NEWS » d even in the fourth.The Astros took a 9-7 lead against Ubaldo

CINCINNATI -- The Atlanta Braves were hoping for a spark when they fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on May 17 and named Brian Snitker interim skipper. Things got better, but in truth they couldnt have gotten much worse after an 11-28 start. Under Snitker, the Braves went 23-32, but still reside in last place in the National League East.Atlanta is looking to get back on track Monday when it begins a three-game series against another last-place club with a manager on the hot seat -- Bryan Price and the Cincinnati Reds. The teams split a four-game series at Turner Field in June.One of the key components in the Reds rebuilding effort -- left-hander Brandon Finnegan -- will start the series opener. Its his second career start against the Braves.Finnegan was singled out by Price as being among the young pitchers the Reds want to limit innings in the second half. The left-hander, who was acquired last July from the Kansas City Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade, has tossed 101 1/3 innings already this season over 18 starts. His nine quality starts are tied with Dan Straily for the team lead.On Monday, Finnegan will be looking for a little good fortune after three times being the victim of a blown save, tying him for most on the staff. He also was the starter when the Cubs Jake Arrieta no-hit Cincinnati on April 21.Atlanta will counter with right-hander Matt Wisler who defeated the Reds on June 16 when he allowed two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in a 7-2 win at Turner Field. Wisler is 4-8 with a 4.47 ERA in 18 appearances including 17 starts.The Reds, who took the series from Milwaukee with a 1-0 walk-off victory on Sunday, have been working with a thin bench, with second baseman Brandon Phillips out with a strained calf muscle. Outfielder Kyle Waldrop was recalled from Triple-A on Sunday to give them another able bat.Phillips was out of the lineup again on Sunday, but he is likely to return for the opener against Atlanta.Hes better than he was the day before, said Price of Phillips. Hopefully, hell be ready tomorrow. Its essentially a three-man bench. (Waldrop) did a nice job off the bench for us his last time here. You know I dont like for young players to come up here and sit on the bench for more than 10 to 14 days before getting back to getting regular at-bats.The Braves also won 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday when Chase dArnaud drove in the winning run with a single.The Braves bullpen struggled Friday and Saturday, but did the job Sunday, as four relievers combined to pitch two shutout innings.The first series back from a break is always kind of tricky, said Jim Johnson, the last of the Braves relievers Sunday and the winning pitcher. 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BALTIMORE -- Stunned by an early barrage of home runs, the Houston Astros put on an offensive show of their own to emphatically end a five-game losing streak.Jose Altuve homered and had five RBI, and Houston rallied to beat the Baltimore Orioles 15-8 on Friday night despite allowing four homers in the first inning.George Springer went 4 for 5 with a home run for the Astros, who also got long balls from Evan Gattis and Teoscar Hernandez.Early on, Houston appeared destined to drop to .500 for the first time since June 1.The Orioles became the first team in the modern era (since 1900) to open a game with four home runs before making an out, according to STATS. Adam Jones hit Collin McHughs first pitch into the seats in left field and Hyun Soo Kim singled before Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo homered in succession.Houston answered with a five-run second to go up 6-5. Altuve capped the surge with a two-run double with two outs to chase Wade Miley, who matched the shortest start of his career.You go from really being shell-shocked in the first with the home runs -- to knocking out their starter in the top of the second, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Its hard to describe, because youre not used to seeing that at this level. But that was quite an outburst for us.Springer said, The key to that game was that second inning.When the Astros finally got done running around the bases, they had a victory to savor.I know that this game is going to create some momentum, Altuve said, and were going to keep winning games.Altuve became the first Astro to have 20 homers and 20 steals in a season since Carlos Beltran in 2004.The Orioles, meanwhile, have 11 home runs in the first two games of this series. But Baltimore didnt have enough firepower in this one to overcome its poor pitching, which surrendered a season-high 15 runs and 18 hits.Miley was the most obvious culprit. Staked to a 5-1 lead, he goot two more outs before being lifted.ddddddddddddt was terrible. Its embarrassing for that to happen, he said. I flat-out stunk.The left-hander is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in four starts since being traded from Seattle on July 31.Chris Devenski (2-4) allowed one hit in four innings for the Astros after McHugh yielded seven runs and nine hits in three innings.I dont know if Ive ever been blitzed like that before in my career, the right-hander said. Todays game in general was kind of a crazy.Springer provided a glimpse of things to come by hitting a leadoff homer on the fifth pitch from Miley.After the teams traded five-run innings, Baltimore went up 7-6 in the third and Houston pulled even in the fourth.The Astros took a 9-7 lead against Ubaldo Jimenez (5-10) in the fifth. Hernandez blooped an RBI single to center and Springer greeted Tyler Wilson with a run-scoring single.Pedro Alvarez homered in the bottom half before Houston pulled away in the sixth, getting a two-run homer from Altuve and a solo shot from Gattis.ROSTER MOVESAstros: Optioned reliever James Hoyt to Triple-A Fresno and recalled Brad Peacock from the same club. We need some fresh arms up here, Hinch said.Orioles: Optioned Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk after the game.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: OF Jake Marisnick got the night off as he tries to work through a sore groin. Hes played in only two games since Aug. 11. Hes not moving quite at full speed, Hinch said.Orioles: OF Joey Rickard (thumb) wont be ready to play when rosters expand on Sept. 1, manager Buck Showalter said.UP NEXTAstros: Mike Fiers (8-6, 4.66 ERA) makes his 88th career start Saturday, facing the Orioles for the first time.Orioles: Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.46) gets the call after having his start Wednesday pushed back because of a sore right shoulder. ' ' '