Braves spoils Perez's debut

Mike Hessman helped Atlanta win, then was optioned back to Richmond.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Mike Hessman left the Atlanta Braves with something to remember him by, at least until his expected return sometime next month.
Hessman hit a two-run homer in only his second start, keying a seven-run third inning that ruined Oliver Perez's debut with Pittsburgh and led the Braves to a 13-6 victory Saturday.
Hessman didn't have time to celebrate -- he was optioned back to Triple-A Richmond as soon as the game ended. The move probably was temporary, and Hessman likely will be back once rosters are expanded next month.
"He's got tremendous power, this guy," manager Bobby Cox said. "He crushed that ball. He's a great kid, one you really pull for. He goes 100 percent every second."
Much like the Braves' offense did after a short lull in which Atlanta dropped three of four. Javy Lopez and Mark DeRosa had two-run doubles off Perez, who retired only one of the seven batters he faced in the third. He left after allowing six runs and four hits in 22/3 innings.
"It was like the good old days," Horacio Ramirez said, apparently referring to last weekend, when the Braves scored 26 runs in three games against Colorado.
Ramirez ends slump
Ramirez (9-4) withstood Craig Wilson's three-run homer in the fourth to last seven innings and win for the first time in eight starts since July 7. He won despite giving up 10 hits and five runs in seven innings in his first career start against Pittsburgh.
Perez, a hard-throwing left-hander acquired Tuesday with outfielder Jason Bay in the Brian Giles trade, extended a string of poor starts that began with the Padres.
Perez's wildness set up the seven-run inning as he walked three of four batters around Gary Sheffield's run-scoring single. Doubles by Lopez and DeRosa made it 5-1 and chased Perez (4-8), and Hessman followed with his second career homer, off reliever Nelson Figueroa.
"It's nice to see the bats break out," said Marcus Giles, who also hit a solo homer. "We're capable of it and it's nice to see."
In four starts -- three with San Diego -- since striking out 13 in a 5-2 victory over the Phillies on Aug. 3, Perez has given up 20 runs and 22 hits in 19 1-3 innings.
"He's got one of the best arms I've seen from the left side," catcher Jason Kendall said. "He can be something special."
Manager Lloyd McClendon wasn't disappointed with Perez's debut, saying, "I'm sure he was a little excited, a little pumped up. He certainly showed good stuff."
"I'm always nervous before every start and this was different being with a new team," Perez said, speaking through an interpreter. "I just didn't pitch well, though. I just have to come back the next time and make it work."
Sheffield sparkles
Sheffield had three RBIs, including a two-run double in a five-run ninth after the Pirates -- who had won four straight -- cut an 8-1 deficit to 8-6. Andruw Jones later hit his 32nd homer, a two-run shot off the roof of the Braves' bullpen in center.
"The ball almost hit me," said Jaret Wright, who was warming up.
Hessman was recalled from Triple-A Richmond on Aug. 18 but didn't make his first career start until Thursday. Each of his three hits went for extra bases, including a pinch-hit homer Tuesday that was his first hit. He led Richmond with 16 homers before being called up.
"It was definitely great being here and helping out the team a little," Hessman said.
The Pirates tried to mount a comeback. Wilson's three-run drive carried an estimated 445 feet into the bleachers in left-center in the fourth. Jeff Reboulet had an RBI single in the eighth, but Ray King struck out pinch-hitter Matt Stairs with the potential tying run on base.
ATLANTAPITTSBURGH
abrhbiabrhbi
Furcal ss4210TRdmn cf5130
MGiles 2b4321JWilsn ss5011
Shffield rf5233Kendall c4120
CJones lf3211RSndrs rf5110
AJones cf5112CWilsn 1b3223
JvLopz c5112Bay lf4110
DeRosa 3b5132JHrndz 3b4010
Hssmn 1b4112Rboulet 2b4022
HRmrz p3000OlPrez p0000
Bragg ph1000NFigra p1000
Hodges p0000ANunez ph1000
King p0000Mdows p0000
JSWrht p0000Mckwk ph1000
Beimel p0000
Stairs ph1000
Lincoln p0000
Gnzalez p0000
Totals39131313Totals386136
Atlanta007100005--13
Pittsburgh010300110--6
E--DeRosa (5), RSanders (3). DP--Atlanta 2, Pittsburgh 1. LOB--Atlanta 4, Pittsburgh 7. 2B--Sheffield (32), JvLopez (20), DeRosa 2 (11), TRedman (9), CWilson (13). 3B--TRedman (5). HR--MGiles (19), AJones (32), Hessman (2), CWilson (11).
IPHRERBBSO
Atlanta
HRamirez W,9-47105503
Hodges2-321111
King1-300001
JSWright110000
Pittsburgh
OlPerez L,4-82 1-346651
NFigueroa2 2-322201
Meadows210001
Beimel110000
Lincoln033300
Gonzalez122200
Lincoln pitched to 3 batters in the 9th. HBP--by HRamirez (Kendall). Umpires--Home, Lance Barksdale; First, Bruce Dreckman; Second, Brian Runge; Third, Brian Gorman. T--2:58. A--21,323.
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