Braves vs. Brewers Recap: Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy Display Brilliance At Turner Field

Braves Defeat Brewers As Chipper Jones Homers, Brandon Beachy Excels

More: Braves vs. Brewers series recap

The Atlanta Braves completed their first series sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon, knocking off the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 7-4. The win marks the fifth straight victory for the club, tying them for the longest streak in baseball thus far in 2012. Despite the close final score, the Braves were in complete control of the game, allowing three to cross the plate in garbage time during the ninth.

Brandon Beachy dominated a talented Brewers lineup, going seven innings and allowing just one unearned run. The righty allowed three hits and two walks, striking out six batters on the afternoon. Kris Medlen worked a scoreless inning of relief in the eighth. Chad Durbin, who really has no reason to be on the team following his performances this past week, allowed three more runs in his inning of work.

With the score tied 1-1 in the third, Chipper Jones, who missed the last two games with a sore knee, belted a first-pitch slider into the left field seats for a three-run homer. The blast was No. 456 of his career. Jason Heyward followed Jones in the fourth with a solo home run, his second of the young season. Eric Hinske provided two huge insurance runs in the eighth inning with a two-run pinch-hit single.

Corey Hart doubled home a run off Durbin in the ninth to make the score 7-2. Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run homer with two outs to cut the deficit to 7-4, but George Kottraras ended the game with a strikeout.

The Braves are now 5-4 on the season and will host the Mets for a three-game series starting Monday night. Tommy Hanson will take the mound and will be opposed by Dillon Gee.

For more on the club, check out Talking Chop.

Brewers Vs. Braves: Chipper Jones Returns To Lineup For Series Finale

Chipper Jones makes his return to the starting lineup and will be playing in his first game at Turner Field this season. Jones was inserted into his familiar third spot in the order by Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.. Atlanta has struggled at times against left handed pitchers and the Braves lineup today features four lefty bats against Milwaukee left-hander Chris Narveson.

Here is a look at the starting lineups for today's series finale:

Atlanta Braves

1. Michael Bourn (L) CF
2. Martin Prado (R) LF
3. Chipper Jones (S) 3B
4. Brian McCann (L) C
5. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
6. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
7. Jason Heyward (L) RF
8. Tyler Pastornicky (R) SS
9. Brandon Beachy (R) P

Milwaukee Brewers

1. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
2. Nyjer Morgan (L) CF
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
5. Corey Hart (R) RF
6. Mat Gamel (L) 1B
7. Jonathan Lucroy (R) C
8. Cesar Izturis (S) SS
9. Chris Narveson (L) P

For more on this series Braves fans should check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans should visit Brew Crew Ball. For more news and notes from around Major League Baseball head over to Baseball Nation.

Brewers Vs. Braves Time, TV, Radio Info And More

Brandon Beachy will take the mound on Sunday for the Braves who are looking for their fifth straight win and a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. Atlanta won 10-8 on Friday and got a sparkling performance from Mike Minor in a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Chipper Jones is hopeful to return to the lineup for Sunday's game after sitting out the first two games of the series with swelling in his surgically repaired knee. Jones played two back-to-back games in Houston before the knee swelled and forced him from the lineup.

Brandon Beachy pitched five innings and allowed one earned run in a loss against the Houston Astros. He will be opposed by Milwaukee starter Chris Narveson who defeated the Chicago Cubs in his first start this season.

Game date/time: Sunday, April 15, 1:35 p.m. ET

Location: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia

Pitching Matchup: Chris Narveson (1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Brandon Beachy (0-1, 1.80 ERA)

TV: SportSouth

Radio: 680 The Fan

Online Streaming: MLB.tv

For more on this series Braves fans should check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans should visit Brew Crew Ball. For more news and notes from around Major League Baseball head over to Baseball Nation.

Braves vs. Brewers Final Score: Mike Minor Dominates As Atlanta Wins 2-1

Following a slugfest on Friday night, the Atlanta Braves needed Mike Minor to give them a strong effort on the mound. The young lefty worked the best game of his career against a tough Brewers lineup, leading Atlanta to a 2-1 victory at Turner Field. The Braves have now won four straight after losing four games to start the season.

