SB Nation Atlanta - Braves Lose Series To Pirates, NL East Lead To Phillieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2010-09-08T23:46:12-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14368892010-09-08T23:46:12-04:002010-09-08T23:46:12-04:00Braves Beat Pirates, 9-3
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<p>Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – Martin Prado, Derrek Lee, and Alex Gonzalez each drove in two runs to back Derek Lowe’s solid performance on the mound, as the Atlanta Braves handled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-3, to avoid a three-game sweep at <span class="caps">PNC</span> Park.</p>
<p>Omar Infante and Matt Diaz had an <span class="caps">RBI</span> apiece for the Braves, who snapped a three-game skid. Atlanta remained a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NL East standings after the Phillies beat the Marlins. The Braves still lead the wild card race by 1 1/2 games over San Francisco, which is in action against Arizona.</p>
<p>Lowe (12-12) gave up one run on eight hits over six innings to improve to 10-0 over 10 career starts versus Pittsburgh. The 37-year-old righty was pitching for the first time since August 29 due to lingering soreness in his pitching elbow.</p>
<p>Pedro Ciriaco, Brandon Moss, and Jose Tabata each drove in a run for the Pirates, who were trying to sweep the Braves for the first time since April 29-May 1, 1994. Pedro Alvarez had three hits in defeat.</p>
<p>Zach Duke (7-13) lasted just one-plus frame, giving up four runs on six hits. Daniel McCutchen came on in relief and was charged with four runs — three earned — on five hits over 1 1/3 innings.</p>
<p>The Braves dominated the game from the start. With one out in the first inning, Jason Heyward, Prado, and Lee hit consecutive singles to plate the game’s first run. Diaz walked two batters later to load the bases. Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to center to make it 3-0.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh loaded the bases with two outs in the home first, but Ryan Doumit struck out.</p>
<p>Atlanta scored another run in the second. Lowe doubled, Infante singled, and Heyward walked to load the bases with nobody out. Duke was removed from the contest in favor of McCutchen. Prado popped out before Lee walked to force in a run. The next two batters were retired to keep it a 4-0 game.</p>
<p>The visitors put a four-spot on the board in the third to open things up. Gonzalez and Melky Cabrera started the frame with back-to-back singles. Lowe put down a bunt that went right back to McCutchen, whose throw to third was way off the mark. Gonzalez scored on the play. Infante’s infield single plated another run. After Heyward grounded out, Prado hit a two-run single to give the Braves an 8-0 lead.</p>
<p>Diaz’s sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth made it a nine-run game. The Pirates, though, got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, pinch-hitter Lastings Milledge, Andrew McCutchen, and Tabata hit consecutive singles to plate a run.</p>
<p>The Pirates scored two runs off Christian Martinez in the ninth. Alvarez led off with a double and scored on pinch-hitter Ciriaco’s double. Jason Jaramillo walked and Alex Presley singled to load the bases. Moss’ infield single scored a run. Billy Wagner came in from the bullpen to record the final out of the game.</p>
<p>The Braves won the season series with the Pirates, 6-3…Pittsburgh finished a six-game homestand with a 3-3 mark…Atlanta ended a six-game road trip with a 2-4 record…Pirates rookie Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 15 games…Pittsburgh had homered in a season-high seven straight games…Ciriaco and Presley each recorded their first hit in the big leagues.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/9/8/1677865/braves-beat-pirates-9-3Jason Kirk2010-09-08T00:18:42-04:002010-09-08T00:18:42-04:00Braves Lose Game To Pirates, NL East Lead To Phillies
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<p>Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – Delwyn Young capped a five-run seventh with a two-run homer and James McDonald tossed seven scoreless innings, as the Pittsburgh Pirates shut down the Atlanta Braves, 5-0, in the second test of a three-game series at <span class="caps">PNC</span> Park.</p>
<p>Atlanta, which has lost five of six, fell a half-game behind first place Philadelphia in the NL East standings. The Braves had been in sole possession of first since May 31.</p>
<p>Ronny Cedeno hit a two-run triple for the Pirates, who won 3-1 in the opener of this series. Pedro Alvarez drove in the other run.</p>
