Ross lifts Braves to 2-1 10-inning win over Pirates
ATLANTA (AP) 无毛视频� David Ross showed again he can be an effective fill-in for Brian McCann.
Atlanta无毛视频檚 backup catcher hit a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory in extra innings.
This time, there was no controversy, no debate and a lot less innings.
Atlanta and Pittsburgh played 19 innings Tuesday night before Julio Lugo scored the winning run on a call at the plate that umpire Jerry Meals later acknowledged was incorrect.
Ross became Atlanta无毛视频檚 starting catcher when the Braves placed McCann on the 15-day DL before the game with a left oblique injury. Ross came through with two hits, driving in both of the Braves无毛视频� runs.
无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檙e not replacing B-Mac,无毛视频� Ross said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 trying to get in there and hold down the fort until he comes back.无毛视频�
Ross is hitting .296. Most recently, he served as Tim Hudson无毛视频檚 personal catcher in a routine that gave McCann a regular day off.
The Braves are 17-6 with Ross starting, and the veteran is hitting .316 with four homers and 18 RBIs in those starts.
无毛视频淚 can无毛视频檛 think of very many teams in the major leagues that have the quality we do at the backup catcher position,无毛视频� Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Nate McLouth led off the 10th with a single to right off Chris Leroux (1-1), who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game.
McLouth advanced to third on Freddie Freeman无毛视频檚 one-out single and Leroux intentionally walked Dan Uggla to load the bases for Ross.
Scott Linebrink (4-2) pitched the 10th for the win. Uggla finished with three hits to extend his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.
无毛视频淚 would have done the same thing they did, pitch around him to get to me,无毛视频� Ross said.
Meals said Wednesday he watched a replay and Pittsburgh catcher Mike McKenry tagged Lugo before he scored the winning run in the second game of the series.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he wanted the clear acknowledgement from Meals that he missed the call.
无毛视频淚 think that would be appropriate,无毛视频� Hurdle said before Meals released his statement. 无毛视频淚t would be professional. It would be respectful. And then we could all move on.无毛视频�
Hurdle spoke with Meals when lineup cards were exchanged at home plate before the game. The two shook hands, and Hurdle gave the umpire a pat on the back before returning to the dugout.
The 19-inning game lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes and was the longest in Turner Field history and in both franchise histories. The game drained each team无毛视频檚 bullpen, and the start of another extra-inning game had Gonzalez worried.
无毛视频淚 was starting to get nervous, I was starting to get real nervous,无毛视频� Gonzalez said.
Pittsburgh, seeking its first winning season in 19 years, fell 1陆 games behind St Louis and Milwaukee in the NL Central.
The Pirates were held to seven hits by Jair Jurrjens and three relievers.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e not built to slug,无毛视频� Hurdle said. 无毛视频淵ou combine that and you come in here and face the Braves starting rotation, it无毛视频檚 one of the best ones in the league. It无毛视频檚 tough duty.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e got to find some bats to get in play. Hopefully that will start tomorrow.无毛视频�
Jurrjens helped preserve the bullpen by pitching seven innings, allowing Garrett Jones无毛视频� sixth-inning homer to right-center. Jurrjens gave up six hits, walked three and struck out four.
The Braves scored one run and had three hits off Paul Maholm in the sixth. Martin Prado led off with a bloop single to left and scored on a single by Ross.
Prado, who went 0 for 9 in the 19-inning game, had two hits but was thrown out at third by left fielder Xavier Paul while trying to stretch a double in the first.
Maholm gave up nine hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked none.
Atlanta is concerned about its lineup after losing two regulars for at least two weeks, placing McCann and outfielder Jordan Schafer on the 15-day disabled list.
The Braves are also missing third baseman Chipper Jones, who is limited by a strained right quadriceps to pinch-hitting duty.
Jones grounded out in the ninth.
Schafer leads the team with 15 stolen bases, usually as the leadoff hitter. McCann is hitting .306 with 18 homers and a team-leading 55 RBIs.
The Braves recalled catcher J.C. Boscan and outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from Triple-A Gwinnett. Ramirez started in right field. Jason Heyward had the night off.
Boscan will serve as the backup to Ross while McCann recovers.
NOTES: The Pirates placed INF Chase d无毛视频橝rnaud on the 15-day DL with a fractured right little finger. 无毛视频� The Braves acquired C Wil Nieves from Milwaukee for cash and assigned Nieves to Triple-A Gwinnett. 无毛视频� Pittsburgh C Ryan Doumit was 0 for 3 in his second injury rehab game with Triple-A Indianapolis. Doumit is returning from a left ankle sprain.