Sun Jul 6 00:36:33 2008

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Loretta, Astros make easy work of slumping Braves

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Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Mark Loretta finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and four RBI as Houston pounded Atlanta, 6-1, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Turner Field.

Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada knocked in the other runs for the Astros, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Chris Sampson (4-3), who predominantly works out of the bullpen, limited Atlanta to two hits and one run over five innings in his first start since May 25.

Brian McCann homered for the Braves, who have dropped six of seven. Jo-Jo Reyes (3-7) lost for the third consecutive start. He was charged with six hits and four runs, all earned, in just 4 1/3 frames.

"This has been a weird season. We can't seem to get anything going," lamented McCann. "Our goal now is to start winning every series. We've still got tomorrow."

The Astros didn't waste time against Reyes, touching him for a pair of runs in the first on back-to-back RBI singles from Lee and Tejada.

It was 4-0 in Houston's next turn at the plate on Loretta's two-run double, and in the fifth Loretta doubled and Lee was given a free pass with one out -- ending Reyes' night for Manny Acosta.

However, Loretta was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch that sailed off the backstop and all the way to Teixeira at first. Tejada then lined out to keep the visitors off the board.

McCann led off the home half with a solo shot just over the wall in right- center but the Braves were unable to muster anything else off Sampson.

Tim Byrdak held Atlanta at bay in the sixth and seventh, giving way to Doug Brocail for a scoreless eighth.

Houston picked up two more runs off Jeff Bennett in the ninth. Pinch-hitter David Newhan worked a one-out walk, then Darin Erstad singled with two down. Ty Wigginton was almost drilled on the fourth ball of his walk which loaded the bases, and Loretta doubled to left to score a pair.

Jose Valverde closed out the game by sending down the home team in order.

"We're not looking at that," Loretta said when asked if his club is concentrating on reaching the .500 mark. "It would be nice. We're taking it a game at a time. If we play well in the next week or so we might get there, but it's not a magic number right now."

Game Notes

Sampson's last start was an eventual 15-6 loss to the Phillies -- after 13 straight relief appearances... It was also his first career win against Atlanta...No Braves runner reached scoring position in the contest...Each club has won four of the last eight meetings.