Game Recap: 7/28/11

WP: Correia (12-8)

LP: Lowe (6-9)

SV: Hanrahan (30)

In game four of what has turned into a rather lengthy series, the Braves sent the struggling Derek Lowe to the mound to face Pirates' All-Star Kevin Correia.

The Braves got on the board early in the first, taking a 1-0 lead on a Eric Hinske ground-rule double, their first lead of the series that didn't result in the end of the game. Being a ground-rule double, it cost the Braves a run as Freddie Freeman wasn't allowed to advance past third and was left there when David Ross flew out to right field. The Pirates answered back in the top of the second with Correia singling first basman Lyle Overbay in before leadoff man Xavier Paul grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Lowe returned to the mound to start the fifth after a rain delay and the wheels began to fall off of his wagon. He allowed back-to-back singles from Paul and Garrett Jones before giving up the lead after Andrew McCutchen hit a double to LF. Pedro Alvarez scored Jones on an RBI groundout to Freddie Freeman to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead.

New Braves reliever Anthony Varvaro, called up before the game to give the Braves another arm in the bullpen, replace Lowe to start the sixth inning. He made his debut with style, striking out Michael McKendry and Correia before inducing a flyout from Paul to end the inning. Dan Uggla continued to prove that he's out of his slump by singling in Freddie Freeman, who had hit a leadoff double, to cut the lead to 3-2.

Varvaro showed some of the wildness he showed in the minors, walking three consecutive batters in the seventh but struck out Ronny Cedeno to end the inning. Sherrill struck out the side in the top of the eighth, but when Fredi Gonzalez relied on him to face McCutchen in the top of the ninth he surrendered a two-run homer to seal the Braves' fate. Joel Hanrahan, who had come in to get the last out of the eighth, pitched around a David Ross double to close the door and give the Pirates the series split.