May 9, 2011
After the disappointment in Philly, the last thing we wanted as we came home was to find out that Tim Hudson has a torn flexor tendon in his elbow and will be out for the rest of the season. Julio Teheran, who replaced Jair Jurrjens in the rotation, looks to be a fixture. Jurrjens is expected to make at least one rehab start this week to test his strained shoulder. The Braves will need a starter on Saturday against the Phillies, who make a trip to Atlanta as part of this ten-day, ten game homestand.
May 10
Chad Gaudin vs. Brandon Beachy
Common theme of 2011. Take the early lead, offense shuts down completely, pitching staff can't keep the lead. Rinse and repeat.
The Braves manufactured a run in the first as Jason Heyward walked, but was wiped out on a fielder's choice by Nate McLouth. The center fielder stole second and scored on a Brian McCann single. The Braves managed four hits for the rest of the game, including one double.
Meanwhile, Brandon Beachy allowed two doubles, a homer, and three more hits as he gave up four runs in six innings. He lost his fifth on the season.
4-1 LOSS (18-19)
W - C. Gaudin (2-3)
L - B. Beachy (2-5)
SV - D. Slaten (2)
May 11, 2011
Jair Jurrjens will start tonight in Pawtucket for Gwinnett.
John Lannon vs. Derek Lowe
Via a five-run second, Atlanta rolls with ease to get back to .500. With the game scoreless, Dan Uggla opened the second with a walk. A base hit by Joe Mather sent Uggla to second, where he scored easily on a double by Diory Hernandez. After Freddie Freeman K'd, Derek Lowe put a squeeze bunt down on a 1-0 pitch to make it 2-0. A Martin Prado RBI single made it 3-0 before Nate McLouth and Alex Gonzalez hit consecutive RBI doubles to chase John Lannon and make it 5-0.
Lowe pitched in and out of damage throughout the game, but kept it scoreless before giving up a homer in the seventh, his final inning. He gave up eight hits, but only one went for extra bases. He walked two and struck out a surprising seven. Cristhian Martinez finished up with two K's in his two frames.
Prado added a two-run homer in the fourth and a double later to spearhead the Braves attack. He scored three times and drove in three. Brian McCann smacked his second homer of the season in the seventh and Gonzalez finished with two doubles and two RBIs.
9-1 WIN (19-19)
W - D. Lowe (3-4)
L - J. Lannon (2-2)
May 12, 2011
Jair Jurrjens struggled some, giving up ten hits and six runs. However, with a need in the starting staff, he might find himself getting called back before making another start. Braves did sign Noah Lowry and assigned him to Gwinnett.
Livan Hernandez vs. Tommy Hanson
With how this season has progressed, the Braves will take a win any way they can possibly get it. With the bases loaded in the 11th, the Braves watched Martin Prado strike out and Nate McLouth rocket a grounder toward second and resigned themselves to yet another inning. However, fortune struck as Danny Espinosa's throw was wide of the mark, allowing McLouth to reach and Alex Gonzalez to score as the Braves win 3-2.
Atlanta used three wild pitches from Livan Hernandez and an RBI single from Jason Heyward to take the initial lead in the second 2-0. However, a homer off Tommy Hanson in the fifth and another homer off George Sherrill in the sixth tied it. The bullpens traded scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity but no runs as two of the worst offenses in the league showed their ineptness.
Heyward pushes his average over the Mendoza Mark to .202 with a three hit game. Brian McCann and Gonzalez added two hits a piece. In fact, outside of those three, Atlanta managed just one hit. Peter Moylan, who walked a batter before retiring the last batter off the 11th, got the win as the seventh pitcher of the game for Atlanta.
3-2 WIN - 11 INNINGS (20-19)
W - P. Moylan (3-1)
L - K. Jepsen (1-2)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Series 11: at Philadelphia
May 6, 2011
MRI on Tim Hudson has yet to be held and we are hoping for the best there. In the meantime, Jairo Asencio was sent back to Gwinnett and Cristhian Martinez was recalled for a fresh arm. With an off day coming after the Philly series, Hudson's spot will likely be skipped anyway so we wouldn't need a fifth starter until eight days from now. Technically, Jair Jurrjens could be activated for that start. In addition, in his first game in over three weeks, Brian McCann went 3 for 4 with a 2B while catching all nine innings for the G-Braves last night. He will likely get at least two more games in Gwinnett and be activated either Sunday or on the off day, Monday.
