Braves outlast Pirates in 15, 7-6

[June 09, 2009]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- David Ross' bases-loaded infield single in the 15th inning drove in Jeff Francoeur to give the Atlanta Braves a 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game that lasted almost 5 hours Monday night.

Ross hit the grounder to shortstop Jack Wilson, whose throw to the third-base side of home plate pulled catcher Jason Jaramillo's foot off the plate as Francoeur scored.

Jeff Karstens (2-4) walked Gregor Blanco to lead off the 15th. Blanco was forced out at second on Francoeur's unsuccessful sacrifice bunt. Francoeur raced to third on Martin Prado's single to center. Karstens loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Kelly Johnson.

Karstens, Pittsburgh's eighth pitcher, made his first relief appearance since Sept. 25, 2007 against Tampa Bay while with the New York Yankees. He had made 31 straight starts and was listed as Wednesday's starter against the Braves.

Kris Medlen (2-2), Atlanta's eighth pitcher, earned the win with three scoreless innings. The game lasted 4 hours, 46 minutes.

It was the longest game in Atlanta since the Braves beat the Astros 7-6 in 17 innings on July 7, 2008 in the longest game in Turner Field history.

The win was manager Bobby Cox's 2000th with the Braves.

Chipper Jones and Brian McCann hit two-run homers for Atlanta and Nate McLouth had three hits, including a homer, against his former team. The outfielder was traded to Atlanta last week.

Andrew McCutchen had four hits, including two triples and a double, for Pittsburgh.

McLouth had a first-inning single, a fifth-inning homer -- his first with the Braves and 10th of the season -- and a sixth-inning single. McLouth then stole second -- also his 10th -- and scored on a single by Yunel Escobar.

The trade cleared the way for the Pirates to promote McCutchen, who has seven hits in his last two games.

McCutchen's 11th-inning double followed a walk to Craig Monroe, but Monroe was thrown out at the plate on Yunel Escobar's relay throw from Gregor Blanco.

Jones, who had four hits, including two homers, in an 8-7 win over Milwaukee on Sunday, added two hits, including a two-run homer in the first inning. Jones' streak of reaching base in eight straight plate appearances ended with his seventh-inning groundout.

Zach Duke, who allowed only four homers in his first 11 starts, gave up three homers in six innings to the Braves. He

Kenshin Kawakami gave up four hits and three runs in six innings.

Home runs by McLouth and McCann in the fifth gave the Braves a 5-1 lead, but McCutchen and Freddy Sanchez hit sixth-inning triples off Kawakami. Each scored on sacrifice flies to cut the lead to 5-3.

Escobar's run-scoring single in the sixth pushed the lead to 6-3. Peter Moylan blew that lead by giving up four straight hits after recording only one out in the seventh. Jason Jaramillo reached on an infield single and moved to third on Jack Wilson's double. Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske drove in both runners with a single to center and scored on McCutchen's triple to right.

Notes: The last Pittsburgh player with two triples in a game was Tike Redman against Colorado on Aug. 1, 2003. ... Wilson was back in the lineup after missing one game with a sore shoulder.

[Associated Press; By CHARLES ODUM]

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