(Sports Network) - While Troy Glaus has put his slow start to the season behind him in a big way, Kenshin Kawakami has seen his losing streak reach double digits.
The Atlanta Braves starter will try to put that 10-decision slide to an end tonight in the continuation of a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Kawakami hasn't won since Aug. 31 of last season in Florida and is 0-8 with a 4.91 earned run average in 11 starts this year. He is getting just 3.25 runs per game of support, but he didn't keep his club in the game early during Friday's loss to the Dodgers. The right-hander matched a season high by allowing five runs over 6 1/3 innings to become the first Braves hurler to lose his first eight decisions since Rosy Ryan did so for the 1925 Boston Braves.
"He struggled a little early, got some pitches up in the zone. Then he pitched well after that, gave us a chance to win," said Braves catcher David Ross.
Kawakami hasn't had much luck on the road this year, losing all seven of his starts away from Atlanta while posting a 5.58 ERA. He got a no-decision against the Diamondbacks on May 14, giving up four runs -- three earned -- over 4 1/3 innings, and is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two lifetime starts versus Arizona.
He can only hope for the same kind of turnaround that Glaus is having. The offseason pickup was hitting just .194 at the end of April, but Glaus has posted a .326 average, nine homers and 36 RBI since May 1 and drove in the go- ahead run in last night's 7-5 victory.
Glaus plated Omar Infante with a two-out double in the eighth inning and Melky Cabrera added an insurance run in the ninth when he scored on a wild pitch. Cabrera and Infante both ended with three hits and an RBI beforeBilly Wagner sealed the win in the ninth with his 10th save.
Atlanta snapped a two-game slide despite losing starter Kris Medlen in the sixth inning after he hurt his shoulder while sliding at the plate.
"It hurt way worse like when it first happened," Medlen said. "It feels way better now. Just a little tight in the back. But I was just trying to make things happen."
Glaus' heroics overshadowed former Brave Kelly Johnson, who had one of three Arizona homers on the night and ended with three hits and three RBI against his old club. Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds also went deep as the Diamondbacks fell to 3-2 on a 10-game homestand after winning Monday's opener.
"We get the home runs, that was good," Johnson said. "But then to scratch across a couple extras, we just came up short. They had a few more opportunities and they cashed in."
Arizona's Ian Kennedy started opposite of Kawakami back on May 14 and will do so again tonight. The right-hander also got a no-decision despite allowing only three runs over 6 1/3 innings in what was his first ever appearance versus the Braves.
Kennedy is 3-3 with a 3.46 ERA this year and is coming off a start versus the Rockies on Friday in which he did not factor into the decision of a 7-6 victory. Though just half of his six runs allowed over six innings were earned, he also yielded three homes while striking out eight.
The Braves have won five of their last seven versus the Diamondbacks.
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