Moss and Presley deserve chance; Pre-game Notes: August 8th, Braves vs Pirates

Brandon Moss, who struggled during Spring Training in 2010, is getting a chance to prove himself in the big leagues. This season for Triple-A Indy, Moss hit .266 with 22 homers and 96 RBI and was also named the Indians team MVP.

“We felt Brandon had done what he needed to do to deserve a call-up,” Huntington said. “At-bats will be difficult to come by due to the outfield numbers, but we felt adding Moss and Presley was the right move.”

Alex Presley finished the season with 166 hits combined from Indy and Altoona, which tied him with former Pirate Nate McLouth for the fifth most hits in a season by a minor league player.

“Alex provides a pinch-run/pinch-hit option off the bench that also gives us a defensive option in the outfield,” Huntington said. “Like Brandon, he earned a chance.”

 

 

News and Notes:

• With the eight inning double, Neil Walker pushed his hitting streak to 14 game. The longest by Pirates rookie since Johnny Ray hit in 14 straight in 1982.
• With the loss to the Pirates on Tuesday, the Braves are now in second-place, for the first time since May 30th, (one game behind the Phillies) in the National League East.
• The Braves have only been hitting .135 (5-for-37) with runners in scoring position over the past five games. And during that span, the Braves have left 42 men on base.

 

 

Pitching Matchup:

Derek Lowe 11-12, 4.53 ERA

VS

Zach Duke 7-12, 5.24 ERA

Lowe missed his last start due to a sore right elbow. He is making his first start since Aug 29th, he allowed five runs through three innings against the Marlins. In Lowe’s last three starts, 16 innings pitched, he is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA.

The Braves are hitting just .250 as a team against left-handers. Duke pitched well his last start against the Nationals. He only went five innings but they were solid, four runs on five hits, walked three and struck out five.

“I expect to go seven or eight innings,” Duke said after his last start. “I’m upset I wasn’t able to give us more.”

 

Braves Lineup:

Infante 4

Heyward 9

Prado 5

Lee 3

McCann 2

Diaz 7

Gonzalez 6

Cabrera 8

Lowe 1

Pirates Lineup:

McCutchen 8

Tabata 7

Walker 4

Jones 3

Alvarez 5

Doumit 2

Bowker 9

Cedeno 6

Duke 1