(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves try to push their winning streak to six
games on Monday when they begin a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers at
Miller Park.
The Braves have received tremendous pitching of late, as they opened their
streak with three consecutive shutouts and have pitched to an 0.98 ERA in
their last five games.
It was more of the same on Sunday, as Atlanta finished off a three-game sweep
of the Mets, taking the finale, 3-2, in 10 innings. The Braves captured the
win when Martin Prado scored on Brian McCann's sacrifice fly.
Prado singled off Bobby Parnell (4-4) to begin the 10th and advanced to second
base on a groundout. Parnell then intentionally walked Freddie Freeman before
Dan Uggla worked another free pass to load the bases. McCann followed with a
fly ball to right field, plating Prado.
The Mets put men on the corners in the bottom of the 10th, but Peter Moylan
got David Wright to fly out to right to end the game and notch his first save
of the season.
McCann also belted a solo home run for the NL wild card-leading Braves, who
have won five games in a row. Atlanta starting pitcher Tommy Hanson allowed
two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Craig Kimbrel (1-1) picked up the win
after stranding a runner in scoring position in the ninth.
"We're taking no game lightly, no lead lightly," McCann said.
On Monday the Braves will turn to lefty Mike Minor, who was absolutely
brilliant his last time out. Minor allowed just one hit over seven scoreless
innings to beat Colorado and improve to 8-10, while lowering his ERA to 4.58.
Minor beat the Brewers the last time he faced them, surrendering just two hits
and an unearned run in 7 1/3 innings. He is 1-1 in two starts against them
with a 3.86 ERA.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, enters tonight's matchup six games back of the second
wild card spot after taking two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals. The
Brewers, though, were denied a sweep, as they dropped a 5-4 decision in 10
innings on Sunday.
Norichika Aoki tallied two hits, including a game-tying, two-out, two-run
homer in the ninth off of Jason Motte for the Brewers, who lost for only the
second time in their last six games.
"To battle back, certainly going into the last inning against one of the best
closers in the game and we get two runs off him to tie it, that's resiliency,"
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.
To make matters worse, first baseman Corey Hart (ankle) and left fielder Ryan
Braun (wrist) both left with injuries and are questionable for tonight's
contest.
Taking the ball for Milwaukee in Monday's opener will be righty Wily Peralta,
who is 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA. Peralta won his first major league start on
Wednesday in Miami, as he held the Marlins to three runs and five hits in six
innings.
Atlanta swept a three-game set from the Brewers earlier in the year and has
won the last seven games in the series.
The Sports Network