Braves 2 - 3 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Braves hope to bounce back versus Rangers

Sep 13, 2014 - 12:37 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Braves look to get their playoff chase back on track Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.

The Braves' 2-1 loss in last night's opener was their seventh setback in 10 games and dropped them three games behind Pittsburgh for the second wild card spot in the National League.

Alex Wood struck out nine and gave up one run over seven innings, but reliever David Carpenter gave up the go-ahead run when Robinson Chirinos hit a two-out single up the middle in the eighth inning.

Atlanta has been held to one run or fewer in seven of its past 12 games.

"The only thing that's frustrating is us not getting a win as a team," Wood said. "Right now everything matters and we were grinding and battling against a good pitcher tonight. Sometimes that's just how things shake out at their home ballpark after an off day."

Adrian Beltre and Ryan Rua both went 2-for-4 for Texas, with Rua contributing an RBI in just the Rangers' second victory in 13 games. Derek Holland scattered eight hits and struck out six without a walk over seven innings of one-run ball.

Phil Klein earned his first major league win after the reliever recorded the final two outs of the top of the eighth.

"It was fun. The crowd was really into it," Klein said. "I just tried to make my pitches and get out of the jam."

As the Braves chase a playoff spot, they hope that 23-year-old Julio Teheran still has some innings left in him. The hurler went over the 200-inning mark in last Sunday's 4-0 loss versus Miami.

Teheran yielded four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings as he fell to 13-11 with a 3.00 earned run average this season. That loss came one start after a setback to Philadelphia that stopped a string of three straight victories.

"I think (the Marlins) made adjustments to the way I was pitching today," Teheran told Atlanta's website. "I was using more of my fastball. Later in the game, I think they were looking for my fastball. That is something I tried to switch."

The right-hander has never faced Texas.

Scott Baker, in his first full season following Tommy John surgery, was scheduled to start today for the Rangers, but was instead scratched due to tendinitis in his right triceps.

"His arm is a little sore," manager Tim Bogar told Texas' website. "He has been getting treatment on his triceps. We're going to skip him and see how long it takes. There are no plans other than to let him get his triceps healthy."

Bogar will go with 24-year-old Lisalverto Bonilla instead and the right-hander will be making the third appearance of his major league career and first start. He has allowed three earned runs over 3 2/3 innings after posting a 4-2 mark and 4.10 ERA in 39 games (6 starts) this year at Triple-A Round Rock.

This is the first meeting between these teams since the Rangers took two of three back in 2011. It's also Atlanta's first visit to Arlington since 2008.






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