<p>McDonald (3-5) gave up just five hits in the process of putting the brakes on a three-start slide. The right-hander also struck out three and walked three.</p>
<p>Tim Hudson (15-7) allowed four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings to suffer the loss. He allowed an earned run versus the Pirates for the first time since August 23, 2006. Hudson fell to 5-4 lifetime against Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh broke a scoreless tie with a five-run seventh. Garrett Jones hit a one-out double to center and scored on Alvarez’s two-bagger. Ryan Doumit was intentionally walked to put men on first and second before Cedeno cleared the bases with a triple to right-center field, chasing Hudson from the game.</p>
<p>Peter Moylan took over on the mound and struck out Chris Snyder. Eric O’Flaherty was called in from the bullpen to face pinch-hitter Young, who hit his two-run homer to left. Andrew McCutchen flied out to end the frame.</p>
<p>Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively, to seal the victory.</p>
<p>The Braves failed to score after putting men on the corners in the top of the fifth. Melky Cabrera doubled down the left-field line with one out. After Alex Gonzalez flied out, Rick Ankiel was intentionally walked. Hudson, though, popped out to end the threat.</p>
<p>Hudson, meanwhile, was perfect on the mound through four frames. Jones changed that in the home fifth with a leadoff single. Alvarez, though, grounded into a double play. Doumit singled before Cedeno grounded out.</p>
<p>Atlanta wasted another great scoring chance in the sixth. Jason Heyward singled, Martin Prado doubled, and Brian McCann was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Derrek Lee then grounded into an inning-ending double play.</p>
<p>There was a 43-minute rain delay prior to the start of the ninth inning…Atlanta leads the season series with Pittsburgh, 5-3…Pirates second baseman Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 14 games…The Braves recalled pitchers Craig Kimbrel and Cristhian Martinez from Triple-A Gwinnett…The Pirates recalled pitchers Brad Lincoln and Justin Thomas, infielder Pedro Ciriaco, and catcher Jason Jaramillo from Triple-A Indianapolis. The club also selected the contracts of outfielders Alex Presley and Brandon Moss, and pitchers Brian Bass and Steven Jackson from Indianapolis.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/9/8/1675835/braves-lose-game-to-pirates-nlJason Kirk2010-09-07T13:01:09-04:002010-09-07T13:01:09-04:00Braves Bats Need To Return To Life Against Pirates This Afternoon
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<p>(Sports Network) – Atlanta’s offense has been mostly shut down during its current stretch of four losses in five games. That is exactly what starter Tim Hudson has done to Pittsburgh over the last few years, though.</p>
<p>Hudson looks to extend a run of 22 consecutive innings of not allowing an earned run versus the Pirates, who continue a three-game set with the struggling Braves tonight at <span class="caps">PNC</span> Park.</p>
<p>Atlanta has been held to a pair of runs or less in each of its last four losses and is just 8-10 since Aug. 19. Those struggles have allowed Philadelphia to close within a half-game of the first-place Braves in the National League East.</p>
<p>The club should be glad to have Hudson, who hasn’t allowed an earned run versus the Pirates since Aug. 23, 2006. He has won each of last three starts against them, including a May 21 outing in which he threw eight shutout innings and worked around three hits and four walks to improve to 5-3 with a 2.45 earned run average lifetime versus Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>The 35-year-old is coming off his first loss since July 17, as he had a six- decision win streak end on Thursday versus the Mets after allowing four runs — three earned — over seven innings. He dipped to 15-6 on the season, and his 2.30 <span class="caps">ERA</span> is tied for second-best in the NL.</p>
<p>The right-handed Hudson is also 5-2 with a 2.71 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 13 road starts and hasn’t lost as the guest pitcher since June 23.</p>
<p>Atlanta will try to supply its hurler with more offense than it managed last night, when David Ross plated the Braves’ only run with a sacrifice fly. Derrek Lee added two hits and scored that run on his 35th birthday, while starting pitcher Tommy Hanson allowed three runs — two earned — in six innings to take the loss.</p>
<p>“We had some hits and we had some runners,” said Atlanta manager Bobby Cox after his club left 10 men on base and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. “We just didn’t get the big hit to get back in the game. We thought we were going to get it just about every inning, but it never happened.”</p>
