The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/urkIDS ) reported that Porter, his wife and son and a friend were on their way to the Chick-fil-A-Bowl at the time, about 4:40 p.m. Saturday.

A witness, Steve Bouye, told the newspaper on Sunday he had just gotten off work from his job as a federal prison employee when he saw the trooper’s cruiser zoom past him on Saturday afternoon.

“As soon as I saw him go past I said ‘Man I hope he don’t hit nobody,’” Bouye said. “Seconds later I heard a big blast like a train crash.”

Bouye said he and Jeff Porter tried unsuccessfully to open Kathy Porter’s door as she faded in and out of consciousness after the collision.

State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said in an email statement late Saturday that the trooper was traveling with emergency lights and siren activated Saturday afternoon when the cruiser struck a Ford Expedition driven by Jeff Porter at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Capitol Avenue.

Wright said the trooper, who had been traveling westbound on Memorial Drive, was going to assist another trooper who was attempting to stop a motorcyclist on nearby Interstate 20, west of the Downtown Connector. Wright said that motorcyclist had failed to yield.

State police provided few new details Sunday, but Wright said in an email statement that the trooper “was not involved in a chase but going to assist another trooper.”

According to Wright, the Ford Expedition was traveling northbound on Capitol Avenue when it was struck on the passenger side. The statement said the SUV then struck a utility pole.

Kathy Porter, 54, of Loganville, a passenger in the SUV, died in the crash, Wright’s statement to The Associated Press said. It added that Jeff Porter and two other passengers in the SUV— the couple’s 19-year-old son David and a friend, Courtney Ann Williams, 18, of Grayson — were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries. All three were released later Saturday.

The Georgia State Patrol on Sunday night identified the officer as Trooper First Class Donald Crozier, a 10-year veteran.

He was examined at the same hospital and released. He has been placed on administrative leave as state police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Fulton County District Attorney’s office investigate. Wright said the State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was dispatched to the crash scene to help determine the cause.

“Any personnel actions related to the crash will be based on the findings of the various investigations,” Wright wrote.

According to an MLB.com article posted on the Braves web site, former manager Bobby Cox, manager Fredi Gonzales and catcher Brian McCann went to the hospital to be with Jeff Porter after the accident. The article said Porter joined Atlanta’s training staff in 1985 and has been head trainer since 2003.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/urkIDS ) reported that Porter, his wife and son and a friend were on their way to the Chick-fil-A-Bowl at the time, about 4:40 p.m. Saturday.

A witness, Steve Bouye, told the newspaper on Sunday he had just gotten off work from his job as a federal prison employee when he saw the trooper’s cruiser zoom past him on Saturday afternoon.

“As soon as I saw him go past I said ‘Man I hope he don’t hit nobody,’” Bouye said. “Seconds later I heard a big blast like a train crash.”

Bouye said he and Jeff Porter tried unsuccessfully to open Kathy Porter’s door as she faded in and out of consciousness after the collision.

State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said in an email statement late Saturday that the trooper was traveling with emergency lights and siren activated Saturday afternoon when the cruiser struck a Ford Expedition driven by Jeff Porter at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Capitol Avenue.

Wright said the trooper, who had been traveling westbound on Memorial Drive, was going to assist another trooper who was attempting to stop a motorcyclist on nearby Interstate 20, west of the Downtown Connector. Wright said that motorcyclist had failed to yield.

State police provided few new details Sunday, but Wright said in an email statement that the trooper “was not involved in a chase but going to assist another trooper.”

According to Wright, the Ford Expedition was traveling northbound on Capitol Avenue when it was struck on the passenger side. The statement said the SUV then struck a utility pole.

Kathy Porter, 54, of Loganville, a passenger in the SUV, died in the crash, Wright’s statement to The Associated Press said. It added that Jeff Porter and two other passengers in the SUV— the couple’s 19-year-old son David and a friend, Courtney Ann Williams, 18, of Grayson — were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries. All three were released later Saturday.

The Georgia State Patrol on Sunday night identified the officer as Trooper First Class Donald Crozier, a 10-year veteran.

