Braves 2, Pirates 1

By

Posted 7:23PM on Saturday, July 30, 2005

ATLANTA (AP) Chipper Jones drove in both Atlanta runs and Horacio Ramirez allowed six hits over eight innings to help the Braves win their fourth straight, 2-1 over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Left-hander Macay McBride earned his first career save by getting two outs after coming in with the bases loaded and one out. Atlanta, coming off a three-game sweep of Washington to take the NL East lead by three games, won their fourth straight one-run game. Trailing 1-0 entering the seventh, the Braves rallied off Pittsburgh starter Dave Williams (8-8) when Rafael Furcal led off with a single and took third on a double by Marcus Giles. Jones followed with a single to left, easily scoring both runners. Ramirez (9-6) walked one and struck out three. The Braves used four pitchers in the ninth. Jay Powell started the ninth but his second pitch sailed 15 high and wide of the plate and he fell to the ground writhing in pain. There was no immediate word on the injury. John Foster came on with a 1-1 count and walked pinch-hitter Rob Mackowiak. Jim Brower relieved and gave up a double to Jason Bay that sent Mackowiak to third. Brower then struck out Brad Eldred and walked Jose Castillo intentionally to load the bases. That brought on McBride for his fourth appearance and he struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit and got Tike Redman to ground out. Pittsburgh scored in the sixth when Jack Wilson led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice by Williams, moved to third on a single by Matt Lawton and came across on a sacrifice fly by Freddy Sanchez. It was Pittsburgh's third straight loss after winning three in a row. Williams allowed eight hits and two runs, walked five and struck out three in six innings. He left in the seventh after the three straight hits. Notes: Williams' left index finger was hit when he fouled off a bunt attempt in the sixth. He did successfully sacrifice, then had the finger wrapped in the dugout. He retired the Braves in the bottom of the inning without any problem. ... Williams got away with a mental mistake in the third. With two outs, Chipper Jones singled and stole second on the first pitch to Andruw Jones when Williams wound up instead of pitching from the stretch. Andruw Jones was then intentionally walked and Julio Franco drew a walk, loading the bases. Williams, however, struck out Jeff Francoeur to escape the jam. ... Franco needs just one hit to become the 80th major leaguer with 2,500. ... Braves RHP John Thomson, on the DL since May 17 with a strained flexor tendon in his right middle finger, threw four scoreless innings Friday night at Single-A Rome in his second rehab appearance. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)