Cubs turn to Maholm against Braves
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Southpaw Paul Maholm aims for a second 2012 defeat of the Atlanta Braves tonight, when the Chicago Cubs visit them for game three of a four-game series at Turner Field.
A Mississippi native who turned 30 last month, Maholm ended a four-decision skid on June 29 with 8 1/3 innings of scoreless four-hit ball in a 4-0 defeat of the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.
In eight previous starts, Maholm had gone 0-4 while watching his season earned run average swell from 4.05 to 5.38.
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The Cubs dropped seven of those eight starts while being outscored, 48-24.
Maholm's last victory had come against the Braves on May 9, when he spun seven innings of scoreless three-hit ball in a 1-0 victory.
The former first-round draft choice - eighth overall, 2003 - walked three and struck out three in that victory, his second in three decisions across seven career matchups with Atlanta.
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Maholm has held the Braves to only seven earned runs in 47 innings, a stingy 1.34 ERA.
Atlanta replies with Panamanian-born right-hander Randall Delgado, who'll try to end his own four-start drought.
The 22-year-old, who debuted in the majors with seven starts last season, was 4-5 this year after a 2-1 win at Miami on June 6.
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He was 0-3 with a no-decision in his final four starts of the month, allowing 22 hits and 13 runs in 18 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees (loss), Baltimore (loss), Boston (loss) and Washington (no-decision).
Delgado allowed a run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Cubs on May 8, when he won a 3-1 decision in his only previous meeting with Chicago.
In Tuesday's second game, Chipper Jones picked up his third career five-hit game and knocked in four runs in the Braves' 10-3 win.
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"Just feel fortunate that I'm swinging the bat really good right now when the team needs it," Jones said.
Michael Bourn delivered a bases-clearing triple in the Braves' come-from- behind five-run fifth inning and scored three times.
Jair Jurrjens (2-2) picked up the win after allowing three unearned runs on nine hits in five innings.
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Jurrjens was sent to the minor leagues after struggling in his first four starts, in which he was 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA. In three starts since being recalled on June 22, the 26-year-old right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.49 ERA.
Chris Volstad (0-7) was in line for his first win since July 10, 2011, but he imploded in the fifth. Volstad lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks. He has lost 12 straight decisions.
"I just think it's me wanting to be a competitor," Volstad said. "I get runners on base and I'm trying to win the game, and we're ahead, and it's just bad thinking on my part.
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"It's just a matter of me wanting to be perfect and I can't expect that of myself. It's definitely a learning experience for sure."
Chicago won two of three games from the Braves in a May series at Wrigley Field. Atlanta won four of seven from the Cubs last season. Chicago last won the season series in 2008.