Brian McCann homered twice and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 Thursday. 

McCann hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the seventh for his eighth career multi-homer game. Michael Bourn had a career high-tying four hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.

Marlon Byrd homered and Tyler Colvin added a triple and a run for the Cubs, who committed four errors.

Brandon Beachy (7-2) won his fourth straight decision, recovering from a shaky start to pitch six innings. He allowed six hits, two earned runs and struck out eight. 

Matt Garza (6-10) allowed six runs — three earned — and eight hits over five innings. He struck out six. 

The Braves took three of four from the Cubs and have won 16 of their last 21 games. Atlanta won its NL-high 38th road game. 

Garza was coming off one of his best starts of the season in a 3-0 win over St. Louis last Saturday. 

After Bourn led off the game with a single, Martin Prado reached when Garza dropped a flip from Carlos Pena at first. Garza then fell behind McCann, who homered into a stiff wind in right-center and put the Braves ahead 3-0 before Garza had retired a batter. 

Prado reached on errors twice in the game, doubled, walked and scored two runs. 

The Cubs cut into the lead on Darwin Barney’s groundout in the bottom of the first. In the second, Byrd brought Cubs within a run with a homer to left. Colvin tripled into the right-field corner and scored on Geovany Soto’s dribbler, tying the game at 3. 

The Braves grabbed the lead right back with two runs in the third with help from the Cubs. Castro committed his NL-high 22nd error of the season and Garza walked Dan Uggla with the bases full. Freddie Freeman’s RBI single drove in the other run. 

The Braves tacked on a run in the fifth on Jason Heyward’s sacrifice fly and another on McCann’s solo shot in the seventh. McCann leads NL catchers with 22 home runs on the season. 

Bourn drove in a run in the eighth with his fourth single of the game, giving him his sixth career four-hit game. Bourn’s 160 hits are second in the NL to Castro’s 167. 

The Cubs have committed 108 errors this season, most in the majors. Four of Atlanta’s runs were unearned. 

NOTES: Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano was given a day off on Thursday after he was hit in the right forearm by a pitch during Wednesday’s game. Manager Mike Quade said Soriano was available for pinch-hitting duty and is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. . Braves RHP Tommy Hanson left the team and returned to Atlanta to have his ailing shoulder re-evaluated by team doctors. Hanson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 because of right rotator cuff tendinitis. . Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves are “closely monitoring” Hurricane Irene and the effect it might have on this weekend’s series in New York against the Mets. . The Braves open a three-game series at New York on Friday, pitting RHP Tim Hudson against Mets lefty Chris Capuano. Hudson has won eight of his last nine decisions. . The Cubs will make the short trip north to face the first-place Brewers in Milwaukee this weekend, with Chicago RHP Rodrigo Lopez squaring off against LHP Randy Wolf in Friday’s opener. . Chicago’s Aramis Ramirez doubled in the eighth, his 700th career extra-base hit, and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Brian McCann homered twice and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 Thursday.

McCann hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the seventh for his eighth career multi-homer game. Michael Bourn had a career high-tying four hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.

Marlon Byrd homered and Tyler Colvin added a triple and a run for the Cubs, who committed four errors.

Brandon Beachy (7-2) won his fourth straight decision, recovering from a shaky start to pitch six innings. He allowed six hits, two earned runs and struck out eight.

Matt Garza (6-10) allowed six runs — three earned — and eight hits over five innings. He struck out six.

The Braves took three of four from the Cubs and have won 16 of their last 21 games. Atlanta won its NL-high 38th road game.

Garza was coming off one of his best starts of the season in a 3-0 win over St. Louis last Saturday.

After Bourn led off the game with a single, Martin Prado reached when Garza dropped a flip from Carlos Pena at first. Garza then fell behind McCann, who homered into a stiff wind in right-center and put the Braves ahead 3-0 before Garza had retired a batter.

Prado reached on errors twice in the game, doubled, walked and scored two runs.

The Cubs cut into the lead on Darwin Barney’s groundout in the bottom of the first. In the second, Byrd brought Cubs within a run with a homer to left. Colvin tripled into the right-field corner and scored on Geovany Soto’s dribbler, tying the game at 3.

The Braves grabbed the lead right back with two runs in the third with help from the Cubs. Castro committed his NL-high 22nd error of the season and Garza walked Dan Uggla with the bases full. Freddie Freeman’s RBI single drove in the other run.

The Braves tacked on a run in the fifth on Jason Heyward’s sacrifice fly and another on McCann’s solo shot in the seventh. McCann leads NL catchers with 22 home runs on the season.

Bourn drove in a run in the eighth with his fourth single of the game, giving him his sixth career four-hit game. Bourn’s 160 hits are second in the NL to Castro’s 167.

The Cubs have committed 108 errors this season, most in the majors. Four of Atlanta’s runs were unearned.