He was examined at the same hospital and released. He has been placed on administrative leave as state police, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Fulton County District Attorney’s office investigate. Wright said the State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team was dispatched to the crash scene to help determine the cause.

“Any personnel actions related to the crash will be based on the findings of the various investigations,” Wright wrote.

According to an MLB.com article posted on the Braves web site, former manager Bobby Cox, manager Fredi Gonzales and catcher Brian McCann went to the hospital to be with Jeff Porter after the accident. The article said Porter joined Atlanta’s training staff in 1985 and has been head trainer since 2003.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Alex Gonzalez hit the go-ahead RBI single and Brian McCann added a two-run homer in the 11th inning to lift the Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Saturday. It was the second straight extra-inning game for the teams, following Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory in 10 innings Friday.

“We have to keep close to these guys,” said Gonzalez after the Braves pulled within 2½ games of the Phillies. “Both teams have great teams. We’re still fighting and we want to keep it close.”

The Braves (54-37) have won 10 of 12. Meanwhile, Philadelphia (56-34) remains one win shy of tying the club record for victories in the first half.

“It’s basically the same game as (Friday) night,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Our bullpen held today and we win. The teams are so evenly matched. Runs are hard to come by. Starting pitching has been outstanding both games. You’re going to get games like this.”

Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee accounted for the Phillies’ only run with his first career homer off Tommy Hanson, but both pitchers were gone by the time this one ended.

Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske led off the 11th for the Braves with a walk off Michael Stutes (3-1), and pinch-runner Wilkin Ramirez went to second on Jordan Schafer’s sacrifice. First baseman Ryan Howard could have gotten the second out, but he failed to make a tough over-the-shoulder catch of Gonzalez’s foul pop fly. It was ruled “no play,” and two pitches later, Gonzalez lined a single to center, scoring Ramirez and putting the Braves ahead 2-1.

“He usually catches that ball most of the time,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Added Howard: “It kind of slipped through my glove. I thought I had it and I should’ve made the play, but you can’t do anything about it now.”

McCann followed by launching Stutes’ 1-2 pitch into the seats in right.

“I was getting my pitches up and I paid for it,” Stutes said.

George Sherrill (2-1) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th to earn the victory, allowing two hits and striking out one. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 11th for his 28th save in 33 chances.

“It’s big. We want to come in here and win the series and that’s what we try to do with everybody,” Hanson said. “Playing in a tough place against a really good team, it’s good to even the series and have a chance to win it tomorrow. … It’s a huge series and I think everybody knows that.”

Neither Lee nor Hanson earned a decision, although both were worthy of a win. Lee pitched eight innings, allowing three hits and striking out nine while walking two. Lee had won each of his last six home starts and now stands at 7-1 at home while lowering his ERA to 1.61 at Citizens Bank Park this season.

After having his 34-inning scoreless streak snapped in his last start at Toronto, when he gave up seven runs — six earned — in 7 1-3 innings, Lee was back to being the pitcher who went 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in June. His only blemish Saturday was Dan Uggla’s homer on the first pitch of the fifth inning. Other than that, Lee allowed just one baserunner to reach second.

“We know it’s a good series,” Lee said. “They’ve been playing well and are right behind us. They have an unbelievable bullpen and starting pitching and it showed the last couple of days.”

Hanson was equally dominant, scattering four hits while striking out six and walking one. Aside from Lee’s third-inning solo homer, the only Phillies batter to advance to second was John Mayberry Jr., who doubled in the sixth. The right-hander was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning after tossing seven innings, and the no-decision snapped Hanson’s career-high streak of five straight wins.

“Going up against a pitcher like (Lee), you always want to go up against the best and see what you’ve got against the best,” Hanson said. “Besides the ball he hit out, I felt like I did a pretty good job.”

Lee homered on a 3-2 count, on the 10th pitch he saw, into the first row in right-center to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the third. He pumped his fist slightly while rounding first once the ball cleared the fence. Lee, who entered 8 for 39 (.205), was given a curtain call by the crowd of 45,637, the Phillies’ 171st straight sellout.

“He put a good swing on it,” Hanson said. “Nothing you can do, just tip the hat and he got me.”

