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Braves fall to Pirates in extra innings
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Atlanta Braves Matt Diaz (23) breaks up a double play after being forced out at second base by Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson on Mark Kotsay’s ground ball in the sixth inning on Thursday in Atlanta. - photo by The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Mike Hampton grimaced after throwing a warmup pitch, and the Atlanta Braves bullpen got ready for a long night — in the field and on the mound.

Eventually, Xavier Nady and the Pittsburgh Pirates broke through.

Nady, who hit two homers in the Pirates’ extra-innings win in the series opener, drove in Nyjer Morgan with a 10th-inning single and the Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 on Thursday night.

The Braves used seven pitchers after Mike Hampton’s much-anticipated comeback was postponed by a chest injury suffered in pregame warmups. Jeff Bennett started in Hampton’s place.

Hampton’s absence forced the Braves to get creative with their bullpen.

Chris Resop started the 10th on the mound, moved to left field for a batter to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup, and then went back to the mound. Once there, Resop (0-1) gave up Nady’s go-ahead single.

The Pirates also have a new injury concern, after shortstop Jack Wilson left the game after straining his left calf while running out a game-tying single in the seventh inning.

Hampton and Wilson were listed as day to day.

Les Lancaster was the last major leaguer to pitch, play in the field and go back to the mound in the same inning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He did it for the Chicago Cubs on June 13, 1990, in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets.

Mark Kotsay hit a two-out triple off Matt Capps in the bottom of the 10th. Pinch-hitter Brian McCann grounded out to first and Capps earned his first save.

The Pirates won Monday in the first game of the series 12-11 in 12 innings.

Resop walked Morgan to lead off the 10th. Morgan moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Rivas. Resop also walked Jason Bay, and Corky Miller couldn’t handle ball four, allowing Morgan to move to third.

Resop moved to left field while left-hander Royce Ring struck out Adam LaRoche, but Resop returned to the mound to give up Nady’s go-ahead single.

Tyler Yates (1-0) earned the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Bennett gave up four hits and two runs in four innings.

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