NOTES: Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano was given a day off on Thursday after he was hit in the right forearm by a pitch during Wednesday’s game. Manager Mike Quade said Soriano was available for pinch-hitting duty and is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. . Braves RHP Tommy Hanson left the team and returned to Atlanta to have his ailing shoulder re-evaluated by team doctors. Hanson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 because of right rotator cuff tendinitis. . Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves are “closely monitoring” Hurricane Irene and the effect it might have on this weekend’s series in New York against the Mets. . The Braves open a three-game series at New York on Friday, pitting RHP Tim Hudson against Mets lefty Chris Capuano. Hudson has won eight of his last nine decisions. . The Cubs will make the short trip north to face the first-place Brewers in Milwaukee this weekend, with Chicago RHP Rodrigo Lopez squaring off against LHP Randy Wolf in Friday’s opener. . Chicago’s Aramis Ramirez doubled in the eighth, his 700th career extra-base hit, and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

CHICAGO – Brian McCann homered twice and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 Thursday.

McCann hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the seventh for his eighth career multi-homer game. Michael Bourn had a career high-tying four hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.

Marlon Byrd homered and Tyler Colvin added a triple and a run for the Cubs, who committed four errors.

Brandon Beachy (7-2) won his fourth straight decision, recovering from a shaky start to pitch six innings. He allowed six hits, two earned runs and struck out eight.

Matt Garza (6-10) allowed six runs – three earned – and eight hits over five innings. He struck out six.

The Braves took three of four from the Cubs and have won 16 of their last 21 games. Atlanta won its NL-high 38th road game.

Garza was coming off one of his best starts of the season in a 3-0 win over St. Louis last Saturday.

After Bourn led off the game with a single, Martin Prado reached when Garza dropped a flip from Carlos Pena at first. Garza then fell behind McCann, who homered into a stiff wind in right-center and put the Braves ahead 3-0 before Garza had retired a batter.

Prado reached on errors twice in the game, doubled, walked and scored two runs.

The Cubs cut into the lead on Darwin Barney’s groundout in the bottom of the first. In the second, Byrd brought Cubs within a run with a homer to left. Colvin tripled into the right-field corner and scored on Geovany Soto’s dribbler, tying the game at 3.

The Braves grabbed the lead right back with two runs in the third with help from the Cubs. Castro committed his NL-high 22nd error of the season and Garza walked Dan Uggla with the bases full. Freddie Freeman’s RBI single drove in the other run.

The Braves tacked on a run in the fifth on Jason Heyward’s sacrifice fly and another on McCann’s solo shot in the seventh. McCann leads NL catchers with 22 home runs on the season.

Bourn drove in a run in the eighth with his fourth single of the game, giving him his sixth career four-hit game. Bourn’s 160 hits are second in the NL to Castro’s 167.

The Cubs have committed 108 errors this season, most in the majors. Four of Atlanta’s runs were unearned.

NOTES: Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano was given a day off on Thursday after he was hit in the right forearm by a pitch during Wednesday’s game. Manager Mike Quade said Soriano was available for pinch-hitting duty and is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. . Braves RHP Tommy Hanson left the team and returned to Atlanta to have his ailing shoulder re-evaluated by team doctors. Hanson has been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 because of right rotator cuff tendinitis. . Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves are “closely monitoring” Hurricane Irene and the effect it might have on this weekend’s series in New York against the Mets. . The Braves open a three-game series at New York on Friday, pitting RHP Tim Hudson against Mets lefty Chris Capuano. Hudson has won eight of his last nine decisions. . The Cubs will make the short trip north to face the first-place Brewers in Milwaukee this weekend, with Chicago RHP Rodrigo Lopez squaring off against LHP Randy Wolf in Friday’s opener. . Chicago’s Aramis Ramirez doubled in the eighth, his 700th career extra-base hit, and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

CHICAGO — Derek Lowe had a strong outing, and Chipper Jones hit a home run, which might normally be enough to translate into a victory for the Braves.

But on this cool night at Wrigley Field, the Cubs reminded their fans that they have some stars, too.

Alfonso Soriano homered and Randy Wells pitched effectively into the seventh innings as the Cubs beat the Braves, 3-2, and snapped Atlanta’s six-game winning streak.

Wells (5-4) held the Braves to one run and two hits over 6 2-3 innings, striking out six and improving to 4-1 in his career against Atlanta.

Carlos Marmol got the last three outs and joined Lee Smith as the only Cubs relievers to post consecutive 30-save seasons.

Soriano’s two-run shot fueled Chicago’s three-run rally in the second. He also walked and was hit by a pitch. Aramis Ramirez added a single and two walks, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Chipper Jones and Alex Gonzalez hit a solo homers for Atlanta, which managed just three hits in the game.

Derek Lowe (8-12) took the loss, allowing four hits and two earned runs over seven solid innings.

