(Sports Network) - So far, the Braves have dropped two straight games by a total of two runs. After a wild home opener, Atlanta will try to right the ship tonight in the second test of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field.
Atlanta opened its season on the road in Washington, where it lost 3-2 on a two-run homer by the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman in the ninth inning on Sunday. On Monday against Pittsburgh, the Braves rallied from five runs down to force extra innings, but still fell, 12-11, in 12 innings.
Yunel Escobar walked with the bases loaded to force home a run in the ninth, while Chipper Jones and Brian McCann each stroked two-run singles. McCann's seemingly routine fly ball fell between the Pirates' Jason Bay and Nate McLouth to force the extra playing time.
However, Xavier Nady hit a three-run homer in the 12th for the Pirates, and Franquelis Osoria (1-0) threw the final three innings to pick up his first major league win in the debut of new Pirates manager John Russell. Osoria gave up two runs in the bottom of the 12th to make it close again.
McCann and Jeff Francoeur both homered, with Escobar, Jones and McCann all driving in three runs each. However, Kelly Johnson left the game with a right knee strain and is considered day-to-day.
Overshadowed was the homecoming of two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine, who returned to the Braves after spending five years with the Mets. The 42- year-old Glavine, who pitched for the Braves from 1987-2002, was lifted after allowing seven hits and two runs -- one earned -- over five innings.
Atlanta has still won five of its last seven matchups with the Pirates despite the loss.
Nady homered twice, hitting the game winner off of Blaine Boyer (0-1) and finished 4-for-7 with four runs batted in and four runs scored. McLouth added a three-run homer and finished with three hits and four RBI. Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Doumit each tallied three hits.
Ian Snell started for the Pirates and was charged with seven hits and four runs over six innings.
Tom Gorzelanny will start for Pittsburgh tonight, and the 25-year-old lefty went 14-10 with a shutout and 3.88 earned run average in 32 games last year. His 14 wins led the Pirates staff last season. He has made just one career start versus Atlanta, getting a no-decision after allowing four runs over six innings while striking out seven.
Right-hander Jair Jurrjens, 22, will get his first taste of the National League tonight. Acquired from Detroit in late October in the deal that sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to the Tigers, Jurrjens went 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA in seven starts last year. In four of those starts, he allowed just one earned run.
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