ATLANTA -- Rookie right-hander David Hale allowed only two hits over eight innings in a performance that may not be enough to save his spot in Atlanta's rotation and the Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Saturday night.Freddie Freeman, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis each homered off Cincinnati's Mike Leake (2-2).Hale gave up a walk and two hits, including Ryan Ludwick's run-scoring double, in the first inning. He didn't allow another hit as he faced the minimum 21 batters over the next seven innings.Cincinnati's only other baserunner against Hale came on Jay Bruce's leadoff walk in the fourth, and the Braves ended that inning with a double play. 
Craig Kimbrel closed the combined two-hitter for his eighth save.Hale (1-0) has a 2.31 ERA in four starts but could lose his spot in the rotation next week, when left-hander Mike Minor is expected to come off the disabled list.Kimbrel gave up a one-out walk to Joey Votto in the ninth before striking out Brandon Phillips and Bruce to end the game.Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Upton and Gattis hit back-to-back homers in the third. Upton, who also hit a homer in the Braves' 5-4 win on Friday night, leads the team with seven.Ludwick reached over the left-field wall to take another homer away from Freeman in the third inning.The three homers matched the most allowed in a game by Leake, who gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings.Minor was projected as one of the team's top starters even before Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy had season-ending elbow injuries in spring training.Minor had urinary tract surgery on Dec. 31, which pushed back his spring schedule. He then developed shoulder soreness and was shut down in spring training.Manager Fredi Gonzalez brushed off Minor's ugly numbers in what is expected to be his final minor league rehab appearance on Friday night for Double-A Mississippi at Pensacola. Gonzalez said a "howling" wind was a major factor as Minor gave up five runs and 10 hits, including four homers.Gonzalez said he'll wait until after Minor's next side session to announce any rotation changes for next week.The Reds held out third baseman Todd Frazier after he left Friday night's game with tightness in his left leg. Manager Bryan Price said Frazier probably could have played and likely will miss only one game. Neftali Soto was 0-for-3 in his first career start as Frazier's replacement.Associated Press
Craig Kimbrel closed the combined two-hitter for his eighth save.Hale (1-0) has a 2.31 ERA in four starts but could lose his spot in the rotation next week, when left-hander Mike Minor is expected to come off the disabled list.Kimbrel gave up a one-out walk to Joey Votto in the ninth before striking out Brandon Phillips and Bruce to end the game.Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Upton and Gattis hit back-to-back homers in the third. Upton, who also hit a homer in the Braves' 5-4 win on Friday night, leads the team with seven.Ludwick reached over the left-field wall to take another homer away from Freeman in the third inning.The three homers matched the most allowed in a game by Leake, who gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings.Minor was projected as one of the team's top starters even before Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy had season-ending elbow injuries in spring training.Minor had urinary tract surgery on Dec. 31, which pushed back his spring schedule. He then developed shoulder soreness and was shut down in spring training.Manager Fredi Gonzalez brushed off Minor's ugly numbers in what is expected to be his final minor league rehab appearance on Friday night for Double-A Mississippi at Pensacola. Gonzalez said a "howling" wind was a major factor as Minor gave up five runs and 10 hits, including four homers.Gonzalez said he'll wait until after Minor's next side session to announce any rotation changes for next week.The Reds held out third baseman Todd Frazier after he left Friday night's game with tightness in his left leg. Manager Bryan Price said Frazier probably could have played and likely will miss only one game. Neftali Soto was 0-for-3 in his first career start as Frazier's replacement.Associated Press
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