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Angels take rubber match against the Braves

May 23, 2011 - 1:42 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer and Tyler Chatwood threw seven innings of one-run ball, as the Angels took the rubber match of their three-game interleague series against the Braves, 4-1.

Chatwood (3-2) limited the Braves to one run on five hits and two walks while fanning six, while Scott Downs and Jordan Walden closed out the win with a scoreless inning apiece.

Bobby Abreu scored a run and knocked in another for the Angels, who had lost five straight coming into the set.

Derek Lowe (3-4) took the loss, Atlanta's fourth in five games, surrendering three runs on five hits and five walks in his six-inning start.

"Lowe pitched well enough to win the ballgame. They got the big hits when they needed to and we didn't," Braves managed Fredi Gonzalez said.

Atlanta went ahead in the second inning when Joe Mather's humpback liner to left knocked in Freddie Freeman.

The lead didn't last long, as Abreu walked leading off the fourth and trotted home on Hunter's fifth home run of the season.

"I haven't seen one of those in awhile," said Hunter, who snapped a 28-game homerless drought. "[Lowe] doesn't make many mistakes and I was able to get one up."

The same duo helped tacked on a pair of runs later on, as Hunter doubled to open the sixth and scored on Alexi Amarista's groundout, and Abreu doubled off the wall in right-center to plate Erick Aybar in the seventh.

Chatwood faced the minimum over his last three innings, Downs hurled a 1-2-3 eighth, and Walden overcame a leadoff single in the ninth to secure his eighth save of the season.

Game Notes

Braves leadoff hitter Nate McLouth suffered a strained left oblique during his first at-bat...Freeman had two of Atlanta's six hits...The Braves have Monday off before heading to Pittsburgh for two games with the Pirates...The Angels open a four-game home series against the Athletics on Monday...After the game, the Braves placed right fielder Jason Heyward on the 15-day disabled list with pain and discomfort in his right shoulder. The team recalled outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from Triple-A Gwinnett, and transferred pitcher Peter Moylan to the 60-day disabled list to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Ramirez.