Braves rookie Medlen expected to get another star

Medlen (0-2) was charged with four runs, four hits and two walks in 5-1/3 innings of Tuesday's 4-0 loss against the Giants and ace Tim Lincecum, who allowed just five singles and two walks in eight innings while improving to 5-0 in five starts against the Braves.

All the runs against Medlen came in the second inning, when he gave up four hits and a costly five-pitch walk against Lincecum with two outs and two runners on base.

Aaron Rowand followed with a two-run double and Edgar Renteria added a two-run single before Medlen got out of the inning. He retired the last 11 batters he faced after Renteria's hit, but the damage was done — especially with the 2008 Cy Young Award winner pitching for San Francisco.

"The biggest thing was the walk to Lincecum," Medlen said. "Rowand made me pay for it."

Medlen said he didn't know what happened and had no explanation for his inability to throw strikes to the pitcher with two outs and two runners on base. Once again, nervousness appeared to cost him dearly.

In his first start five days before against Colorado, Medlen hit pitcher Aaron Cook with a pitch with the bases loaded during a rough fourth inning where he faced four batters without getting an out.

He'd already issued two four-pitch walks before hitting Cook, and all the runners scored on a grand slam off reliever James Parr. Medlen was charged with five runs, three hits and five walks in three innings.

"He was better [Tuesday]," Cox said, but added, "Just that one inning. ... He couldn't get it close to the plate against [Lincecum], and it cost us some runs. You don't want to get behind that many runs against him. He's not going to give you many. He's tough

It wasn't certain whether the Braves would consider other possibilities for Sunday's start, including top prospect Tommy Hanson.

Hanson is 3-3 with a stingy 1.48 ERA and .164 opponents' average in 10 starts at Class AAA Gwinnett, where he's piled up 82 strikeouts and 17 walks in 60-2/3 innings.

Since the Braves first announced that his friend and roommate Medlen was going up from Gwinnett to pitch for Atlanta, Hanson has made three starts for Gwinnett. He has dominated in those games, going 2-0 while allowing one run, eight hits and four walks with 23 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Hanson also pitched Tuesday — against Indianapolis, recording nine strikeouts in seven innings while giving up one run and getting no decision.

Charlie Morton has also pitched well at Gwinnett, going 6-2 with a 2.91 ERA in nine starts, with 48 strikeouts and 15 walks in 55-2/3 innings. Morton's last start was Sunday.

Escobar still out

Shortstop Yunel Escobar missed his fifth consecutive start with a strained right hip flexor. Cox said Escobar was doing better, but didn't know when h'd return to the lineup. "We can go a few more days," Cox said, meaning the Braves would have to consider putting Escobar on the 15-day disabled list if he's not ready by then.