Lowe threw a season-high 119 pitches.

Wells has struggled this season, going 3-4 with a 6.16 ERA since coming off a seven-week stay on the disabled list on May 28. On Wednesday, he flashed the form that gave him the NL’s 10th-best ERA as a rookie in 2009.

He got off to a fast start, setting down the first 10 Braves and striking out four. The only hit he allowed through the first six innings was Martin Prado’s infield single in the fourth.

Wells appeared to tire in the seventh, giving up Freddie Freeman’s flyout to the wall and Jones’ home run into the batter’s eye in center field. Wells threw 109 pitches and departed after Jones’ blast, which moved him into a tie with Jeff Bagwell for 34th on the career list with 449.

Gonzalez homered off reliever Kerry Wood in the eighth.

Soriano gave the Cubs their first lead of the series in the second with his 22nd homer.

It was a mammoth two-run shot to center field well over the 400-foot sign.

The Cubs added a run later in the inning thanks to the speed of Tony Campana, who reached on an error when Dan Uggla tried to hurry on a slow roller to second. Campana stole second, went to third on a balk and scored on Wells’ swinging bunt.

Ramirez didn’t figure in the scoring, but remained hot. He walked twice and reached on an infield single, extending his streak of reaching base to a career-high nine plate appearances before grounding out in the seventh.

Ramirez is hitting .560 (28 for 50) during his 13-game hitting streak and has reached base in 30 of his last 45 plate appearances.

BRAVES NOTES

l Outfielder Jose Constanza was out of the lineup for the second straight day because of a mild sprain of his right ankle, though manager Fredi Gonzalez said Constanza was available to pinch-hit. He expect him to return to the lineup today. …

l The Braves will send rookie Brandon Beachy (6-2) to the mound for this afternoon’s series finale against Chicago’s Matt Garza (6-9), who has posted a 1.47 ERA over his last nine home starts.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves keep coming up with new things to throw when they celebrate.

This time, they went with the resin bag.

“I tried to get away,” Martin Prado said, breaking into a smile after his two-out single in the 11th inning gave the Braves their second straight last at-bat win over San Francisco, 2-1 Tuesday night. “They got me with dirt, the resin bag, everything. That’s fine. It’s a great win for the team.”

Randall Delgado had already dressed by the time the Braves won, but he sure did his part. The 21-year-old rookie allowed no hits through six innings in his second big-league start. He was lifted after giving up his lone hit — Cody Ross’ leadoff homer in the seventh that tied the game at 1.

Delgado insisted that he never thought about a no-hitter, but he knew how well he pitched. That’s going to make it even more difficult to return to the minor leagues; he was called up to fill in for injured Tommy Hanson, and will head right back to Triple-A with Jair Jurrjens coming off the disabled list on Wednesday.

“That was pretty exciting,” Delgado said. “I’m so proud of myself.”

Pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad sparked the winning rally with a ground-rule double. He moved over to third on a ground out and came home on Prado’s opposite-field single to right off Javier Lopez (5-2).

Prado’s teammates charged out of the dugout and caught up him around second base, pelting him with all sorts of stuff in what has become a familiar team tradition. They lead the NL with 22 wins in the last at-bat.

On Monday, the Braves rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the ninth inning, beating the Giants 5-4 on Freddie Freeman’s two-out, two-run single off Brian Wilson.

“This is what I really love about this team,” Prado said. “We always go all the way to the end. If we lose, we lose battling.”

The Giants put two players on the disabled list before the game, then lost starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez to a sprained ankle in the third. Four relievers combined to allow only six hits and one earned run in eight innings.

That’s a tough one but I’m proud of the staff,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “They fought hard, man. They were into it.”

Twenty-year-old Arodys Vizcaino (1-0) picked up his first big league win with two scoreless innings. Manager Fredi Gonzalez gave him the game ball and the lineup sheet the Braves put up in their dugout.

“My first game, I was nervous,” Vizcaino said through a translator. “Now I feel like I’m part of the team because the guys make me feel so comfortable.”

Delgado, a 21-year-old prized prospect from Panama, looked right at home, too. He faced the minimum through six innings, the only baserunner reaching in the fourth when Mike Fontenot walked with one out, only to be erased on a nifty double play by the Braves.

Second baseman Dan Uggla went to his knees to field a grounder by Pablo Sandoval, wheeled around and threw to second, where shortstop Alex Gonzalez made the relay throw while leaping over a sliding Fontenot.

Gonzalez had hoped to get six innings out of the rookie, who made his major league debut on June 17 against defending AL champion Texas. Delgado was a bit shaky in that one, giving up seven hits and three earned runs in four innings, taking the loss in a 6-2 setback.

