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Braves game washed out
0518Braves
Atlanta Braves fans wait out a rain delay Sunday at Turner Field in Atlanta. The game was rained out. - photo by JOHN AMIS

Braves vs. Rockies

When: 7 tonight

Where: Turner Field, Atlanta

Pitchers: Braves, RHP Derek Lowe (5-1, 3.80); Rockies, RHP Jon Garland (3-2, 5.18)

TV, radio: Peachtree TV; 102.9 FM

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com, 404-577-9100

Web site: www.atlantabraves.com

ATLANTA — The Arizona Diamondbacks will have to wait to see if their lopsided win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night was a momentum builder.

The Braves will have to wait to move past their most lopsided loss in almost three years.

The Diamondbacks’ game against the Braves on Sunday was postponed due to persistent rain. No makeup date has been set, and although Arizona is not scheduled to return to Atlanta this season, each team has an off day on Aug. 17.

"We have compatible off days, so there’s a way to do it," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

The postponement ended the Braves’ hopes of winning their fourth straight series for the first time since April-May 2007, but Atlanta’s recent upswing was interrupted by Arizona’s 12-0 win on Saturday night. The loss was the Braves’ worst in a shutout since a 13-0 loss at Arizona on May 20, 2006, and it left the series tied at 1-1.

"It happens," said Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur. "Those are games you’re going to have every year and you just kind of do it and move on. I don’t think there’s any reason to panic about that or get all bent out of shape."

Francoeur said the Braves were hoping to play Sunday to move past the ugly loss.

"We did want to play, but there are so many games," Francoeur said. "We’ll be back at it and ready to go."

Cox said Sunday’s scheduled starter, Derek Lowe, will start today’s opener of a four-game home series against Colorado, followed by Jair Jurrjens and Javier Vazquez.

Kris Medlen was set to be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Tuesday. Instead, he’ll have to wait until Thursday for his major league debut.

"He’ll be fine," Cox said. "He’s not going to forget how to pitch."

Jon Garland, who had been scheduled to pitch for the Diamondbacks, will start Tuesday at Florida. Dan Haren will remain on schedule for Arizona’s series opener at Florida today.

When reworking his rotation plans Sunday, Arizona manager A.J. Hinch did not announce starting pitchers for games at Florida on Wednesday and Thursday. Rookie Bryan Augenstein had been listed as Tuesday’s starter.

The Diamondbacks are 2-6 under Hinch, who had an eventful three days in Atlanta. He had to meet with Doug Davis on Saturday after Davis was upset he was removed in the seventh inning of Friday night’s 4-3 loss to the Braves after throwing only 80 pitches.

On Sunday, Hinch fielded questions about former Arizona pitching coach Bryan Price saying Hinch was not qualified to be manager.

Price resigned when Bob Melvin was fired on May 8.

Price told the Marin Independent Journal in California that the hiring of Hinch was "a poor decision." Price said Hinch, who was in his fourth season as the team’s director of player development, "doesn’t have any credibility between the lines as a manager."

Added Price: "That, for me, just wasn’t going to work."

Hinch said Sunday his lack of experience as a manager "is a fact. It’s hard to negate that." But he added that he’s not shaken by Price’s criticism.

"These jobs are held in high regard and a lot of people work their tail off to get the opportunity that I was provided," Hinch said. "It’s not surprising because of how special these jobs are. And I don’t take it personally. Because I think it’s more directed at the position.

"I have confidence in my abilities running a game and being in this position."

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