Bucs fall again in tight game in extra innings

Associated Press

ATLANTA

David Ross showed again he can be an effective fill-in for Brian McCann.

Atlanta’s backup catcher hit a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory in extra innings.

This time, there was no controversy, no debate and a lot less innings.

Atlanta and Pittsburgh played 19 innings Tuesday night and Wednesday morning before Julio Lugo scored the winning run on a call at the plate that umpire Jerry Meals later acknowledged was incorrect.

Tuesday’s 19-inning game lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes and was the longest in Turner Field history and in both franchise histories.

Pittsburgh, seeking its first winning season in 19 years, fell 1 1/2 games behind St Louis and Milwaukee in the NL Central.

The Pirates were held to seven hits by Jair Jurrjens and three relievers.

Ross became Atlanta’s starting catcher when the Braves placed McCann on the 15-day DL before the game with a left oblique injury. Ross came through with two hits, driving in both of the Braves’ runs.

“You’re not replacing B-Mac,” Ross said. “I’m trying to get in there and hold down the fort until he comes back.”

Ross is hitting .296. Most recently, he served as Tim Hudson’s personal catcher in a routine that gave McCann a regular day off.

The Braves are 17-6 with Ross starting, and the veteran is hitting .316 with four homers and 18 RBIs in those starts.

“I can’t think of very many teams in the major leagues that have the quality we do at the backup catcher position,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Nate McLouth led off the 10th with a single to right off Chris Leroux (1-1), who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game.

McLouth advanced to third on Freddie Freeman’s one-out single and Leroux intentionally walked Dan Uggla to load the bases for Ross.

Scott Linebrink (4-2) pitched the 10th for the win.