He pitched like a veteran against the team that beat Texas in the World Series, mixing a mid-90s fastball with breaking pitches that had the Giants lunging. Chris Stewart was so fooled while striking out in the sixth, he flung his bat into the stands behind home plate. No one was hurt, fortunately.

But Ross finally got to Delgado in the seventh. The right-hander threw three straight balls, managed a strike, then served up a 92 mph pitch that Ross launched deep into the left-field seats for his 10th homer.

“I was like, ‘Wow, that was a bad pitch,’” Delgado said. “He made me pay.”

As soon as Ross finished circling the bases, Gonzalez popped from the dugout to switch pitchers. Delgado threw 74 pitches and received a standing ovation as he walked slowly off the field.

The Giants may soon be out of players.

Sanchez sprained his left ankle when he slipped in front of the mound while fielding Delgado’s sacrifice bunt. He managed to make an awkward throw to first base from the ground, barely getting Delgado, but threw only one more pitch.

After delivering one that was nearly over the head of Michael Bourn, Sanchez limped off the mound and was replaced by Guillermo Mota. The left-hander was on crutches after the game; he hopes to try out the ankle in a couple of days to determine if he can make his next start.

“It’s disappointing what happened,” Sanchez said. “When I pressed on my ankle, I couldn’t go.”

The Giants, mired in a skid that knocked them out of first place in the NL West, began the day putting outfielder Carlos Beltran and reliever Sergio Romo on the 15-day disabled list. Three other players were nursing less-serious ailments that kept them out of the lineup.

After replacing Sanchez, Mota gave up a two-out single to Bourn that drove in speedster Jose Constanza, the surprising sparkplug of the Braves offense. The 27-year-old career minor leaguer reached on a bunt single and is hitting .403 since coming up to Atlanta in late June, playing so well that he’s starting ahead of last year’s rookie star, Jason Heyward.

The Giants cut off the throw home and got Bourn in a rundown — and what a rundown it was. Bourn drew five throws running back and forth before getting tagged out on a weary, headfirst slide into first.

NOTES: IF Miguel Tejada was supposed to do a rehab stint in the minors, but the injury situation forced the Giants to put him straight in the lineup at third base. … Braves 3B Chipper Jones batted sixth, the lowest he’s hit in the Atlanta order since 1997. … Jurrjens will be making his second career start against the Giants. He’s 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his only other appearance. … Matt Cain will get the nod for San Francisco in the series finale. He’s 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five career starts vs. the Braves.

CINCINNATI — The Braves were looking for a good ending to their lengthy road swing. Instead, things turned sour on the final pitch of the trip.

Atlanta reliever Scott Linebrink gave up a homer to Drew Stubbs leading off the ninth inning Sunday night, and the Reds walked off with a 4-3 win over the Braves.

It was Cincinnati’s second straight victory, and marked the Reds’ first set of back-to-back wins in more than five weeks.

The defending NL Central champions hadn’t won consecutive games since June 14-15.

Stubbs went the opposite way on the first offering from Scott Linebrink (3-2), completing the Reds’ all-power night. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer, and Miguel Cairo added a solo shot off rookie Brandon Beachy, giving Cincinnati a 3-0 lead.

Francisco Cordero (4-3) fanned pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad with a runner on third base to end the Braves’ ninth.

Reds starter Dontrelle Willis couldn’t hold a 3-2 lead in the seventh, when Julio Lugo tied it with a pinch-hit single. The left-hander was trying to get his first big league win since June 5 last season.

Willis put on a show at the start. He got through the inning on seven pitches, all strikes, and ended the inning with a flourish.

Brian McCann grounded to first baseman Joey Votto, whose flip to Willis was a little behind the pitcher. Willis reached back, caught the ball, then dived and tagged the base with his glove. He rolled once on the ground before getting to his feet.

McCann hit his second homer of the series in the fourth inning, and the Braves got another run when Alex Gonzalez grounded into a forceout, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 3-2. McCann’s 18 homers are the most by a catcher in the majors.

For a moment, it appeared Willis might have to leave early. He fanned Martin Prado in the third inning on a hard slider, then shook his left hand and looked at his fingertips. A trainer checked out his hand, and Baker and pitching coach Bryan Price talked to him on the bench after the inning.

Willis stayed in until the seventh, when Nate McLouth singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Lugo’s single, which ended his 0-for-12 slump.

Braves starter Brandon Beachy was coming off the worst outing of his young career. The rookie gave up six runs, nine hits and two homers — all career highs — in only 4 2-3 innings of a 12-3 loss at Colorado on Tuesday.

The right-hander gave up two more homers Sunday night. Phillips hit an opposite-field, two-run shot in the first inning, and Miguel Cairo hit a solo homer off the facing of the upper deck in left field in the second for a 3-0 lead. Beachy went six innings.

Braves second baseman Dan Uggla went 0-for-3, ending his career-best hitting streak at 14 games.

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 – 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.