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Braves-Astros Preview

Aug 11, 2010 - 6:00 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Atlanta (64-48) at Houston (48-63), 2:05 p.m. EDT

A clutch home run from a reserve is perhaps the biggest reason the Atlanta Braves have a chance to win their three-game set with the Houston Astros.

The banged-up Braves may need similar contributions to finish the job.

Atlanta likely won't have Chipper Jones in the lineup Wednesday afternoon when it finishes the brief trip, and Jason Heyward may also miss a second straight game against the Astros.

Heyward was scratched before Tuesday night's game with a sore right knee, and Jones needs tests in Atlanta after hearing a pop in his left knee while making a defensive play in the sixth inning.

"I've got a very distinct pain on the lower left side of my knee," Jones said. "I don't know what that means. Hopefully it's just a sprain. (We) just got to wait for the MRI."

The Braves (65-48) also remain without NL hits leader Martin Prado, but they managed to erase a ninth-inning deficit and beat Houston 4-2. Brooks Conrad, who replaced Jones, hit a two-run homer to make it 3-2.

"It was really big," Conrad said. "He goes down like that and it was tough, but we pulled through and won the game and it was really huge."

Atlanta increased its NL East lead to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia, thanks in part to another strong night from its pitchers.

The Braves have held opponents to three or fewer runs in nine of the team's last 10 games, a streak Tommy Hanson (8-8, 3.69 ERA) hopes to extend while chasing his first win since July 3.

It hasn't been Hanson's fault that the Braves have lost each of his five starts since the All-Star break. The right-hander has a 2.27 ERA in that stretch, but he's 0-3 because of minimal run support, bullpen problems and poor defense.

Similar problems plagued Hanson in his previous visit to Houston, where he pitched eight shutout innings on Sept. 9 before the Braves' bullpen faltered in a 2-1 defeat. He beat the Astros with eight strong innings in a 4-2 home win April 30.

Hanson limited San Francisco to one run and three hits in seven innings Friday, but two Atlanta errors in the ninth allowed the Giants to tie the game and eventually win 3-2 in 11 innings.

The Braves have made 18 errors in their last 11 games, including three Tuesday.

Houston (48-64) took advantage of two of those mistakes to take a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning, but closer Matt Lindstrom gave the lead back. Lindstrom has blown back-to-back save opportunities, allowing three homers and seven runs in those outings.

"I am just devastated," Lindstrom said. "I don't know what else to say other than I take responsibility and I look forward to getting back out there and working on my mechanics and getting my location back."

Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (9-11, 4.34) won't want to change much based on his recent results. He has allowed a total of one earned run in his last three outings while striking out 23 in 21 1-3 innings.

Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three home starts against Atlanta.

Before Tuesday's loss, the Astros had won six straight at home, including a 10-4 win over Atlanta on Monday. But Houston has gone 1-4 against the Braves entering Wednesday's season series finale, totaling six runs in the four losses.

Atlanta is trying to win its first road series since before the All-Star break. On their last trip, the Braves lost two of three at Florida, Washington and Cincinnati.