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Hanson takes ball for Braves at Houston

Jun 12, 2011 - 3:39 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Tommy Hanson aims to keep the Atlanta Braves in red-hot mode today when they invade Minute Maid Park again for the third game of a four-game series with the Houston Astros.

The Braves won their fifth consecutive game on Saturday night in Houston, when Brian McCann belted a three-run homer during a four-run 10th inning en route to a 6-3 triumph.

Locked in a 2-1 hitter's count with runners at first and second, McCann belted a low slider from Brandon Lyon (3-3) deep into the first level behind right field to snap a 2-2 tie.

Chipper Jones followed with a double and scored on Eric Hinske's two-out RBI single off Fernando Rodriguez for a 6-2 lead.

The 10th-inning rally marked the first time either team had scored since Atlanta tied the game on Hinske's solo homer in the fourth.

Scott Linebrink (2-1) stranded runners at first and second in the ninth inning to pick up the win. Craig Kimbrel gave up a one-out run in the 10th for the final margin.

The scuffling Astros scored their other runs in the first inning on RBI doubles from Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee. They fell to 1-7 in their last eight games, and are 1-4 on their 10-game homestand.

Pence pushed his personal-best hitting streak to 22 games with a 2-for-5 showing, also doubling and scoring on Lee's two-base hit in the 10th inning.

It's the longest current streak in the majors and eight shy of Andre Ethier's season-high 30-game streak for the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, Hanson is 2-0 in his career against the Astros in four starts, including a 3-2 defeat of Houston on May 16 in Atlanta.

In that game, he allowed three hits and an earned run in seven innings while walking one and striking out 10.

He's won his last two starts as well, defeating San Diego on June 1 and Florida on June 7 while combining to give up five hits and two runs with 10 strikeouts across 12 innings as his earned run average has dropped from 2.80 to 2.59.

The Braves are 8-5 in his 13 starts.

For Houston, righty Brett Myers meets Atlanta for the 31st time in his 287th career big-league appearance.

Both a starter and a closer during his days with Philadelphia before heading to Houston last season, Myers is 4-10 with four saves and a 4.43 earned run average in 148 1/3 inning against the Braves.

He got a no-decision on May 16, allowing eight hits and two runs in six innings. Myers' last win was June 1 at Wrigley Field, where he beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, while surrendering three hits and a run in six innings.

Myers has pitched six or more innings in 43 of 46 starts in two seasons.

Atlanta swept a two-game set against Houston from May 16-17 and has won 10 of the last 11 encounters between the two ballclubs.