Pirates catch Escobar, Braves off-guard

The Pirates had a 2-1 lead and runners at first and second when Adam LaRoche hit a grounder up the middle that second baseman Kelly Johnson fielded behind the base. Johnson made a nifty play and flicked the ball to Escobar a split-second too late.

The runner beat the throw to second, and Escobar held the ball and failed to check on the runner who advanced to third base ... and was now headed for home.

Craig Monroe never slowed at third, racing all the way from second base to home and beating a hurried throw by a surprised Escobar, a throw too wide and late.

"It was a good base-running play, that's all I can say about that," Braves catcher Brian McCann said.

Johnson said: "I just think he [Escobar] probably assumed he wasn't going to try to score. You've just got to peak in at the runner. Certainly it was the last thing on my mind, too, that he would be going."

What happened from Escobar's perspective wasn't known, because he left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters. And left others to answer questions about the play.

"I don't know what to say about that [play]," said Braves starter Jair Jurrjens, who came away with a loss after another quality start.

Jurrjens (5-4) recovered from a two-run third inning to retire the last 10 batters he faced, leaving after throwing 111 pitches and allowing four hits, two runs and three walks with seven strikeouts.

Jurrjens ranks among National League leaders with a 2.85 ERA, but the Braves have scored one or no runs while Jurrjens has been in the game in seven of his 13 starts.

"It's just a little frustrating," he said. "We haven't had a four-game winning streak. This was a big one for us, and we let it get away."

Jurrjens is 0-2 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts against the Pirates this season, and the Braves scored one and no runs while he was in those games.

"It really is frustrating," McCann said. "He's just been unbelievable all season long. He's not getting the wins. We really feel bad."

Opposing starter Charlie Morton was gone after one inning of his season debut, leaving with tightness in his right hamstring. The Braves traded him and two other prospects to the Pirates last week for center fielder Nate McLouth.

The Braves mustered four hits and one run in 4-1/3 innings against right-hander Jeff Karstens, who pitched well on short notice. Three other relievers held them hitless from there until Anderson's homer.

After Anderson's homer, Greg Norton flied out to end the game and drop his average to .098.

The Braves have two runs or fewer eight times in their past 15 games.

They got a run in the sixth when Escobar doubled and scored on McCann's two-out shot off the top of the center-field fence, which McCann and manager Bobby Cox initially believed to be a home run.

After Cox requested it be reviewed, umpires adjourned to a room next to the visitor's dugout that's set up with a TV monitor for that purpose. It was the first time Cox requested a replay since the new rule went into effect last year.

The call stood, because replays showed the ball bounced off the top of the padded fence and back on the field, without caroming a retaining wall behind the fence.

"They got it right, from what I heard," Cox said.