Struggling Braves turn to Lowe in finale with Pirates

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09/08/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates sure have been enjoying their role of spoiler in this series and are now in position to sweep the Atlanta Braves for the first time in over 16 years.

To do that they will have to solve Derek Lowe, who has won all nine of his career starts versus Pittsburgh and will try to get Atlanta back on track in the finale of a three-game set this evening at PNC Park.

The Braves' offense has plated just 12 runs over their last six games, a span in which they have lost five times, and failed to cross the plate in last night's 5-0 setback. Atlanta's third loss in a row dropped the club a half- game behind Philadelphia for first place in the National League East, a spot it had held solo since May 31.

"It happens," Braves manager Bobby Cox said on Atlanta's website after the loss. "You can't do anything about it. You just got to worry about each game as they come along."

Hopefully for Atlanta, Lowe's past success versus the Pirates carries over tonight as his club aims to avoid its first sweep in this set since April 29- May 1, 1994. Lowe has a 2.76 career earned run average in his nine starts versus Pittsburgh and beat the franchise on May 28 with seven innings of one- run ball.

The 37-year-old righty hasn't pitched since Aug. 29, though, due to lingering soreness in his pitching elbow, but he did turn in a successful bullpen session on Monday.

"Anytime you miss a start and have an MRI, it's not what you want," said Lowe on Atlanta's website. "It reaffirms that what we did was the right way to go."

Lowe lasted just three innings in his last start, giving up five runs, six hits and three walks. He is 11-12 with a 4.53 ERA this year.

While Lowe has never lost to the Pirates, teammate Tim Hudson's recent run of good pitching versus the club did not carry over on Tuesday. Hudson was tagged for four runs over 6 1/3 innings to suffer the loss as he allowed an earned run against Pittsburgh for the first time since Aug. 23, 2006.

All five runs came in the seventh inning for the Pirates, as Delwyn Young hit a two-run homer and Ronny Cedeno added a triple that brought home a pair of runs. That offensive outburst backed James McDonald, who got the win after tossing seven scoreless innings.

"Tim Hudson is a great competitor, and he's a great pitcher," said Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez, who also drove in a run. We just always try to grind it out and play until the end."

Pirates rookie Neil Walker added a double in the game to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Pirates have beaten the Braves just three times in eight meetings this year and came into this set having lost eight of their last 11 to Atlanta.

Zach Duke will try to pitch Pittsburgh to the elusive sweep this evening and is 2-0 over his last three starts, but has allowed four runs in each of his last two.

The 27-year-old lasted just five innings in a victory over the Nationals on Friday, getting charged with five hits and three walks while improving to 7-12 with a 5.24 ERA on the season.

Duke gave up just one unearned run versus the Braves at home on May 23, getting a no-decision, but the southpaw was then lit up for seven runs and 12 hits five days later in a setback at Atlanta. He fell to 2-4 with a 4.58 ERA in his career versus the Braves.

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