Braves avoid sweep in Pittsburgh

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09/08/2010 - Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Prado, Derrek Lee, and Alex Gonzalez each drove in two runs to back Derek Lowe's solid performance on the mound, as the Atlanta Braves handled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-3, to avoid a three-game sweep at PNC Park.

Omar Infante and Matt Diaz had an RBI apiece for the Braves, who snapped a three-game skid. Atlanta remained a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NL East standings after the Phillies beat the Marlins. The Braves still lead the wild card race by 1 1/2 games over San Francisco, which is in action against Arizona.

Lowe (12-12) gave up one run on eight hits over six innings to improve to 10-0 over 10 career starts versus Pittsburgh. The 37-year-old righty was pitching for the first time since August 29 due to lingering soreness in his pitching elbow.

Pedro Ciriaco, Brandon Moss, and Jose Tabata each drove in a run for the Pirates, who were trying to sweep the Braves for the first time since April 29-May 1, 1994. Pedro Alvarez had three hits in defeat.

Zach Duke (7-13) lasted just one-plus frame, giving up four runs on six hits. Daniel McCutchen came on in relief and was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on five hits over 1 1/3 innings.

The Braves dominated the game from the start. With one out in the first inning, Jason Heyward, Prado, and Lee hit consecutive singles to plate the game's first run. Diaz walked two batters later to load the bases. Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to center to make it 3-0.

Pittsburgh loaded the bases with two outs in the home first, but Ryan Doumit struck out.

Atlanta scored another run in the second. Lowe doubled, Infante singled, and Heyward walked to load the bases with nobody out. Duke was removed from the contest in favor of McCutchen. Prado popped out before Lee walked to force in a run. The next two batters were retired to keep it a 4-0 game.

The visitors put a four-spot on the board in the third to open things up. Gonzalez and Melky Cabrera started the frame with back-to-back singles. Lowe put down a bunt that went right back to McCutchen, whose throw to third was way off the mark. Gonzalez scored on the play. Infante's infield single plated another run. After Heyward grounded out, Prado hit a two-run single to give the Braves an 8-0 lead.

Diaz's sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth made it a nine-run game. The Pirates, though, got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, pinch-hitter Lastings Milledge, Andrew McCutchen, and Tabata hit consecutive singles to plate a run.

The Pirates scored two runs off Christian Martinez in the ninth. Alvarez led off with a double and scored on pinch-hitter Ciriaco's double. Jason Jaramillo walked and Alex Presley singled to load the bases. Moss' infield single scored a run. Billy Wagner came in from the bullpen to record the final out of the game.

Game Notes

The Braves won the season series with the Pirates, 6-3...Pittsburgh finished a six-game homestand with a 3-3 mark...Atlanta ended a six-game road trip with a 2-4 record...Pirates rookie Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 15 games...Pittsburgh had homered in a season-high seven straight games...Ciriaco and Presley each recorded their first hit in the big leagues.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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