(My Sportsbook) - The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves open a four-game set at Qualcomm Stadium today against the lowly San Diego Padres. The Braves had their four-game winning streak halted with a 5-1 loss to Los Angeles on Wednesday. Greg Maddux (3-5) did not fare well, giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings for Atlanta, which won the first two games of the series and has won 23 of 28. No Brave registered more than one hit in the losing effort. Chipper Jones knocked in Atlanta's only run. Atlanta will give the ball to 23-year-old righthander Horatio Ramirez this afternoon. Ramirez has pitched well over his last three starts, but hasn't recorded a decision. The righty has surrendered just four earned runs over 18 innings during the three-game stretch. Last time on the hill, Ramirez held San Francisco to just six hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He walked six and struck out three in the no- decision. This will be Ramirez's first-ever outing against the Padres. Ramirez is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three road starts this year. Atlanta, which is 12-6 on the road this season, is the only NL East squad that has scored at least 200 runs this season. |
