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MLB - Atlanta Braves

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Braves' Campillo Hopes To Keep Diamondbacks' Bats In Check

(Sports Network) - The Arizona Diamondbacks' struggling offense gets to face one of the National League's hottest pitchers when the current National League West leaders continue a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves tonight at Chase Field.

Jorge Campillo has been a huge shot in the arm to Atlanta's injury-riddled rotation, especially since the All-Star break. In four starts following the midseason hiatus, the Mexican right-hander has yielded just two runs over 22 2/3 innings and has won his last three decisions to improve to 6-4 on the season.

During that four-start span, Campillo has given up just 17 hits and walked two batters while racking up 17 strikeouts.

Campillo, who will turn 30 years old on Sunday, continued his masterful recent pitching by firing seven shutout innings to defeat Milwaukee this past Sunday. The effort lowered his season earned run average to an outstanding 2.58 over 108 total innings of work.

Campillo made a spot start against the Diamondbacks in Atlanta on May 24 and shut out Arizona over four innings, although he did not pitch long enough to get credit for the win in the Braves' 3-1 triumph.

He'll be facing an Arizona squad that has mustered three runs or less in six of its last eight games and was stymied by Atlanta rookie Charlie Morton in last night's 6-4 loss.

Morton (3-5) surrendered just five hits and one walk over seven shutout innings, matching his longest outing as a major leaguer. The Diamondbacks scored four times off reliever Blaine Boyer in the eighth, but Mike Gonzalez came on to retire all four batters he faced and pick up the save.

Yunel Escobar went 2-for-4 with a two-run double to lead Atlanta offensively, while Gregor Blanco and Brian McCann each had a pair of hits and an RBI in the win.

Mark Reynolds belted a three-run homer off Boyer in the eighth inning for Arizona, which has lost two in a row and four of its last six. The Diamondbacks' lead over second-place Los Angeles was trimmed to 1 1/2 games with Thursday's defeat.

Doug Davis will attempt to rebound from a forgettable last start when he takes the hill for Arizona tonight. The veteran lefty lasted just 1 2/3 innings in a loss to the Dodgers last Sunday, with Davis allowing five runs and six hits before exiting.

The 32-year-old was outstanding in his previous start, however. Against San Diego on July 29, Davis gave up a mere two hits and struck out eight over 7 2/3 shutout frames to beat the light-hitting Padres.

Davis had a memorable victory over the Braves in Atlanta on May 23. In his first start since missing more than six weeks due to thyroid cancer surgery, he delivered seven innings of one-run ball to lead the D-Backs to an 11-1 rout. That was Davis' only decision in four career starts versus the Braves.

Atlanta may have Chipper Jones available for tonight's tilt, as the All-Star third baseman appears ready to return from his stint on the disabled list. Jones, who leads the majors with a .369 average, has not played since July 23 due to a strained left hamstring.

These two clubs split a four-game series in Atlanta from May 23-26.

Atlanta Braves


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