<p>Neil Walker paced the Pirates with a two-run homer, his fifth long ball on a 13-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .404 (23-for-57) with 16 <span class="caps">RBI</span>. Jose Tabata added an <span class="caps">RBI</span> and scored a run for the Pirates, who had lost seven of nine overall before the game and picked up just their second victory in seven meetings with the Braves this year.</p>
<p>Atlanta has still own eight of the last 12 overall in the series.</p>
<p>Stepping in for an injured Jeff Karstens (shoulder), Brian Burres gave up one run over six innings for Pittsburgh, working around five hits without a walk.</p>
<p>“I can’t say enough of the job he did out there today,” said Pirates manager John Russell about Burres after the game. “He kept us in the game. We knew coming in facing the three pitchers we’re going to face that it’s going to be tough and he did a great job for us.”</p>
<p>James McDonald tries to put the brakes on a three-start slide this evening for Pittsburgh, a skid in which he has pitched to a 7.71 <span class="caps">ERA</span>.</p>
<p>The right-hander was charged with three runs over five innings in a loss to the Cubs on Wednesday, falling to 2-4 with a 5.03 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in six starts since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers.</p>
<p>McDonald, 25, will be making his first career start versus the Braves but has faced them twice in relief, striking out five over four scoreless innings.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/9/7/1674601/braves-bats-need-to-return-to-lifeJason Kirk2010-09-06T17:36:50-04:002010-09-06T17:36:50-04:00Braves Drop Labor Day Contest In Pittsburgh
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<p>The Braves lost 3-1 to Pirates Monday afternoon, as the Phillies were losing to the Marlins, blowing an opportunity to pad their lead. Tommy Hanson had another strong outing, allowing only four hits and walking two through six innings. Three runs scored, only two of which were earned. Both of those were on Neil Walker’s sixth inning home run, really the only mistake Hanson made on an afternoon where he was otherwise stellar. Andrew McCutchen had previously scored thanks to David Ross’ throwing error and groundout by Jose Tabata in the first.</p>
<p>By the way, great quote from Bobby Cox today after the game. After being asked about the Braves’ struggles on the road, he responded “I don’t know, I guess they score more runs than we do. One more run and they win.” Really, I don’t know why the man has to retire.</p>
<p>The Braves certainly had their chances. In the second inning, the Braves loaded the bases with no outs, but the inning ended with the Braves scoring their only run on a David Ross sac fly. Ross would strike out in two other at-bats before McCann would pinch hit for him later. McCann came up at another critical stage, with runners on first and second only one out, but he and McLouth both grounded out on the infield, stranding both runners.</p>
<p>After Heyward extended the 9th inning with a two out single, bringing the tying run to the plate, Martin Prado would make the game’s final out with a flyball that died on the warning track. Jason Heyward, at least, remains on fire as he went 2-4 with a walk in five plate appearances. Prado, however, had an overall miserable day, as he went 0-5 and stranded five runnners. Three of those were in the 7th inning as the Braves saw a familiar face-Chris Resop. Prado came up with the bases loaded, but made contact as he attempted to check his swing while falling down. The ball was a soft roller down the third base line which ordinarily would have been a base hit, but Prado was unable to recover and reach first in time.</p>
<p>All told, the Braves stranded 11 men on base en route to scoring just one run.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/9/6/1673234/braves-drop-labor-day-contest-inBronn2010-09-06T14:37:03-04:002010-09-06T14:37:03-04:00Braves Need Wins Over Pirates To Hang Onto NL East Lead
