• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Series victory on the line in Braves-Angels finale

May 22, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Braves rebounded from an embarrassing loss Friday night by narrowly defeating the Angels on Saturday, and now Atlanta and Anaheim will collide in the finale of this three-game set of interleague action.

On Friday the Braves were shut down by Ervin Santana and the Angels, but they were able to avoid dropping their fourth straight with an extra-inning 5-4 decision on Saturday.

Joe Mather went 4-for-6 with a three-run homer and drove in the game-winning run in the 12th inning.

Alex Gonzalez singled off Trevor Bell (1-1) with two outs in the 12th and went to second on Alexi Amarista's error. Gonzalez scored without a play at the plate when Mather placed a double down the right-field line, and Craig Kimbrel shook off a leadoff walk in the bottom half to post his 12th save of the year.

The win, which snapped Atlanta's three-game slide, was credited to Scott Proctor (1-0) for his perfect 11th inning in relief.

Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer for the Angels, who had snapped a five-game losing streak with a 9-0 win in the series opener.

Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson gave up a season-high four runs on five hits and four walks in six innings, but was taken off the hook when Atlanta finally solved Joel Pineiro in the seventh.

Atlanta will try to remain in the win column when Derek Lowe takes the hill this afternoon. The right-hander has recorded just one decision in his last five starts, and it was an impressive victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, since that victory the crafty veteran has been held out of the win column. The last time Lowe was in action, he was at his best, allowing just one run in seven innings against Houston. Lowe struck out four and did not walk a batter, but the offense for Atlanta got started late, leaving the right-hander with a no decision.

Lowe spent a good portion of his career in Boston, so he is no stranger to the Angels. This will be his 30th appearances against the Halos and his 14th start. In his career, Lower is just 6-7 against the Angels and has six saves as well, to go along with a respectable 3.18 earned run average.

As for the Angels, they will send Tyler Chatwood to the bump, as the young hurler will try to rebound from his worst start of the season. The 21-year-old fell to 2-2 on the year with an embarrassing performance against Oakland.

The right-hander did not make it out of the third inning, allowing seven runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and two walks. Chatwood has pitched well at home though, so hopefully pitching in front of a friendly crowd will help the young hurler. In five starts in Anaheim Chatwood is 1-1 with a 3.23 earned run average.

Atlanta took two of three on the road when these clubs last met in 2008.