Ross single lifts Atlanta to win in 10th

Thursday, July 28, 2011

By Charles Odum, The Associated Press

ATLANTA - David Ross hit a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory in extra innings.

Atlanta and Pittsburgh played 19 innings Tuesday night before Julio Lugo scored the winning run on a controversial call at the plate that umpire Jerry Meals later acknowledged was incorrect.

Ross became Atlanta's starting catcher Wednesday when the Braves placed Brian McCann on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique injury. Ross came through with two hits, driving in both of Atlanta's runs.

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's one-out single and Leroux issued an intentional walk to Dan Uggla to load the bases for Ross.

Scott Linebrink (4-2) pitched the 10th for the win. Uggla finished with three hits.

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 set.

That game lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes and was the longest in Turner Field history and in both teams' franchise histories. It also could prove costly for Pittsburgh, seeking its first winning season in 19 years.

Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens helped preserve the bullpen by pitching seven strong innings Wednesday night, giving up only one run on Garrett Jones' sixth-inning homer to right-center. Jurrjens allowed six hits, walked three and struck out four.

The Braves scored one run on 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 also are 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, with manager Fredi Gonzalez deciding to rest Jason Heyward.

Boscan will serve as the backup to Ross while McCann recovers.

The Braves had a scare in the ninth when trainer Jeff Porter came on the field to check first baseman Freeman's right hand or wrist. Freeman remained in the game.