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Braves-Diamondbacks Preview

May 31, 2009 - 1:10 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Atlanta (24-24) at Arizona (21-28), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves' offense has gone silent for most of their seven-game road trip, and it isn't likely to speak up in the finale.

Max Scherzer will be looking for his third win in his last four starts when the Diamondbacks and Braves close their four-game series on Sunday, with Atlanta trying to avoid its sixth loss in seven games.

After the Braves (24-25) totaled seven runs in the first four games of their swing, including three straight losses in San Francisco, they appeared to solve some problems in Friday's 10-6 win.

But they didn't score in the final eight innings of a 3-2, 11-inning loss Saturday in Phoenix. Chipper Jones and Brian McCann were both out of the starting lineup and Atlanta got RBI doubles from Kelly Johnson and Garret Anderson.

Arizona (22-28) got a game-winning single from Eric Byrnes after Miguel Montero bunted Mark Reynolds to third and forced the Braves to bring the infield in.

"It's fundamental baseball at its finest," said Diamondbacks rookie manager A.J. Hinch, who is 10-11 since taking over May 7. "We did things to help you win games today."

But the Diamondbacks have had trouble stringing together consecutive wins doing this year. They are 6-15 this season following a victory.

It should help that Scherzer has never allowed a run against the Braves. After blanking them for 3 2-3 innings in relief last year, the right-hander pitched six innings in a 12-0 victory on May 16 for his first major league win.

The highly touted Scherzer (2-3, 3.38 ERA) won again Tuesday, allowing two runs in seven innings of a 6-5 triumph over the Padres. He struck out 10 for the second straight outing and completed a start without issuing a base on balls for the first time.

"For me looking at this game, I didn't have any walks," Scherzer told his team's official Web site. "I think that was the biggest thing. I was attacking the zone and never gave in."

Scherzer is 2-7 all-time despite a 3.21 ERA in 25 appearances, including 16 starts. But he's 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in his last three outings, with 24 strikeouts in 19 innings.

It hasn't been going as well for Atlanta rookie Kris Medlen, who has allowed nine runs in 8 1-3 innings in his first two major league starts.

But after walking five in three innings in his debut on May 21, Medlen (0-2, 9.72) exhibited better control Tuesday, walking two and allowing four runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-0 loss at San Francisco. The right-hander gave up all the runs in the second.

"A loss is a loss," Medlen told the Braves' official Web site. "But bouncing back a little bit after that first start, I gained a little confidence."

There may be tension between the teams after the benches and bullpens emptied briefly on Saturday. Atlanta catcher David Ross and Arizona outfielder Justin Upton were at the center of the incident after Upton walked and flipped his bat into the air.

"That's stuff that goes on in the heat of the battle," Ross said.