Minor worked 7.1 stellar innings, throwing 99 pitches. He allowed just two hits and one walk, striking out four. He retired 17 straight batters at one point spanning from the second to eighth innings. He was lifted after surrendering a double with one out in the eighth, giving way to Jonny Venters.

Atlanta struck for their two runs in the second inning. With Brian McCann on first, Jason Heyward dribbled a ball into left field. McCann slid into third, and in the process of the third baseman receiving a throw, it got away and was accidentally kicked by the umpire. McCann trotted home easily and Heyward advanced all the way to third. Juan Francisco, who was filling in for an ailing Chipper Jones at third, belted a first pitch fastball to the wall for an RBI-double.

Venters entered in the eighth and allowed one run to score before striking out Rickie Weeks with two more runners on the corners. Craig Kimbrel loaded the bases in the ninth, but he struck out George Kottaras and Mat Gamel back-to-back to end the game as a crowd of 37,408 roared.

The Braves will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon. Brandon Beachy will take the mound for a 1:35 ET start.

For more on the club, head on over to Talking Chop.

Chipper Jones Injury: Atlanta Third Baseman Hoping For Sunday Return

After sitting out the first two games of the Braves' series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Chipper Jones is hopeful that he will be able to return to the lineup for the series finale on Sunday. Jones will be available to pinch hit on Saturday night but has been dealing with swelling in his left knee.

"Back in 15 days playing, there's going to be some residual stuff I've got to deal with from time-to-time," said Jones, who thinks an early return was well worth those two games in Houston. "We got two wins, and I was able to contribute. And (including) those two games we scored 22 runs in (the past) three games, so I'd say it was good. The guys have got some confidence now, and I'm on the brink of being able to play full-time."

Chipper's return to the lineup provided a spark for the Braves who have won three straight after losing the first four games of the season. Jones played in both of the Braves wins in Houston and then experienced swelling in his knee and had that drained on Friday. Typically arthroscopic surgery can take 4-6 weeks but Chipper returned in just 15 days.

For more on this series Braves fans should check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans should visit Brew Crew Ball. For more news and notes from around Major League Baseball head over to Baseball Nation.

NL East Standings: Braves Tied With Phillies Behind Nationals And Mets

The NL East looks a bit upside-down after just over a week of the 2012 MLB season with the Washington Nationals at the very top and the New York Mets close behind. The Braves now find themselves tied with the Philadelphia Phillies at 3-4, and Atlanta hopes to continue their three-game winning streak tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Despite early season injuries to Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson, the Braves have shown signs of life recently and Mike Minor can help the Braves continue that by pitching well tonight against a loaded Brewers line-up. Here's the the current state of the NL East.

For more on this series Braves fans should check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans should visit Brew Crew Ball. For more news and notes from around Major League Baseball head over to Baseball Nation.

Braves Vs. Brewers: Starting Lineups Show Freddie Freeman Hitting Third Once Again

The Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers have turned in their lineup cards and are ready for game two of their three game home opener series in Atlanta. The Braves have won three in a row after dropping four straight, can Mike Minor rebound from his poor start last week and get Atlanta to .500? First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Eastern.

Atlanta Braves starting lineups:

Atlanta Braves Vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Pitching Probables, Game Time And More

The Atlanta Braves (3-4) continue their first homestand of 2012 on Saturday, as they play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (4-4) in the second game of a three-game set.

Atlanta won their home opener on Friday night, behind an offensive outburst from Brian McCann, who recorded four hits, including a home run, in the 10-8 win.

Mike Minor (0-1, 10.80 ERA) will look to quiet Milwaukee's bats down on Saturday -- and rebound from his first start of the year. Minor was ineffective against the New York Mets last week, giving up six runs in five innings on six hits and four walks. Minor did strike out six, but was hung with the loss.

Atlanta's offense will look to continue their success from Friday night against Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum (1-0, 4.50 ERA). Marcum, who had been dealing with some shoulder issues during the spring, allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of work against the Cubs last week en route to a win. He struck out six and walked none.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Televised coverage can be found on Fox Sports South as well as Fox Sports Wisconsin.

For more on the Atlanta Braves, be sure to head over to Talking Chop and join the discussion.

