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Rookies square off in Dixie capper

Jul 3, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Atlanta rookie Brandon Beachy tries to win his fourth straight decision this afternoon when the Braves wrap up a three-game interleague set against the Baltimore Orioles at Turner Field.

Beachy won his second straight start on Monday in Seattle, holding the Mariners to a run and three runs, while striking out nine in six innings to run his record to 3-1. The Indiana native has allowed just two runs over his last two starts and has surrendered three or less in eight of his 10 outings for a 3.04 earned run average on the year.

"I felt good," Beachy said. "I'm just a little upset with myself for wasting too many pitches. I'd like to get deeper into games."

The undrafted Beachy, who has never faced the O's, has compiled 81 strikeouts through the first 13 starts and 71 1/3 innings of his career.

"He's been able to command his fastball and throw the curveball," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Then his changeup keeps getting better and better."

Baltimore, meanwhile, will counter with an impressive rookie of its own in lefty Zach Britton, who has fallen on some hard times after a sizzling start to his big league career. Britton opened the year by winning five of his first six starts, but has gone just 1-5 in 10 starts since.

Britton lost his second straight start on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, who reached him for four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings to raise his ERA to 3.38 on the year.

"[The coaching staff and I] look at the last couple of starts, and there's a handful I could have won easily," said Britton. "We think about that. It's not that I haven't pitched well. There are games that I haven't pitched well at all and deserved to lose. But at the same time, I knew throughout some of these stretches, I threw the ball [well]. It just hasn't worked out for me in the win-loss column."

Atlanta made it two in a row over the O's and five straight overall on Saturday, as David Ross belted a grand slam and Tim Hudson got a rare interleague victory in the Braves' 5-4 triumph.

Hudson (7-6) compiled six strikeouts, allowed eight hits and three runs to continue his dominance against the Orioles. The righty entered the night with a 3-14 mark with a 6.24 ERA in 19 starts against the AL since coming over to Atlanta.

Mark Reynolds belted a pair of homers and Nick Markakis added a solo shot for the Orioles, who have lost five straight.

Jake Arrieta (9-5) was lifted after five innings and trailing 5-2 partly due to a missed catch opportunity that could have prevented Atlanta's big fourth inning.

Baltimore took two of three from Atlanta the last time these teams met back in 2009. The Braves, though, have won 11 of the last 14 in the series in Atlanta.