Braves 3 - 1 Reds
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Minor seeks to get rolling as Braves resume set with Reds

Aug 22, 2014 - 2:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Minor tries to string back-to-back wins together for the first time in over three months on Friday when the Atlanta Braves continue a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Minor seems to have regained his confidence after having a start skipped in the middle of July. After allowing three runs in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 12, Minor beat the Oakland Athletics Sunday, limiting them to a pair of runs in seven innings to run his record to 5-8, while lowering his ERA to a still lofty 5.16.

His last two outings are quite the contrast from the 10 starts he made from June 10-Aug. 1 when he pitched to a 7.33 ERA.

"I feel like I'm in a different mindset going out there," Minor said. "I really don't feel like anything bothers me anymore. I just want to go after hitters. When things happen, I want to pick up teammates, because I feel like they pick me up all of the time."

Minor is 2-1 in three starts versus the Reds with a 3.15 ERA.

Opposing him will be right-hander Mat Latos, who is 4-3 on the year with a 3.10 ERA. Latos did not get a decision on Sunday in Colorado, but was not effective, as he allowed three runs and eight hits with three walks in five innings.

Latos had been 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his previous three starts.

"It was a grind today," Latos said. "Threw a lot of pitches, more than I'd liked to. I taxed the bullpen, which isn't something I like to do. This game is funny. It's just the way it goes."

Latos has faced the Braves seven times and is 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA.

In Thursday's opener, Justin Upton drove in three runs and scored another and Andrelton Simmons finished with a home run and two RBI to help Atlanta to an 8-0 win. Jason Heyward scored twice and knocked in a run and Chris Johnson hit an RBI double and crossed the plate once as the Braves won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Julio Teheran (12-9) shut out the Reds for six innings, scattering four hits and striking out three for his second straight win since losing three in a row.

"It was tough to pitch today. We had some long innings," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "Sometimes when you get a big lead, its tough to concentrate."

David Holmberg's (0-1) second start of the season went as badly as the first did back on July 8. The right-hander lasted only 2 2/3 innings again. This time, he was charged with six runs on five hits and four walks. He surrendered four hits, walked three batters and hit another during a five-run third inning for Atlanta.

The Reds have lost six in a row and 11 of their last 13.

Atlanta swept a three-game set from the Reds earlier in the year and has won seven of the last nine in the series.






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