Minor takes reins of two-run victory
by George Henry
Associated Press Sports Writer
September 30, 2012 12:43 AM | 782 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Mike Minor continued his string of success for the Braves, pitching six-plus shutout innings, and he has now won five straight games.
Mike Minor continued his string of success for the Braves, pitching six-plus shutout innings, and he has now won five straight games.
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ATLANTA — Mike Minor pitched 6 1/3 sharp innings to win his fifth straight decision, Martin Prado and Jason Heyward each had an RBI and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 2-0 on Saturday night.

Chipper Jones, who was playing his next-to-last regular-season game at Turner Field, was hitless in four at-bats.

Craig Kimbrel earned his 41st save of in 44 chances with a scoreless, but shaky, ninth.

The Braves have won six of seven and 11 of 15, but they began the night four games behind Washington in the National League East with six games to play.

If they don’t win the division, the Braves will host a wild-card playoff game next Friday.

In the ninth, leadoff batter Ruben Tejada reached against Kimbrel on second baseman Dan Uggla’s fielding error and advanced to second on a wild pitch before pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy flew out.

Kimbrel, one of the majors’ hardest throwers, hit David Wright on what appeared to be the top of the left thigh. The ball ricocheted off Wright and hit home-plate umpire Paul Nauert in the mask. Trainers had to tend to both Wright and Nauert, who both stayed in the game.

Kimbrel settled down to strike out pinch-hitter Ike Davis and Lucas Duda to end it.

Minor (11-10) allowed three hits, no walks and struck out four, leaving after Wright’s double in the seventh.

Chad Durbin got the second out of the inning on Scott Hairston’s flyout. Luis Avilan balked on his first pitch to Duda, advancing Wright to third, before Duda struck out.

Prado leads the NL and ranks second in the majors with 60 multi-hit games.

Atlanta went ahead 1-0 in the first when Prado hit a one-out double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jason Heyward’s RBI groundout.

In the third, Andrelton Simmons lined a leadoff single to left, moved to second on Minor’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Prado’s two-out RBI double off the wall in left-center.

Minor, who allowed just two singles through six innings, improved to 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA over his last four starts, a span of 31 innings. The left-hander is 5-0 in his last seven starts.

In six career starts against the Mets, Minor is 3-1 and with a 6.03 ERA over 31 1/3 innings.

Chris Young (4-9) gave up seven hits, two runs and one walk with six strikeouts in six innings. The Mets have scored just four runs in his last four starts.

Jonny Venters allowed two singles in a scoreless eighth for Atlanta.

Elvin Ramirez pitched a scoreless seventh and Ramon Ramirez did the same in the eighth for New York.

Kimbrel lowered his ERA to 1.02 and has 113 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings.

NOTES: Jones has gone hitless with three walks in his last 13 at-bats. ... Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves will have three starting pitchers (RHP Kris Medlen, Tim Hudson and either LHPs Minor or Paul Maholm) with seven relievers and three catchers on the 25-man roster if they host a wild-card game. ... SS Simmons ran into center field to make a diving catch to rob Wright of a single in the fourth. ... Braves CF Michael Bourn missed his sixth straight game with a sprained left thumb. ... Atlanta will try to win Medlen’s 23rd straight start today. Medlen (9-1) will pitch opposite RHP Jenrry Mejia (1-1). ... Mets manager Terry Collins said before the game that Wright will get today off. ... Prado’s double was his 41st, fifth-most in the NL. ... Avilan has allowed just four earned runs over his last 25 appearances.

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