ATLANTA (AP) - A six-game losing streak and perplexing offensive funk have left the Atlanta Braves desperate for wins and runs.
The latest loss prompted manager Fredi Gonzalez to talk about possible changes in his lineup.
Atlanta was held to one run for the third straight loss as the San Francisco Giants completed their first three-game sweep at Turner Field by beating the Braves 4-1 on Sunday.
Brandon Crawford hit two home runs as the Giants completed their first three-game sweep in Atlanta since 1988 at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
The Braves were held to four hits, stretching Gonzalez’s patience.
“We just got one run. Again,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t want to use the word frustrating, and I won’t, but I don’t know if there’s another word I could use. But we’re too talented offensively to not be able to put a crooked number up.”
The Braves’ skid is their longest skid since an eight-game slide in May 2012.
“We’ve been struggling,” said Dan Uggla, who was 0 for 4 and is hitting .190. “We’ve got to turn the corner and just turn this thing around. Like, now.”
Gonzalez hinted he may tweak his lineup when the Braves open a series against St. Louis on Monday night.
“We’ll see,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t know about shaking it up too much. This is basically the club that won the division last year.”
The Braves still lead the NL East by one-half game over Washington.
Gonzalez promised an offensive turnaround is coming.
“Somebody’s going to have to pay for it,” Gonzalez said. “Sooner or later somebody’s going to come in here and we’re going to score 10 runs a game for two or three weeks. That’s my mindset I’ve got going on right now.”
San Francisco swept the series despite not having a hit with a runner in scoring position. The Giants were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position on Sunday and 0 for 7 in the series.
“That’s incredible,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “What a job our pitching did here. … The long ball, that’s what won it for us because we couldn’t get a hit. They had great pitching as well.”
Madison Bumgarner pitched six sharp innings as the NL West-leading Giants won their fifth in a row.
Bumgarner (3-3) allowed one unearned run and three hits, striking out nine.
Santiago Casilla pitched the ninth for his first save as closer Sergio Romo was rested.
Crawford gave the Giants a 2-1 lead with his homer off Alex Wood (2-5) in the fourth. Crawford hit a two-run shot off Jordan Walden in the eighth for his first career multihomer game. He began the day with only one homer this season.
Wood lost his fourth straight start, again receiving almost no run support. The one run scored by Atlanta on Sunday is the only offense Wood has received in that span, which included back-to-back 1-0 losses.
The left-hander has a 3.00 ERA after allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings.
The Giants’ only runs in their first two wins of the series came on five solo homers. They found another way to score in the first when Hunter Pence hit a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Buster Posey’s grounder to first base.
Atlanta’s Evan Gattis was called for catcher’s interference on Posey’s grounder, and the umpires initially ruled Posey was safe at first and Pence had to return to third base. Bochy took advantage of Rule 6.08c, which allows a manager to take the live play instead of the interference ruling.
Jason Heyward hit a sacrifice fly in the Atlanta third. The Giants reclaimed the lead on Crawford’s homer to right-center with two outs in the fourth.
NOTES: Gonzalez said SS Andrelton Simmons was held out for personal reasons and is expected to start on Monday. … Braves RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow surgery) came off the 15-day DL and will start on Tuesday against St. Louis as RHP Ervin Santana has his scheduled start skipped due to swelling below his right thumb. Gonzalez said he expects Santana to start on Saturday against the Cubs. … The Braves’ homestand continues on Monday night with RHP Aaron Harang facing Cardinals RHP Shelby Miller.
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