Series 5: vs. New York Mets

April 15, 2011
Chris Capuano vs. Tim Hudson

Atlanta led 2-0 after one. By the time they scored their third run, it made it 6-3 in the 7th. That about sums it up. Huddy struggled big time and though George Sherrill stranded two of the runners he inherited in the fifth, Hudson gave up six runs in just four innings. Jairo Ascencio gave up an additional run in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Atlanta never seemed able to break through against Capuano after the first. He struck out eight in six innings.

Nate McLouth hit his fourth homer after Martin Prado singled to open the bottom of the first. David Ross added a solo shot, his third, in the seventh and in the ninth, Freddie Freeman doubled in Dan Uggla to bring up the potential tying run, but the Braves couldn't get any closer in the 7-4 loss.

7-4 LOSS (6-8)
W - C. Capuano (2-0)
L - T. Hudson (1-1)
SV - T. Buchholz (1)

April 16
Brian McCann has a strained rib cage muscle. He was placed on the 15 day DL and isn't expected back until early May. Wilkin Ramirez, who has hit .297 through the first nine games for Gwinnett with three homers, was promoted.

Dillion Gee vs. Derek Lowe

Typical, typical, typical. Starting pitching gives the Braves a chance, but offense continues to not show up. And when it does, it's the moral victory of getting a runner in scoring position, which Atlanta did just once against Gee in his eight innings.

Lowe was not half as sharp as Gee, but contained the Mets over the first six innings. However, Lucas Duda hit a sinker that didn't sink much for a homer in the seventh. Josh Thole followed with a double and after Lowe got a sacrifice bunt attempt from Gee that he forced into an out at third, Lowe was lifted for Eric O'Flaherty. He walked the first batter he saw and than retired the five, three by strikeout. Johnny Venters gave up a double to Thole, but worked a scoreless ninth with two K's.

The offense was held without a runner until the fifth when Jason Heyward walked. He was wiped out on a double play. With an out in the sixth, Diory Hernandez singled. He was only playing because Brandon Hicks sucks. Lowe sacrificed him to second, but he was stranded there. Until the ninth, that was the Braves' only opportunity to score. With K-Rod in and two outs, Nate McLouth worked a walk. Chipper Jones followed with a single and Dan Uggla walked with a full count after fouling off three pitches after there were two strikes. But Heyward struck out to end the game.

1-0 LOSS (6-9)
W - D. Gee (2-1)
L - D. Lowe (0-2)
SV - F. Rodriguez (5)

April 17
With Chipper Jones getting a usual Sunday off, it's play with the lineup day. Prado, 3B; Heyward, RF; McLouth, CF; Ross, C; Freeman, 1B; Uggla, 2B; Hinske, LF; Hernandez, SS

R.A. Dickey vs. Tommy Hanson

This could be a big game. Or just another game. But after going 17.2 ING scoreless, the Braves will take it. Once again, the Mets starter looked like a worldbeater while the Braves hurler was navigating through damage before the bullpen kept it close. The same script from yesterday kept going with Francisco Rodriguez getting the call in the ninth to protect the 1-0 lead.

Martin Prado opened things with a walk. After Jason Heyward flew out, Nate McLouth walked. David Ross hit a long no-doubter, but it curved foul and two pitches later, he struck out. Down to their last out, rookie Freddie Freeman stepped in. After swinging through he pitch, he sent the next one up the middle and Prado scored from second without a throw. Tie game! Dan Uggla worked the count in his favor at 2-1 and ripped a single up the middle. His single was hit harder than Freeman's and Angel Pagan unloaded toward the plate, but McLouth slid under the tag and the Braves won 2-1.

That made up for a play at the plate in the first. After Heyward walked with one out, McLouth doubled and Heyward was thrown out by a relay began by LF Francisco Martinez. Hanson went six innings, giving up six hits and a run. He walked a batter and struck out six, but labored through long innings and was replaced after 97 pitches. George Sherrill, Peter Moylan, and Craig Kimbrel worked scoreless innings, though Kimbrel walked a pair. He picked up the win.

2-1 WIN (7-9)
W - C. Kimbrel (1-0)
L - F. Rodriguez (0-2)