win the ballgame,” said Julio Franco, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Arizona scored the first seven runs in the first four innings — including a six-run second — only to watch the Braves rally.

Diamondbacks starter Yusmeiro Petit didn’t allow a hit until Jeff Francoeur’s single to left in the fifth, but faced only nine more hitters.

Kelly Johnson tripled, scoring Francouer, and Franco had an RBI single to make it 7-2.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Home Game: Cards’ Pujols leads All-Star voting Opinion: Surprising Rangers receive All-Star snub All-Star starters, pitchers, reserves Dodgers win in 13th as Ramirez rests legs Red Sox avoid sweep against Mariners Jeter, Matsui power Yankees over Jays Blanton outpitches Santana, Phils beat Mets Padres send Hairston to A's for minor leaguers Rumors: Strasburg heading to Japan to pitch? Live odds Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: