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(Sports Network) - Mike Hampton will make his first start in nearly two years tonight for the Atlanta Braves, who will wrap up a three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field.

Hampton missed the past two seasons after undergoing major elbow procedures, and went 5-3 with a 3.50 earned run average in 12 starts during the 2005 campaign. Hampton, who is in the final season of the eight-year, $121 million contract he signed with Colorado before 2001, had a decent spring training and if healthy, will serve as another veteran arm in the experienced Atlanta rotation along with John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Tim Hudson.

Hampton last toed the rubber on August 19, 2005 against the San Diego Padres, allowing seven runs and 11 hits in just 3 1/3 innings of a 12-7 loss at Turner Field. The left-hander, who has been on the DL eight times since Atlanta traded for him in 2003, owns a 10-3 mark with three shutouts and 2.71 ERA over 22 career games (16 starts) against Pittsburgh.

The Braves recorded their first win of the 2008 campaign with Wednesday's 10-2 drubbing of the Bucs in the second installment of this series. Yunel Escobar homered and knocked in three runs, while Mark Teixeira and Matt Diaz both went deep and finished with a pair of RBI for the Braves.

Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens earned the win after yielding two runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. Six relievers then sealed the deal for the Braves.

Xavier Nady continued his hot start to the season for Pittsburgh by driving in a pair of runs in a losing effort. Ryan Doumit and Freddy Sanchez each had two hits, but Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs and six hits in six innings.

Pittsburgh's Damaso Marte was roughed up for four runs in relief.

Pirates starter Zach Duke hopes he can erase a subpar 2007 season when he toes the rubber tonight against the Braves.

Duke finished last season with a 3-8 record and a 5.53 earned run average in 20 games, 19 of which were starts. In his last six trips to the rubber last season, he ended with two losses and four no decisions.

The southpaw owns a 1-2 record with a 3.43 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta. Duke took on the Braves once in 2007, surrendering four runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 home loss.

Atlanta has won six of its last eight matchups with the Pirates, including four of the five most recent meetings at Turner Field.