Derek Lowe vs. Vance Worley
Well, that was sad. Down 8-3, the Braves load the bases on consecutive walks by Dan Uggla, Eric Hinske, and Alex Gonzalez (not exactly a trio that usually walks). All that did was get J.C. Romero replaced by Ryan Madson. Pinch hitter Joe Mather K'd and Martin Prado grounded into a game-ending double play.
Atlanta took the lead to open the game as Prado singled and scored on a Freddie Freeman groundout as the Braves put Vance Worley on the ropes early. However, after missing the knockout blow, the Phillies quickly scored twice off Derek Lowe, who walked four in four frames. Prado homered in the third to tie things, but in the fourth, Lowe gave up five runs to kill the Braves' hopes.
Brooks Conrad picked up the other RBI with a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the seventh. Eric O'Flaherty quickly gave that run back up.
8-3 LOSS (17-17)
W - V. Worley (1-0)
L - D. Lowe (2-4)
SV - R. Madson (9)
May 7, 2011
Brian McCann had two more hits yesterday. Barring a setback, I am leaning toward getting him up tomorrow after a three-game rehab.
Tommy Hanson vs. Cole Hamels
The matchup of two of the best young starters in not only the NL East, but the National League overall lived up to the biling. Martin Prado opened the game with a solo homer, his third, off of Cole Hamels to put Atlanta ahead and Tommy Hanson took it from there.
The goose eggs began to mount as Hanson seemed to cruise through inning after inning. Teammates began to avoid him in the dugout as the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings ended with the Phillies still looking for their first baserunner. Carlos Ruiz sent Joe Mather deep in the sixth and Mather needed to leap to catch the ball at the wall. Tyson Gillies put down a beautiful bunt that Hanson made an equally beautiful scoop and throw to first.
Alex Gonzalez gave the Braves their third hit of the game off Hamels...his own solo homer. A pitching change occured with two outs and David Ross, who had the two of the Braves' four hits, on first. Maybe that impacted Hanson's rhythem as he walked Ruiz to break up the perfect game on four straight to open the ninth. Raul Ibanez grounded to Freddie Freeman at first, who stepped on first and couldn't beat Ruiz to second. A grounder by Wilson Valdez helped Ruiz get to third. Gillies stepped in. With the count 2-2, Gillies sent one through the hole on the right side for a base hit to score Ruiz. Craig Kimbrel got the call and Ross Gload flied out to end the game that Hanson dominated for eight innings.
2-1 WIN (18-17)
W - T. Hanson (1-2)
L - C. Hamels (1-3)
SV - C. Kimbrel (9)
May 8, 2011
With two hits yesterday and two RBI's, Brian McCann will get the call from Gwinnett, ending his rehab stint at three games in which he went 6 for 14 with 2 2B, 2 RBI, and 26 innings behind the plate.
Julio Teheran vs. Roy Halladay
Simple case of everything going right turning bad in short order. Up 3-0 on Roy Halladay, Atlanta entered the bottom of the seventh with Peter Moylan on the mound. Moylan had gotten the final out of the sixth in relief of Julio Teheran, who was on the hook for his second career win. Martin Prado threw away a grounder to start the nightmare. After a strikeout, Tyson Gillies worked a nine-pitch walk. Placido Polanco blooped a single. Eric O'Flaherty got the call and surrendered a Grand Slam to the left-handed hitting Domonic Brown. Maybe George Sherrill would have been the better call.
Up until that point, Atlanta was doing pretty good against Halladay. Brian McCann, activated before the game, picked up an RBI with his sacrifice fly with Jason Heyward on third in the first inning. In the fourth, Freddie Freeman hit a one-out homer, his second. After an out, Eric Hinske followed suit with his second homerun.
Julio Teheran was not perfect by any means, but pitched 5.2 scoreless innings against Ryan Howard and company. He gave up four hits and walked three while striking out four. His ERA is now 0.95.
Atlanta had a shot to tie it or take the lead in the ninth. With two outs, Hinske earned a walk. Joe Mather doubled and Wilkin Ramirez, Hinske's pinch runner, somehow didn't score. Martin Prado walked to load them. However, Jason Heyward pushed the count to 3-1, but ended up striking out.
4-3 LOSS (18-18)
W - R. Halladay (6-2)
L - E. O'Flaherty (0-2)
SV - R. Madson (10)
MRI on Tim Hudson has yet to be held and we are hoping for the best there. In the meantime, Jairo Asencio was sent back to Gwinnett and Cristhian Martinez was recalled for a fresh arm. With an off day coming after the Philly series, Hudson's spot will likely be skipped anyway so we wouldn't need a fifth starter until eight days from now. Technically, Jair Jurrjens could be activated for that start. In addition, in his first game in over three weeks, Brian McCann went 3 for 4 with a 2B while catching all nine innings for the G-Braves last night. He will likely get at least two more games in Gwinnett and be activated either Sunday or on the off day, Monday.
