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Carlyle and streaking Braves face slumping Padres

Jul 6, 2007 - 3:37 PM Atlanta (45-41) at San Diego (48-36) 10:05 pm EDT

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Buddy Carlyle takes the hill looking to keep the Atlanta Braves streaking as they head into the All-Star break.

Carlyle faces off against Justin Germano and the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Carlyle (2-2, 4.74 ERA) last pitched three innings against the Florida Marlins on Sunday, allowing one hit before a rain delay ended his start. Prior to that he beat Washington by holding them to one run and five hits in seven innings of a 6-2 win on June 26.

Chipper Jones hit a pair of home runs, passing Dale Murphy as the all-time Atlanta Braves home run leader, in a 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

It was the seventh win in the last 10 games for Atlanta, which is averaging 6.7 runs during that stretch.

Meanwhile, San Diego, which has lost 11 of 13 will turn to a suddenly struggling Germano (5-2, 3.12). After winning five of his first seven starts, Germano is 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA in his last three outings.

On Sunday the righthander allowed a season high-tying five runs and eight hits in a season-high 6 2/3 innings against the Dodgers.

The Padres are coming of a 3-2 loss to the Florida Marlins on Thursday that forced them to settle for the split of a four-game series.