Added Lee: “Anytime you do anything to help the team in a positive way, you definitely feel good. It was a first for me in my career and hopefully I get an opportunity to do something like that again.”

After Lee had retired 11 straight, Uggla tied it at 1 by belting Lee’s first pitch of the fifth inning to deep left field.

Philadelphia reliever Antonio Bastardo pitched a scoreless ninth, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings. The left-hander has allowed just one hit in 45 at-bats during the stretch.

Bastardo struck out Uggla to end the ninth, and the Braves’ second baseman dropped his bat, argued with plate umpire Mike Everitt before tossing his helmet toward the dugout in frustration. Fredi Gonzalez came out to argue, as well, although neither was tossed.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the 10th off Sherrill, but the left-hander got Mayberry to ground out to first to end the frame.

“Our pitching is right there,” McCann said. “You’ve seen the last two nights. We’re going to hang in there until the end. Our guys are coming in and putting zeros out of the bullpen on a nightly basis. Our pitchers are matching them pitch for pitch. It’s been fun to be a part of.”

Notes: Braves All-Star 3B Chipper Jones was placed on the disabled list before Saturday’s game with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Jones had a procedure Saturday in Atlanta and likely will miss 2-3 weeks. … Utley went 0 for 4 and had his 11-game hitting streak snapped. … Phillies All-Star 3B Placido Polanco missed his fifth straight game with a back injury. … The last Philadelphia pitcher to homer was Chan Ho Park, on April 25, 2009, against Florida.

HOUSTON — Brian McCann hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves to their fifth straight win, 6-3 over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

McCann’s shot to right field off Brandon Lyon scored Jordan Schafer and Dan Uggla to give him 501 career RBI and put Atlanta on top 5-2. Schafer singled before Uggla walked.

The Astros have lost seven of eight.

Lyon (3-3) struggled to throw strikes in his second appearance since coming off the disabled list this week. He also gave up a homer in Friday’s loss to the Braves.

Chipper Jones hit his second double after McCann’s homer to chase Lyon and scored on a two-out single by Eric Hinske to make it 6-2.

Hinske homered for the second straight game to tie it in the fourth inning and Jones drove in a run in the third.

Houston’s Hunter Pence had two hits including an RBI double in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 22 games, which is the longest current streak in the majors.

Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel allowed two hits and a run in the 10th inning.

Houston rookie Jordan Lyles, who at 20 years old is the youngest player in the majors, allowed eight hits and two runs in 61⁄3 innings in his third start overall and first at Minute Maid Park.

Braves starter Mike Minor yielded four hits and two runs with four strikeouts in six innings.

Houston had runners on first and second in the ninth, but Scott Linebrink (2-1) retired Jason Bourgeois to send it to the 10th.

Matt Young singled with one out in the ninth inning but was thrown out trying to steal second base. He was initially called safe but slid away from the base and was tagged out by Clint Barmes before pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad struck out.

The Astros had a shot to take the lead in the seventh inning after singles by Carlos Corporan and Bourgeois, but Michael Bourn grounded out to end the inning.

Diory Hernandez reached on an error by Jeff Keppinger when he couldn’t handle his grounder with none out in the seventh inning. Uggla singled after a sacrifice by Schafer to send Hernandez to third base and chase Lyles.

McCann grounded into a double play off Sergio Escalona to allow Houston to once again escape trouble.

Updated Jun 4, 2011 7:48 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP)

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer is day to day with a small sinus fracture after fouling a bunt off his face.

Schafer was not in the starting lineup Saturday night against the New York Mets, but the Braves said there is no serious damage to his nose or eyes and he will not need to go on the disabled list.

”I feel very fortunate,” Schafer said. ”I thought something was seriously wrong last night.”

He could be available as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement, and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he might put Schafer back in the lineup Sunday night.

”I’d like to get him in there as soon as you can, you know?” Gonzalez said. ”If he feels good, maybe tomorrow.”

Schafer was taken to a hospital Friday night after a frightening scene at Citi Field, but tests brought good news for the Braves, who already are missing injured outfielders Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth.

Joe Mather started in center field Saturday.