Derek Lowe vs. Vance Worley
Well, that was sad. Down 8-3, the Braves load the bases on consecutive walks by Dan Uggla, Eric Hinske, and Alex Gonzalez (not exactly a trio that usually walks). All that did was get J.C. Romero replaced by Ryan Madson. Pinch hitter Joe Mather K'd and Martin Prado grounded into a game-ending double play.
Atlanta took the lead to open the game as Prado singled and scored on a Freddie Freeman groundout as the Braves put Vance Worley on the ropes early. However, after missing the knockout blow, the Phillies quickly scored twice off Derek Lowe, who walked four in four frames. Prado homered in the third to tie things, but in the fourth, Lowe gave up five runs to kill the Braves' hopes.
Brooks Conrad picked up the other RBI with a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the seventh. Eric O'Flaherty quickly gave that run back up.
8-3 LOSS (17-17)
W - V. Worley (1-0)
L - D. Lowe (2-4)
SV - R. Madson (9)
May 7, 2011
Brian McCann had two more hits yesterday. Barring a setback, I am leaning toward getting him up tomorrow after a three-game rehab.
Tommy Hanson vs. Cole Hamels
The matchup of two of the best young starters in not only the NL East, but the National League overall lived up to the biling. Martin Prado opened the game with a solo homer, his third, off of Cole Hamels to put Atlanta ahead and Tommy Hanson took it from there.
The goose eggs began to mount as Hanson seemed to cruise through inning after inning. Teammates began to avoid him in the dugout as the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings ended with the Phillies still looking for their first baserunner. Carlos Ruiz sent Joe Mather deep in the sixth and Mather needed to leap to catch the ball at the wall. Tyson Gillies put down a beautiful bunt that Hanson made an equally beautiful scoop and throw to first.
Alex Gonzalez gave the Braves their third hit of the game off Hamels...his own solo homer. A pitching change occured with two outs and David Ross, who had the two of the Braves' four hits, on first. Maybe that impacted Hanson's rhythem as he walked Ruiz to break up the perfect game on four straight to open the ninth. Raul Ibanez grounded to Freddie Freeman at first, who stepped on first and couldn't beat Ruiz to second. A grounder by Wilson Valdez helped Ruiz get to third. Gillies stepped in. With the count 2-2, Gillies sent one through the hole on the right side for a base hit to score Ruiz. Craig Kimbrel got the call and Ross Gload flied out to end the game that Hanson dominated for eight innings.
2-1 WIN (18-17)
W - T. Hanson (1-2)
L - C. Hamels (1-3)
SV - C. Kimbrel (9)
May 8, 2011
With two hits yesterday and two RBI's, Brian McCann will get the call from Gwinnett, ending his rehab stint at three games in which he went 6 for 14 with 2 2B, 2 RBI, and 26 innings behind the plate.
Julio Teheran vs. Roy Halladay
Simple case of everything going right turning bad in short order. Up 3-0 on Roy Halladay, Atlanta entered the bottom of the seventh with Peter Moylan on the mound. Moylan had gotten the final out of the sixth in relief of Julio Teheran, who was on the hook for his second career win. Martin Prado threw away a grounder to start the nightmare. After a strikeout, Tyson Gillies worked a nine-pitch walk. Placido Polanco blooped a single. Eric O'Flaherty got the call and surrendered a Grand Slam to the left-handed hitting Domonic Brown. Maybe George Sherrill would have been the better call.
Up until that point, Atlanta was doing pretty good against Halladay. Brian McCann, activated before the game, picked up an RBI with his sacrifice fly with Jason Heyward on third in the first inning. In the fourth, Freddie Freeman hit a one-out homer, his second. After an out, Eric Hinske followed suit with his second homerun.
Julio Teheran was not perfect by any means, but pitched 5.2 scoreless innings against Ryan Howard and company. He gave up four hits and walked three while striking out four. His ERA is now 0.95.
Atlanta had a shot to tie it or take the lead in the ninth. With two outs, Hinske earned a walk. Joe Mather doubled and Wilkin Ramirez, Hinske's pinch runner, somehow didn't score. Martin Prado walked to load them. However, Jason Heyward pushed the count to 3-1, but ended up striking out.
