Craig Monroe Single-Handedly Dispatches Braves

PITTSBURGH 10, ATLANTA 0

Outfielder Craig Monroe, playing in his sixth game as a Pirate, smacked two home runs and drove in six as the Pirates jumped on Jo-Jo Reyes late and tacked on more for a 10-0 win.

The loss marked the first time since 1974 that the Braves were shut out by the Pirates in two consecutive games:

July 18, 1974: 4-0
July 19, 1974: 2-0

Atlanta starter Jo-Jo Reyes, called up to take the start for the injured Tom Glavine, allowed just one run on three hits through five innings. The sixth inning, however, was the decisive one. After allowing on a triple and a comebacker with one out, Reyes got Adam LaRoche to strike out. However, Craig Monroe launched a ball to center field for a three-run shot to increase the lead to 5-0. He added another three-run shot off of Buddy Carlyle in the seventh and the Pirates tacked on another run in the eighth.

The Braves had only one runner in scoring position the entire game: Casey Kotchman got to second with a two-out double in the fourth inning off of Ian Snell.

I didn't see most of this game myself, and I'm glad I didn't. The Braves are playing the finale right now and it's looking good: they're up 6-0 on a rainy day in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a three-run first and Martin Prado's three-run homer in the top of the fourth.

W - Ian Snell (1-2)
L - Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1)
HR - Craig Monroe 2 (2)

THREE STARS

GOLD
RF Craig Monroe, Pittsburgh - 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI

SILVER
C Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh - 3-4, 3 2B, 3 R, BB, RBI

BRONZE
P Ian Snell, Pittsburgh - 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO

AP Photo by Gene J. Puskar