Braves Defeat Brewers Behind Heroics Of Brian McCann, Dan Uggla

The Braves and Brewers took turns putting up crooked numbers on Friday night in front of 50,635 fans at Turner Field. Despite a shaky pitching performance from Jair Jurrjens and the bullpen, the Braves battled back late to claim a 10-8 victory over Randy Wolf and the Brew Crew.

The Braves took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of a two-out double from Brian McCann, scoring Michael Bourn from first. Milwaukee answered in the second with back-to-back homers from Alex Gonzalez and George Kottaras, making it 3-1. Dan Uggla doubled in the third to cut the deficit to 3-2, which set the club up nicely for a monster fifth inning.

Bourn started off the inning with a triple, and after a lazy fly ball from Martin Prado, Freddie Freeman drew a walk. McCann belted a 2-0 slider down the right field line, giving the Braves a 5-3 lead. Uggla followed with a single and was then driven in by a two-run homer from Matt Diaz, his first in nearly 18 months. Bourn, batting for the second time in the inning, drove in Jason Heyward to extend the lead to 8-3.

Heyward may not grab any headlines, but the young outfielder continues to look excellent at the plate. He went 2-for-4 with two hard-hit singles, and also drew a walk. His slash line after seven games: .348/.423/.609.

Jurrjens pitched pretty well in the first five innings, but the top of the order got to him in the sixth. He departed after allowing a two-run double to Ryan Braun, cutting the lead to 8-5. Kris Medlen worked two very strong innings of scoreless relief, but Eric O'Flaherty struggled mightily, allowing three runs to score.

With the game tied 8-8 in the eighth, Dan Uggla came up with a huge two-run single back up the middle off Francisco Rodriguez. Craig Kimbrel came in and nailed down the save in the ninth, giving Atlanta a three-game winning streak.

The two clubs will meet again on Saturday night, with first pitch set for 7:10 ET.

For more on the Braves, head over to Talking Chop.

Follow @scottcoleman55

Chipper Jones Scratched From Braves Lineup Due To Ailing Knee

Tell me if you've heard this one before: Chipper Jones was scratched from tonight's lineup due to fluid buildup and soreness in his surgically repaired knee. He was originally pencilled in to bat third at the Turner Field home opener for the Braves, but news came just moments ago that No. 10 is a no-go.

#Braves Chipper Jones has been scratched from lineup due to swelling/fluid in his left knee.

— David O'Brien (@ajcbraves) April 13, 2012

Jones had missed the last three weeks recovering from surgery after tearing a meniscus in his knee, although he returned on Tuesday and played very well in Houston. No word as of yet on who will replace him, but the likely bet is to move Martin Prado to third base and have Matt Diaz take over left field.

First pitch for Friday's game is set for 7:35 ET.

For more on the Braves, head over to Talking Chop.

Follow @scottcoleman55

Braves vs. Brewers: Atlanta Unveils Lineup, Chipper Jones Batting Third

The Atlanta Braves are expecting a full house at Turner Field this evening as the club plays their first home game of the season. The Milwaukee Brewers, a playoff team from a season ago, always seem to play the Braves tough. First pitch on Friday is not until 7:30 or so, but Atlanta already released their lineup. Here it is.

Michael Bourn CF
Martin Prado LF
Chipper Jones 3B
Brian McCann C
Dan Uggla 2B
Freddie Freeman 1B
Jason Heyward RF
Tyler Pastornicky SS
Jair Jurrjens P

Interesting to see that manager Fredi Gonzalez has Chipper batting third after having him sixth for two games in Houston. I prefer him batting fifth or sixth to help balance out the lineup, so we'll see if this trend continues or if Gonzalez will have him No. 3 from now on.

The Brew Crew also set their lineup:

Rickie Weeks 2B
Nyjer Morgan CF
Ryan Braun LF
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Corey Hart RF
Mat Gamel 1B
Alex Gonzalez SS
George Kottaras C
Randy Wolf P

Yay for baseball being back in Atlanta!

For more on the Braves, head over to Talking Chop.

Braves Vs. Brewers: Game Time, TV Info And More

The Braves will host their home-opener against the Brewers on Friday.

Braves vs. Brewers Preview: Baseball Returns To Turner Field

Atlanta faces two left-handed pitchers this weekend, which could mean trouble for the lineup.