4-3 LOSS (18-18)
W - R. Halladay (6-2)
L - E. O'Flaherty (0-2)
SV - R. Madson (10)
Friday, October 14, 2011
Series 10: vs. Milwaukee
May 2, 2011
Last time we saw the Brewers, in, what is Algonquin for "the good land," they swept us in four games. Don't need to equal that, but it would be nice to take this series at home and get on a roll before heading to Philly.
Mark Rogers vs. Tommy Hanson
Embarrassing is a word. Deflating. The kind of game that makes you want to give up baseball.
Final score: 25-9. After two, we led this 5-3. But Tommy Hanson sucked. But so did the rest of the bullpen. Only Craig Kimbrel and Peter Moylan were kept out. Joe Mather, who entered during a double switch after Nate McLouth got hurt (yay for that), pitched the ninth and gave up six more runs. But he did homer so that...equals out?
The saddest part is our offense actually managed nine runs.
25-9 LOSS (16-14)
W - L. Hawkins (2-0)
L - T. Hanson (0-2)
May 3, 2011
Nate McLouth has neck stiffness from yesterday. That's better than...well...broken neck. He is day-to-day. With a righty and two lefties to follow in the series, I may hold him back for pinch hitting. One move...Cristhian Martinez was demoted for Jairo Asencio.
Yovani Gallardo vs. Julio Teheran
Can't say we didn't have a chance in this one, which is better than yesterday. Bases loaded in the ninth, Nate McLouth's replacement Joe Mather flew out to end this 3-1 loss.
Atlanta took the initial lead with Martin Prado driving in Mather with an RBI double in the third, but the offense could not muster much against Yovani Gallardo after that and Julio Teheran was not perfect. Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer off the rookie in the fourth, the only runs Teheran allowed while pitching six and giving up four hits. He struck out eight and walked none.
George Sherrill allowed a run in the 8th to build the Brewers lead to 3-1, but the Braves loaded them against John Axford, who walked a pair and gave up two hits. David Ross followed a Jason Heyward leadoff walk with a double play. A walk to Freddie Freeman preceded back-to-back singles by Dan Uggla and Eric Hinske, but Atlanta couldn't score.
3-1 LOSS (16-15)
W - Y. Gallardo (5-1)
L - J. Teheran (1-1)
SV - J. Axford (4)
May 4, 2011
Hey, a good sign. Brian McCann was sent on a rehab assignment starting today. He has been out since April 12th with a strained rib cage muscle. In 11 games this year, McCann is hitting .297 with 1 HR and 6 RBI. Sadly, even though he has been out for three weeks, he is still tied for fourth on the team in doubles. If all goes well, he might be activated Saturday.
Nate Robertson vs. Brandon Beachy
Back to .500. Brandon Beachy gave up runs in each of the first three innings, but overall kept the Brewers in check. However, as is the norm, the offense was not heard from. Beachy went six, allowed the three runs, and K'd 9.
Diory Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Dan Uggla hit his second homer in the fifth to get the Braves within a run. However, Eric O'Flaherty struggled with his location and gave up a run in the seventh. Craig Kimbrel, in because he was a fresh arm, gave up two more in the ninth.
The Braves will attempt to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Brewers tomorrow and avoid falling under .500.
6-2 LOSS (16-16)
W - N. Robertson (1-0)
L - B. Beachy (2-4)
SV - M. DiFelice (3)
May 5
Randy Wolf vs. Tim Hudson
Despite losing yet another key performer, Atlanta is able to come from behind and take this one 9-5. Two runs off Tim Hudson in the first put the Braves in a hole, softened to some degree by Alex Gonzalez's third homer in the bottom of the first. However, with a runner on, Tim Hudson got Rickie Weeks to fly out after a long at-bat. He immediately called for the team doctors and was removed. Jairo Asencio came in and gave up back-to-back homers to make it 5-1.
Braves began to chip away. In the fourth, Jason Heyward walked against Randy Wolf and Dan Uggla followed with a double. With both runners in scoring position, the Braves scored via a wild pitch and sacrifice fly from Joe Mather to make it 5-3. In the sixth, an Uggla doubled plated Gonzalez. And in the seventh, Atlanta tied it when right before Gonzalez flew out to end the inning, Eric Hinske scored on a wild pitch. Hinske had doubled as a pinch hitter and reached third on a grounder.
A wild 8th put Atlanta on top. Heyward singled. On what should have been a double play, Mat Gamel threw the ball wide of second base. With two runners on, Joe Mather was called on to bunt. Gamel threw that past Prince Fielder to plate Heyward. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked before Diory Hernandez doubled to left to score a pair. J.C. Boscan followed with his first RBI on a squeeze bunt. Asencio went 3.1 important innings before Scott Linebrink tossed two and George Sherrill got the game to the 8th with a scoreless frame.
