Cincinnati Reds (11-11) at Atlanta Braves (10-12), 7:35 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Braves look to break out of their slump when they continue a four-game series Friday versus the Cincinnati Reds.
The Braves lost Thursday's opener of this set by a 5-1 score, as Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake twirled eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball. Shelby Miller started for Atlanta and was dealt the loss for giving up three runs, two of which were earned, in seven innings.
"He did an outstanding job," Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt said of Leake. "He controlled the bats pretty well. You have to take your hat off to him."
Freddie Freeman drove in the lone run for the Braves, who have lost three in a row and eight of their last 10 games.
Atlanta lost two of three games versus the Washington Nationals to start this 10-game stay at Turner Field and will also host the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Braves lost third baseman Chris Johnson to a hand injury when he slid headfirst into second base during the fourth inning. He sustained a fractured left hand and was out on the play. Johnson was immediately placed on the disabled list and has a .279 batting average with no homers and five RBI.
"Being on the DL will stink for me because I just want to be out there and playing baseball," Johnson said. "But it will get better and I'll get back."
Mike Foltynewicz will make his first career start for the Braves Friday and was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett. The right-hander has never faced Cincinnati and went 0-1 with a 5.30 ERA in 16 relief appearances with the Houston Astros last season.
The Reds have prevailed in three of their last four games and opened a 10-game trek on a high note last night. Leake was brilliant on the mound and received plenty of support in home runs from Billy Hamilton, Todd Frazier and Tucker Barnhart.
Leake helped his own cause with a home run and followed Barnhart's blast to lead off the seventh inning.
"I've never went back-to-back with my battery mate," Barnhart said. "It was fun."
Cincinnati will also visit the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox on this road trip.
Taking the mound for the Reds on Friday will be Anthony DeSclafani. DeSclafani has a 2-1 record and a 1.04 earned run average, and had a personal two-game winning streak cut short with Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
DeSclafani gave up five runs -- one earned -- in five innings against the Cubs and was coming off consecutive scoreless performances. The right-hander has won both of his road starts and will face Atlanta for the first time.
The Reds went 2-5 against the Braves last season, losing the first five meetings between the ballclubs.