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Braves-Orioles Preview

Jun 13, 2009 - 4:27 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Atlanta (29-30) at Baltimore (25-35), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves have to feel good about how their rebuilt starting rotation has been able to deliver consistently. They'd likely be much more excited if their offense could do the same.

The Braves look to build on a solid night at the plate and avoid another offensive letdown as they continue a three-game interleague series against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night at Camden Yards.

Thanks in large part to the offseason acquisitions of Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami, Atlanta's starting pitchers are near the top of the majors with a 3.91 ERA.

While that strong pitching has kept them in many games, the Braves (30-30) have missed a lot of opportunities because of an offense that's near the bottom of baseball with 257 runs scored.

After totaling three runs and 11 hits in back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh, the Braves had 12 hits in a 7-2 win over the Orioles (25-36) on Friday night. They are 27-5 when scoring at least four runs and 3-25 when held to three or fewer.

While most of Friday's postgame discussion revolved around the impressive start from rookie pitcher Tommy Hanson, the offensive outburst wasn't completely overlooked.

"That might have been the thing in the background, the fact that we went out and scored seven runs," catcher Brian McCann, who matched a career high with four hits and drove in two runs, told the Braves' official Web site. "That's something that we haven't done a lot of."

While Atlanta was able to break out of its offensive slump, Baltimore's continued. The Orioles matched the Braves' 12 hits but went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 in their 10th loss in 12 games. They haven't scored more than four runs in any game during that stretch.

"We needed a two-out hit or one hit to break it open," manager Dave Trembley said. "In most cases if you get 12 hits, you're going to get more than two runs - so something doesn't add up there."

The Orioles were undefeated in four games started by Rich Hill (2-1, 5.24 ERA), who will take the ball Saturday, before his last outing. The left-hander gave up three runs while recording only two outs in suffering his first defeat of the year, 3-0 at Oakland on Sunday.

"It was disappointing to go out there and pitch that terrible inning," said Hill, who forced in runs with a walk and a hit batsman. "I really don't think it was mechanical at all. Mechanically I felt good. Just result-wise it wasn't there."

Hill has had no problem getting results against the Braves, going 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA in four starts. He's held Atlanta to 17 hits while striking out 30 in 28 2-3 innings.

Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, batting .192 (5 for 26) over his last eight games, is 1 for 12 with seven strikeouts against Hill.

The Braves will counter with Kawakami (3-6, 4.62), who's looking for his first win in four starts. The rookie right-hander held Pittsburgh to three runs and four hits in six innings Monday. Atlanta's bullpen couldn't protect a 6-3 lead, but the Braves went on to win 7-6 in 15 innings.

Kawakami, who has never faced Baltimore, allowed three hits over eight innings against Toronto to win his first interleague start 1-0 on May 22.