(Sports Network) – Right-hander Tommy Hanson aims to keep the Atlanta Braves
in red-hot mode today when they invade Minute Maid Park again for the third
game of a four-game series with the Houston Astros.

The Braves won their fifth consecutive game on Saturday night in Houston, when
Brian McCann belted a three-run homer during a four-run 10th inning en route
to a 6-3 triumph.

Locked in a 2-1 hitter’s count with runners at first and second, McCann belted
a low slider from Brandon Lyon (3-3) deep into the first level behind right
field to snap a 2-2 tie.

Chipper Jones followed with a double and scored on Eric Hinske’s two-out RBI
single off Fernando Rodriguez for a 6-2 lead.

The 10th-inning rally marked the first time either team had scored since
Atlanta tied the game on Hinske’s solo homer in the fourth.

Scott Linebrink (2-1) stranded runners at first and second in the ninth inning
to pick up the win. Craig Kimbrel gave up a one-out run in the 10th for the
final margin.

The scuffling Astros scored their other runs in the first inning on RBI
doubles from Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee. They fell to 1-7 in their last eight
games, and are 1-4 on their 10-game homestand.

Pence pushed his personal-best hitting streak to 22 games with a 2-for-5
showing, also doubling and scoring on Lee’s two-base hit in the 10th inning.

It’s the longest current streak in the majors and eight shy of Andre Ethier’s
season-high 30-game streak for the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, Hanson is 2-0 in his career against the Astros in four starts,
including a 3-2 defeat of Houston on May 16 in Atlanta.

In that game, he allowed three hits and an earned run in seven innings while
walking one and striking out 10.

He’s won his last two starts as well, defeating San Diego on June 1 and
Florida on June 7 while combining to give up five hits and two runs with 10
strikeouts across 12 innings as his earned run average has dropped from 2.80
to 2.59.

The Braves are 8-5 in his 13 starts.

For Houston, righty Brett Myers meets Atlanta for the 31st time in his 287th
career big-league appearance.

Both a starter and a closer during his days with Philadelphia before heading
to Houston last season, Myers is 4-10 with four saves and a 4.43 earned run
average in 148 1/3 inning against the Braves.

He got a no-decision on May 16, allowing eight hits and two runs in six
innings. Myers’ last win was June 1 at Wrigley Field, where he beat the
Chicago Cubs, 3-1, while surrendering three hits and a run in six innings.

Myers has pitched six or more innings in 43 of 46 starts in two seasons.

Atlanta swept a two-game set against Houston from May 16-17 and has won 10
of the last 11 encounters between the two ballclubs.

The Sports Network

Brandon Lyon has not found a groove since coming off the
disabled list.

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

McCann’s shot to right field off Lyon (3-3) scored Jordan
Schafer and Dan Uggla to give him 501 career RBIs and put Atlanta
on top 5-2. Schafer singled before Uggla walked.

The Astros have lost seven of eight, including all four of their
games against the Braves this season. McCann has three homers
against Houston, two in Atlanta and one at Minute Maid Park.

Lyon struggled to throw strikes in his second appearance since
coming off the DL this week. He also gave up a homer in Friday’s
loss to the Braves.

“I didn’t make enough pitches, just fell behind a lot,” Lyon
said. “I couldn’t find the strike zone and when I did find the
strike zone, they hit the ball. Obviously, I will just come out
tomorrow, work through it and try to get better.”

Lyon insists that he is pain free. He was on the disabled list
for more than a month with right biceps tendinitis.

“I am not hurt at all. I wish I could make an excuse like that,”
he said. “I felt great, I felt fine out there today. I just didn’t
make the pitches that I needed to.”

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.

Pence left Friday’s game after the third inning with tightness
in his lower back. Astros manager Brad Mills said that might have
helped Pence prolong his streak.

“A lot of times, when something is tweaked you just kind of calm
down a little bit,” Mills said. “But he is squaring a lot of balls
up right now, seeing the ball real well. He is just a lot calmer at
the plate right now.”

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 6 1-3
innings in his third start overall and first at Minute Maid
Park.

“I just wanted to stand in there and keep making pitches,” said
Lyles. “The two times I did give up runs tonight, I really didn’t
get into too much trouble.”

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.

Bourn tripled to the left field corner with one out in the first
inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games before Pence and
Carlos Lee hit consecutive RBI doubles to nearly the same spot to
put Houston up 2-0.

Jones got Atlanta to 2-1 with his two-out RBI double in the
third inning. Lyles walked Uggla to set up that score. Hinske’s
homer to right field tied it at 2 in the fourth inning.

Freddie Freeman doubled in the second inning before a single by
Alex Gonzalez put runners at the corners. Young reached on a
fielder’s choice but Freeman got thrown out in a rundown between
third and home for the second out. Lyles escaped the jam when he
struck out Minor.

