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O's, Braves engage in rubber match

Jun 17, 2012 - 11:08 AM (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves will try to settle their differences on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series at Turner Field.

Baltimore starter Jason Hammel almost put his name in the history books in Saturday's matchup. He had a no-hitter going through 6 2/3 innings but had his bid ended on a single to left field by Jason Heyward.

It would be the only hit the Braves would get in the game as Hammel went on to finish his first complete game of the season and second of his career. Hammel also through a complete game in 2009 as a member of the Colorado Rockies

Atlanta starter Brandon Beachy left the game in the fourth inning with soreness in his right elbow. Beachy had retired the first 11 batters he faced but took the loss for Atlanta surrendering one run over 3 2/3 innings while striking out five before the early exit.

Brian Roberts went 2-for-4 in the game with three RBI to lead the Baltimore offense while Steve Pearce added a pair of hits and Mark Reynolds also knocked in a pair.

The Orioles have now won six of their last seven games.

Randall Delgado will be getting the start in the series conclusion for Atlanta, looking to put together a performance more like his first start in June rather than his second.

The 22-year-old right-hander set a career-high against the Yankees by walking six batters but was resilient and ended up giving up only three runs over five innings of work. The Braves offense couldn't get anything going though and Delgado took the loss in a 3-0 decision in that one.

The losing effort came after Delgado won back-to-back starts including a strong 6 1/3 inning effort against Miami to kick off June. Overall this season Delgado is 4-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 12 starts.

In just two seasons in the majors Delgado has not had much success in interleague play. He is 0-3 over those two years with an ERA of 6.92 including an 0-2 mark with an ERA of an even 7.00 in two starts against AL competition this year.

The Orioles will rely on Wei-Yin Chen, who will be going for his team-leading seventh win on Sunday. Chen is 6-2 on the season with an ERA of 3.68. His total wins and ERA trail only Hammel for the best mark among Baltimore starters this season.

The month of June has been up and down for Chen. The 26-year-old lasted 6 1/3 innings while giving up four runs on eight hits in his last time out on his way to his sixth win as the Orioles downed Pittsburgh 8-6.

Chen got a rude introduction to interleague play in his only other start against the National League this season when he allowed six runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings on his way to his first loss of the season back on May 20th.