ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves beefed up for a playoff run, acquiring speedy outfielder Michael Bourn from the Houston Astros in a five-player trade Sunday.
The Astros received outfielder Jordan Schafer and three minor-league pitchers, but the Braves didn’t give up any of their top pitching prospects.
In Bourn, who was hitting .303 and leading the majors with 39 stolen bases, Atlanta received a much-needed leadoff hitter and bolstered a lineup plagued by injuries and lackluster performances.
“We haven’t had that kind of threat in the top of our lineup in a long time,” said third baseman Chipper Jones, one of the numerous players slowed by injuries.
The Braves went into Sunday’s game against Florida leading the NL wild-card race and trailing Philadelphia by five games in the East Division. They had been pursuing an outfielder for weeks, watching as the Phillies acquired Hunter Pence from the Astros and defending World Series champion San
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