Series 2: at Milwaukee

April 4, 2011
Derek Lowe vs. Chris Narveson

D-Lowe sucked oh, so badly. In his five innings, he allowed ten hits, walked a batter, threw a ball passed Freddie Freeman on a pick-off, and sweated a lot even though the roof was closed. I hate him so much.

Atlanta did its usual score-early-and-never-again with a Martin Prado single, a Nate McLouth walk, a double steal, and a Brian McCann sacrifice fly. McCann has driven in runs in four straight. Unfortunately, his other two partners in the heart-of-the-order, Chipper Jones and Dan Uggla, have combined for zero RBIs. After that base hit and walk to open the game, the Braves managed just five more hits and two walks off Narveson, who went eight. Alex Gonzalez got his first hit, a double, and than was squashed during a double play in the fourth by Prince Fielder and was replaced. Cristhian Martinez also left with pain in his elbow.

The bullpen scrubs were solid. George Sherrill, Martinez, and Scott Linebrink all tossed hitless innings. Jones had two seeing-eye singles to lead the offense. Freeman and McCann added doubles.

4-1 LOSS (2-2)
W - C. Narveson (1-0)
L - D. Lowe (0-1)
SV - J. Axford (1)

April 5, 2011
Some good news, mostly bad news. Tommy Hanson is fine and will be able to make his next start on the 7th. However, both Alex Gonzalez (sprained finger) and Cristhian Martinez (forearm) will hit the DL. Each will probably miss two-to-three weeks. Jairo Asencio and Diory Hernandez were recalled from Gwinnett.

Tim Hudson vs. Mark Rogers

Peter Moylan completely fucked us and the offense couldn't do enough to overcome his epic failures. Moylan, who already blew one lead this season, retired none of the four batters he faced, allowing three runs before George Sherrill got the call to complete the fuck-up by allowing a fourth run to score (also charged to Moylan). That would prove important because the Braves unveiled their other secret weapon (to go with the sacrifice fly). Two bases loaded walks made it a one-run game and got John Axford the boot. Mark DiFelice retired Freddie Freeman on a fly to center to end it.

Tim Hudson was wonderful except for the first few innings. In the fourth, Nate McLouth tripled and scored on Chipper Jones's first RBI, the predictable sacrifice fly. An out later, Dan Uggla added his first Atlanta hit and RBI with a homer. Mark Rodgers, a pitcher, doubled home Brandon Boggs in the fifth to make it 2-1 and Huddy pitched around a little trouble in the sixth before giving way to Eric O'Flaherty in the 7th. A 1-2-3 inning with two K's followed. With Jonny Venters tired, Moylan got the call. Bad things happened.

Jason Heyward and Brooks Conrad got bases-loaded walks in the ninth and McLouth finished with two hits. He is second behind McCann with a .389 AVG.

5-4 LOSS (2-3)
W - M. Rogers (1-0)
L - P. Moylan (0-1)
SV - M. DiFelice (1)

April 7, 2011
Brandon Beachy vs. Yovani Gallardo

The offense's goal to be completely horrible is working so well. The same formula brings upon another loss. Score a run or two early, watch the other team tie and ultimately pass you, rinse and repeat. Using two walks and two seeing-eye singles, the Braves scored twice in the first. Huge offensive explosions!

Brandon Beachy wasn't bad, though he gave up four runs in 6.1 ING. But his offense gave him three hits. Oh, guess that means just one hit after the first. In six games, the Braves have outscored the opposition 5-0. After the first, we are losing 22-13. I feel that might hinder our season if it continues. Unless...we score a gajillion runs in the first...

Anyway, Scott Linebrink tossed 1.2 innings of awesomeness.

4-2 LOSS (2-4)
W - Y. Gallardo (2-0)
L - B. Beachy (0-1)
SV - M. McClendon (1)

April 7
Tommy Hanson vs. Nate Robertson

Jonny Venters gave up a two-run shot to Mike Rivera of all people, sending the Braves to a sweep at the hands of the Brewers 4-2. After working a scoreless eighth, Venters was sent out with the hope that he could get them to extras. It, um, did not work so hot.

Atlanta never led this game. They tied it with a run in the sixth as Dan Uggla doubled in Brian McCann. In the eighth, Freddie Freeman brought Uggla home with a base hit.

Tommy Hanson, who left his last start and was pushed back a day, was solid. He scattered six hits, only one for extra bases, over seven innings. He walked no one and struck out eight. Martin Prado had the only two-hit game for Atlanta, doubling twice.

4-2 LOSS (2-5)
W - S. Green (1-0)
L - J. Venters (2-1)