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<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Sports Network - A loss today could push the National League East-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Atlanta Braves</a> out of first place for the first time since May 30.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">They probably couldn't be happier to see the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Atlanta aims to maintain its edge in the division standings and beat Pittsburgh for a sixth time in seven meetings this year when the two clubs start off a three-game set this afternoon at PNC Park.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Losses in three of four games following five straight victories, as well as an 8-9 stretch since Aug. 19, have the Braves just one game up on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Phillies</a> for first place. They could have entered this series tied with Philadelphia atop the standings after a 7-6 setback to Florida on Sunday, but the Phils were also defeated yesterday.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">However, the Phillies are scheduled to play a doubleheader with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Marlins</a> today, so a loss by the Braves tonight and a sweep by the Phils would knock Atlanta out of the top spot.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">A loss by the Braves doesn't seem likely, though, as they took two of three in Pittsburgh from May 21-23 before capping the month with a three-game sweep over the Pirates at home. Atlanta has won eight of the last 11 overall meetings between the teams.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Braves rallied from a 6-0 deficit on Sunday, tying the game with a five- run sixth inning before Eric O'Flaherty served up the game-winning run in the 10th frame. <span>Nate McLouth</span> drove in three runs for Atlanta and nearly had more, as he was robbed of a grand slam in the sixth inning on a great defensive catch.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Braves starter <span>Mike Minor</span> gave up six runs over just four innings of work.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"Overall, I couldn't hit a spot." he said. "Everything was basically towards the middle of the plate, and it's easy enough to hit the ball when it's towards the middle of the plate."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Tommy Hanson</span> hopes to join in on the Braves' success over the Pirates when he faces the club for the first time in his young career this afternoon.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The 24-year-old Hanson is coming off his first victory since July 3, as he ended an 0-5 stretch over 10 starts with a win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Mets</a> on Wednesday. He gave up just one hit and one walk over seven scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing a run or less for the sixth time in his last eight starts.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"My pitches felt really good," said Hanson. "I worked really hard in between starts trying to get my fastball command going. I felt like I did that [Wednesday]."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The right-hander aims for consecutive winning starts for the first time since a three-game win streak from May 26-June 5 and is 9-10 with a 3.60 ERA this season.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Hanson will face a Pirates club that managed just a solo homer out of <span>Pedro Alvarez</span> in Sunday's 8-1 setback to Washington, Pittsburgh's seventh loss in nine games. <span>Neil Walker</span> did add three hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, a span in which he is hitting .415 (22-for-53) with four homers and 14 RBI.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Pittsburgh starter <span>Charlie Morton</span> lasted only 3 2/3 innings after yielding six runs -- two earned -- on eight hits with a pair of walks.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"A little more aggressive," Pirates manager John Russell said about Morton's outing. "For the most part I thought he was better. Still not where we'd like to get him, but it's a step in the right direction.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">With <span>Jeff Karstens</span> unable to make the start tonight due to right shoulder soreness, <span>Brian Burres</span> will come out of the bullpen for the Pirates to his first start since May 29.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"It just doesn't feel right," Russell told Pittsburgh's website of Karstens shoulder. "It's been a long year for him, and it's a little cranky."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Burres faced the Braves in his last start, getting tagged for four runs over five innings to take the loss in his only career appearance against them. He was then demoted to the minors, but returned on Aug. 28.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The 29-year-old lefty has made four relief appearances since his return, allowing six runs over four innings. On the season, Burres is 2-3 with a 6.31 ERA in 14 games, including seven starts.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/9/6/2320564/braves-need-wins-over-pirates-to-hang-onto-nl-east-leadJason Kirk