NOTE: The Astros honored television broadcaster Bill Brown in a
pregame ceremony for his 25th season calling Houston’s games.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

HOUSTON, June 11 (UPI) — Brian McCann bashed a three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning Saturday, powering the Atlanta Braves to a 6-3 win over Houston.

Jordan Schafer singled and Dan Uggla walked to lead off the 10th and McCann golfed a 2-1 pitch off Brandon Lyon (3-3) into the right field stands, handing the Braves their fifth straight win and sixth in a row over Houston.

Eric Hinske drove in a run with a single later in the inning, finishing with a pair of RBI, and Chipper Jones contributed a run-scoring double in the victory.

The extra-inning rally made a winner of Scott Linebrink (2-1), who kept the Astros from rallying in the bottom of the ninth. Braves starter Mike Minor held the Astros to two runs on four hits over six frames.

Houston’s Jordan Lyles pitched well in his third major league start, yielding two runs on eight hits before exiting after 6 1/3 innings.

Carlos Lee went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI in Houston’s loss.

Read More: Chipper Jones (3B – ATL), Jordan Lyles (P – HOU), Brian McCann (C – ATL), Brandon Lyon (P – HOU), Fernando Rodriguez (P – HOU), Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves

Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Brian McCann belted a three-run homer during a four-run 10th inning, as the Atlanta Braves caught fire to down the Houston Astros, 6-3, for their fifth straight win.

Locked in a 2-1 hitter’s count with runners at first and second, McCann belted a low slider from Brandon Lyon (3-3) deep into the first level behind right field to snap a 2-2 tie.

Chipper Jones followed with a double and scored on Eric Hinske’s two-out RBI single off Fernando Rodriguez for a 6-2 lead.

The 10th-inning rally marked the first time either team had scored since Atlanta tied the game on Hinske’s solo homer in the fourth.

Scott Linebrink (2-1) stranded runners at first and second in the ninth inning to pick up the win. Craig Kimbrel gave up a one-out run in the 10th for the final margin.

The scuffling Astros scored their other runs in the first inning on RBI doubles from Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee. They fell to 1-7 in their last eight games, and to 1-4 on their 10-game homestand.

Pence pushed his personal-best hitting streak to 22 games with a 2-for-5 showing, also doubling and scoring on Lee’s double in the 10th inning.

It’s the longest current streak in the majors and eight shy of Andre Ethier’s season-high 30-game streak for the Dodgers.

“He continues to hit,” said Astros manager Brad Mills. “It was a big day swinging the bat.”

Lost in the final score were two good outings by a pair of young pitchers.

Mike Minor, the 23-year-old Atlanta starter, yielded two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings, striking out four.

Jordan Lyles, 20, made his first start at Minute Maid Park and also gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and two walks while fanning five.

The rookie righthander — currently the youngest player in the majors — was making just his third MLB start.

The Braves won the opener of this four-game series, 11-4, on Friday. But it was the Astros who jumped on top Saturday with a one-out rally in the first inning sparked by Michael Bourn’s triple. Pence and Lee followed with nearly identical back-to-back RBI doubles to left field to make it 2-0.

Lyles pitched out of trouble in the first and second innings, but the Braves got to him for a run in the third when Dan Uggla drew a one-out walk and scored on Jones’ two-out double to left-center field.

Hinske belted his eighth homer of the season with one down in the fourth, tying the game at 2-2 with a shot deep into the right field seats.

The Astros stranded runners at second and third in the seventh inning, the first time they moved a man past first base since their two-run rally in the first. They left runners at first and second in the bottom of the ninth when Jason Bourgeois lined out to left field.

The Braves stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings.

by

The Associated Press

Rn T.Com

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 RBIs 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 6 1-3 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.

Bourn tripled to the left field corner with one out in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games before Pence and Carlos Lee hit consecutive RBI doubles to nearly the same spot to put Houston up 2-0.

Jones got Atlanta to 2-1 with his two-out RBI double in the third inning. Lyles walked Uggla to set up that score. Hinske’s homer to right field tied it at 2-all in the fourth inning.

Freddie Freeman doubled in the second inning before a single by Alex Gonzalez put runners at the corners. Young reached on a fielder’s choice but Freeman got thrown out in a rundown between third and home for the second out. Lyles escaped the jam when he struck out Minor.

The 39-year-old Jones wowed the crowd with two diving catches that robbed the Astros of hits in the fifth and sixth innings.

NOTES: Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez spoke to Martin Prado, who is on the disabled list with a staph infection, on Saturday. He said Prado is receiving intravenous antibiotics daily in Atlanta and that he is feeling much better. … Gonzalez said that CF Jason Heyward (right shoulder) felt good after his second day of swinging off a tee and doing baseball activities and that he could go out for a rehabilitation assignment as soon as the middle of next week. … Braves RHP Brandon Beachy, on the DL since May 14 with a strained muscle on his left side, threw 51 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday. … The Astros honored television broadcaster Bill Brown in a pregame ceremony for his 25th season calling Houston’s games.