Atlanta Braves vs Cincinnati Reds Online Feed Radio Commentary Live Streaming July 23, 2011: If Dan Uggla returns to the lineup Saturday, it's unlikely he will have as great an impact as he did the night before when he wasn't in it.
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Uggla and Jordan Schafer could both start for the Atlanta Braves when they continue a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Both players have not started the last two games, with Uggla hampered by a strained left calf and Schafer a jammed middle finger.
Uggla, however, came up with his first career pinch-hit homer -- a tie-breaking, two-run shot off Nick Masset in the ninth inning in a 6-4 win in Friday's series opener.
"We weren't going to use Dan unless we had to," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We didn't want him to run the bases. That's the way to do it."
Atlanta (59-41) improved to 3-2 on a seven-game trip with its third straight win over Cincinnati.
Uggla extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games, although he is still batting .195 for the year. His .315 average against the Reds (48-51), however, is his best against any NL opponent.
"I could care less what my batting average is at the end of the season," Uggla said. "If I hit under .200, but drive in 80 or 90 runs, I'm fine with that. The first couple months was challenging, but my teammates kept picking me up. I have stayed positive and as long as Fredi keeps putting me out there, I'll do what I can to help this team."
Gonzalez indicated that Uggla and Schafer may both start Saturday.
The Reds, meanwhile, were short-handed as they placed third baseman Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list before the game with a strained left shoulder.
In addition, right fielder Jay Bruce was scratched from the original starting lineup after suffering dizzy spells.
"Jay felt terrible," manager Dusty Baker told the Reds' official website. "I had the lineup made out before he came in to apologize for something that's not his fault."
Rookie shortstop Zach Cozart hit his second homer, and is 6 for 13 with four runs scored and three RBIs in three home games.
His effort wasn't enough for Cincinnati, which again failed in a bid to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game sweep of the Dodgers from June 13-15.
Homer Bailey (4-4, 3.74 ERA) looks for consecutive victories of his own after he allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings in Sunday's 3-1 win over St. Louis. Bailey was 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA over his five previous outings.
The right-hander has never faced the Braves.
Veteran right-hander Derek Lowe (6-7, 4.37) will oppose him. Lowe improved to 3-1 despite a 4.56 ERA over his last four starts by allowing four runs over 6 1/3 innings in Monday's 7-4 win at Colorado.
Lowe is 3-2 with a 4.21 ERA in six career outings against the Reds. He has limited Brandon Phillips to two doubles in 14 at-bats and Joey Votto to two hits in eight.
Phillips is mired in a 1-for-19 slump while Votto is hitless in 10 at-bats.
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Uggla and Jordan Schafer could both start for the Atlanta Braves when they continue a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Detroit at Minnesota 4:10 PM StubHub Penny vs Baker
Atlanta at Cincinnati 4:10 PM StubHub Lowe vs Bailey
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Uggla, however, came up with his first career pinch-hit homer -- a tie-breaking, two-run shot off Nick Masset in the ninth inning in a 6-4 win in Friday's series opener.
"We weren't going to use Dan unless we had to," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We didn't want him to run the bases. That's the way to do it."
Atlanta (59-41) improved to 3-2 on a seven-game trip with its third straight win over Cincinnati.
Uggla extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games, although he is still batting .195 for the year. His .315 average against the Reds (48-51), however, is his best against any NL opponent.
"I could care less what my batting average is at the end of the season," Uggla said. "If I hit under .200, but drive in 80 or 90 runs, I'm fine with that. The first couple months was challenging, but my teammates kept picking me up. I have stayed positive and as long as Fredi keeps putting me out there, I'll do what I can to help this team."
Gonzalez indicated that Uggla and Schafer may both start Saturday.
The Reds, meanwhile, were short-handed as they placed third baseman Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list before the game with a strained left shoulder.
In addition, right fielder Jay Bruce was scratched from the original starting lineup after suffering dizzy spells.
"Jay felt terrible," manager Dusty Baker told the Reds' official website. "I had the lineup made out before he came in to apologize for something that's not his fault."
Rookie shortstop Zach Cozart hit his second homer, and is 6 for 13 with four runs scored and three RBIs in three home games.
His effort wasn't enough for Cincinnati, which again failed in a bid to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game sweep of the Dodgers from June 13-15.
Homer Bailey (4-4, 3.74 ERA) looks for consecutive victories of his own after he allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings in Sunday's 3-1 win over St. Louis. Bailey was 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA over his five previous outings.
The right-hander has never faced the Braves.
Veteran right-hander Derek Lowe (6-7, 4.37) will oppose him. Lowe improved to 3-1 despite a 4.56 ERA over his last four starts by allowing four runs over 6 1/3 innings in Monday's 7-4 win at Colorado.
Lowe is 3-2 with a 4.21 ERA in six career outings against the Reds. He has limited Brandon Phillips to two doubles in 14 at-bats and Joey Votto to two hits in eight.
Phillips is mired in a 1-for-19 slump while Votto is hitless in 10 at-bats.