Schafer was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 24 and was batting .229 with one RBI in 35 at-bats. The Braves say he has a small, non-displaced sinus fracture on the right side of his face, and he will take over-the-counter medicine and antibiotics to prevent a sinus infection.

Schafer was at Citi Field on Saturday and had a black-and-blue mark under his right eye. He said ice has helped the swelling go down.

”I don’t know how, but everything is OK,” Schafer said. ”Thank God.”

The leadoff batter was hurt in the fifth inning Friday night when he squared around to bunt. Jonathon Niese’s pitch tailed in toward Schafer, and the ball deflected off his bat and hit him squarely in the face.

Schafer was down for about a minute as a Braves trainer attended to him. The center fielder was assisted toward the dugout with a towel pressed tight to his face. He looked down and saw blood all over his batting gloves, and couldn’t tell if his teeth were loose.

But by Saturday, he felt much better.

”I’m good,” Schafer said, adding that he’d like to play Sunday. ”I don’t have a headache anymore.”

Eric Hinske took over the at-bat and struck out, then hit a tiebreaking homer off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning of Atlanta’s 6-3 victory.

Schafer said he slept fine Friday night and he’s not in any pain. But he hasn’t watched a replay.

”I don’t know if I want to see it,” he said.

In other news, Gonzalez watched right-hander Brandon Beachy throw 60 pitches in a side session. It was Beachy’s third bullpen session since he was injured, but he said it was the first time he really cranked it up. He said he felt perfectly normal and hopes to throw batting practice in a few days.

”Felt smooth,” Beachy said. ”It felt good to be back up there again.”

Beachy has been on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained muscle on his left side. He will need to make at least two or three minor league rehab appearances before returning to the rotation, so he might be back by the end of the month, Gonzalez said.

NEW YORK — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer is day to day with a small sinus fracture after fouling a bunt off his face.

Schafer was not in the starting lineup Saturday night against the New York Mets, but the Braves said there is no serious damage to his nose or eyes and he will not need to go on the disabled list.

“I feel very fortunate,” Schafer said. “I thought something was seriously wrong last night.”

He could be available as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement, and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he might put Schafer back in the lineup Sunday night.

“I’d like to get him in there as soon as you can, you know?” Gonzalez said. “If he feels good, maybe tomorrow.”

Schafer was taken to a hospital Friday night after a frightening scene at Citi Field, but tests brought good news for the Braves, who already are missing injured outfielders Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth.

Joe Mather started in center field Saturday.

Schafer was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 24 and was batting .229 with one RBI in 35 at-bats. The Braves say he has a small, non-displaced sinus fracture on the right side of his face, and he will take over-the-counter medicine and antibiotics to prevent a sinus infection.

Schafer was at Citi Field on Saturday and had a black-and-blue mark under his right eye. He said ice has helped the swelling go down.

“I don’t know how, but everything is OK,” Schafer said. “Thank God.”

The leadoff batter was hurt in the fifth inning Friday night when he squared around to bunt. Jonathon Niese’s pitch tailed in toward Schafer, and the ball deflected off his bat and hit him squarely in the face.

Schafer was down for about a minute as a Braves trainer attended to him. The center fielder was assisted toward the dugout with a towel pressed tight to his face. He looked down and saw blood all over his batting gloves, and couldn’t tell if his teeth were loose.

But by Saturday, he felt much better.

“I’m good,” Schafer said, adding that he’d like to play Sunday. “I don’t have a headache anymore.”

Eric Hinske took over the at-bat and struck out, then hit a tiebreaking homer off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning of Atlanta’s 6-3 victory.

Schafer said he slept fine Friday night and he’s not in any pain. But he hasn’t watched a replay.

“I don’t know if I want to see it,” he said.

In other news, Gonzalez watched right-hander Brandon Beachy throw 60 pitches in a side session. It was Beachy’s third bullpen session since he was injured, but he said it was the first time he really cranked it up. He said he felt perfectly normal and hopes to throw batting practice in a few days.

“Felt smooth,” Beachy said. “It felt good to be back up there again.”

Beachy has been on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained muscle on his left side. He will need to make at least two or three minor league rehab appearances before returning to the rotation, so he might be back by the end of the month, Gonzalez said.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press