Whatever thoughts Scott Thorman has about his current situation will remain private for now.

Thorman declined to talk after ending an 0-for-20 start with a two-run, seventh-inning single that propelled the Richmond Braves to a 2-1 victory over Buffalo before 1,822 yesterday afternoon at The Diamond.

The Braves got a combined four-hitter from starter Charlie Morton and three relievers as they finished the opening homestand 5-2. They got a key defensive play from center fielder Josh Anderson, who threw out a runner at the plate in the seventh inning. And they got a key hit from Thorman, who began last season as Atlanta's first baseman.

The 26-year-old Thorman hit .216 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI with Atlanta. His playing time was curtailed after the Braves acquired all-star first baseman Mark Teixeira at the end of July.

Thorman was placed on waivers in spring training and outrighted to Richmond after the Braves claimed utility infielder Ruben Gotay off waivers from the New York Mets.

He was hitless here before slicing a ball off the glove of diving Buffalo third baseman Andy Gonzalez with the bases loaded. The ball caromed into shallow left field as Brent Lillibridge and Brandon Jones scored.

"Ain't no question [he's been pressing]," said R-Braves manager Dave Brundage, who didn't see the hit after being ejected by plate umpire Mike Estabrook for arguing the strike zone.

"It's human nature when you've played the whole year in the big leagues and you get sent back down to reality. You've got your career at stake. Everybody wants to do well. Maybe he was loading up his plate with too much."

Dueling: Morton and Buffalo starter Sean Smith mowed down hitters for almost six innings. Morton, who replaced scheduled starter Jorge Campillo (called up by Atlanta), allowed two hits and one run in 52/3 innings.

The 24-year-old right-hander has allowed just one run and five hits in his first two starts covering 101/3 innings.

Smith had a perfect game before surrendering a walk and a single to start the fifth inning.

Going, coming: Campillo was called up by Atlanta, Matt DeSalvo was activated from Richmond's disabled list to replace Campillo, and left-hander Chuck James was sent down. DeSalvo pitched 11/3 innings and picked up the win.

Below average: The Braves, in their last season here, had an average paid attendance of 2,264, with a high of 4,196, during the homestand. The average actual attendance was 1,057, with a high yesterday and a low of 289.

"I don't think that's an indication of how the season's going to go," Brundage said. "I think the weather played into it. You've got to be pretty diehard to sit through nine innings in the rain and 45 degrees. Today was the first day the sun peeked its head into my apartment window. I didn't know I'd need a shade."

Tough ticket: The Braves will experience a big gathering tonight. A sellout crowd will be on hand when Richmond and the IL's newest franchise, Lehigh Valley, open the IronPigs' $49.4 million Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa.

Lehigh Valley replaced Ottawa. The IronPigs are 0-8, the longest losing streak to start a season in the IL since 2001.

Braves left-hander Damian Moss (1-1, 7.36 ERA) will oppose righty J.D. Durbin (0-1, 8.10). Richmond returns to The Diamond on April 19.