Mike Minor picked up the injured Tim Hudson with one run in 5.2 innings as the Braves squeaked out another extra-innings win, 4-2.
The Braves got on the board quickly with a run in the first due to three straight hits to start the game. Jordan Schafer doubled, Alex Gonzalez singled and Chipper Jones singled home Schafer. However, with runners on the corners, Brian McCann popped out and Eric Hinske grounded into a double play.
The Pirates tied the game in the third when Jose Tabata reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on a single by Steve Pearce. But the Braves answered in the sixth when Hinske hit a solo homer for a 2-1 lead.
With Eric O'Flaherty on the mound in the seventh, Pearce struck again with a solo homer to tie the game at two. This eventually sent the game to extra innings, where Brooks Conrad hit a two-run home run in the 11th to win, 4-2.
Conrad hit the homer as a pinch hitter in the 11th. Hinske and Chipper had the other RBIs, Hinske's on his fifth homer. Schafer and Gonzalez each went 2-5, with Schafer picking up a double. The Braves struck out 12 times and walked twice, which seems to be a recurring theme these days. Dan Uggla went 0-5 with three strikeouts a day after taking a day off to "clear his head." This is also a recurring theme.
Minor allowed one run on seven hits in 5.2 innings, walking two and striking out five. He had a couple rough spots and worked into deep counts, but he also threw just 90 pitches over almost six full innings and threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of 25 batters. He also induced more ground balls than fly balls at 7/5.
Scott Proctor received the final out in the sixth with two on and two outs. O'Flaherty allowed the tying homer to Pearce in the seventh. Jonny Venters pitched two scoreless innings. George Sherrill pitched a scoreless 10th, and Craig Kimbrel did the same in the 11th.
James McDonald allowed two runs on six hits in six innings, walking one and striking out six. Jeff Karstens allowed the home run to Conrad in the 11th.
Pearce was the entire Pittsburgh offense by going 3-5 with a homer and two RBIs. Tabata, Lyle Overbay and Matt Diaz each had two hits.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Pirates fans check out Bucs Dugout.