9-5 WIN (17-16)
W - G. Sherrill (1-1)
L - T. Saito (1-2)
Last time we saw the Brewers, in, what is Algonquin for "the good land," they swept us in four games. Don't need to equal that, but it would be nice to take this series at home and get on a roll before heading to Philly.
Mark Rogers vs. Tommy Hanson
Embarrassing is a word. Deflating. The kind of game that makes you want to give up baseball.
Final score: 25-9. After two, we led this 5-3. But Tommy Hanson sucked. But so did the rest of the bullpen. Only Craig Kimbrel and Peter Moylan were kept out. Joe Mather, who entered during a double switch after Nate McLouth got hurt (yay for that), pitched the ninth and gave up six more runs. But he did homer so that...equals out?
The saddest part is our offense actually managed nine runs.
25-9 LOSS (16-14)
W - L. Hawkins (2-0)
L - T. Hanson (0-2)
May 3, 2011
Nate McLouth has neck stiffness from yesterday. That's better than...well...broken neck. He is day-to-day. With a righty and two lefties to follow in the series, I may hold him back for pinch hitting. One move...Cristhian Martinez was demoted for Jairo Asencio.
Yovani Gallardo vs. Julio Teheran
Can't say we didn't have a chance in this one, which is better than yesterday. Bases loaded in the ninth, Nate McLouth's replacement Joe Mather flew out to end this 3-1 loss.
Atlanta took the initial lead with Martin Prado driving in Mather with an RBI double in the third, but the offense could not muster much against Yovani Gallardo after that and Julio Teheran was not perfect. Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer off the rookie in the fourth, the only runs Teheran allowed while pitching six and giving up four hits. He struck out eight and walked none.
George Sherrill allowed a run in the 8th to build the Brewers lead to 3-1, but the Braves loaded them against John Axford, who walked a pair and gave up two hits. David Ross followed a Jason Heyward leadoff walk with a double play. A walk to Freddie Freeman preceded back-to-back singles by Dan Uggla and Eric Hinske, but Atlanta couldn't score.
3-1 LOSS (16-15)
W - Y. Gallardo (5-1)
L - J. Teheran (1-1)
SV - J. Axford (4)
May 4, 2011
Hey, a good sign. Brian McCann was sent on a rehab assignment starting today. He has been out since April 12th with a strained rib cage muscle. In 11 games this year, McCann is hitting .297 with 1 HR and 6 RBI. Sadly, even though he has been out for three weeks, he is still tied for fourth on the team in doubles. If all goes well, he might be activated Saturday.
Nate Robertson vs. Brandon Beachy
Back to .500. Brandon Beachy gave up runs in each of the first three innings, but overall kept the Brewers in check. However, as is the norm, the offense was not heard from. Beachy went six, allowed the three runs, and K'd 9.
Diory Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Dan Uggla hit his second homer in the fifth to get the Braves within a run. However, Eric O'Flaherty struggled with his location and gave up a run in the seventh. Craig Kimbrel, in because he was a fresh arm, gave up two more in the ninth.
The Braves will attempt to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Brewers tomorrow and avoid falling under .500.
6-2 LOSS (16-16)
W - N. Robertson (1-0)
L - B. Beachy (2-4)
SV - M. DiFelice (3)
May 5
Randy Wolf vs. Tim Hudson
Despite losing yet another key performer, Atlanta is able to come from behind and take this one 9-5. Two runs off Tim Hudson in the first put the Braves in a hole, softened to some degree by Alex Gonzalez's third homer in the bottom of the first. However, with a runner on, Tim Hudson got Rickie Weeks to fly out after a long at-bat. He immediately called for the team doctors and was removed. Jairo Asencio came in and gave up back-to-back homers to make it 5-1.
Braves began to chip away. In the fourth, Jason Heyward walked against Randy Wolf and Dan Uggla followed with a double. With both runners in scoring position, the Braves scored via a wild pitch and sacrifice fly from Joe Mather to make it 5-3. In the sixth, an Uggla doubled plated Gonzalez. And in the seventh, Atlanta tied it when right before Gonzalez flew out to end the inning, Eric Hinske scored on a wild pitch. Hinske had doubled as a pinch hitter and reached third on a grounder.
A wild 8th put Atlanta on top. Heyward singled. On what should have been a double play, Mat Gamel threw the ball wide of second base. With two runners on, Joe Mather was called on to bunt. Gamel threw that past Prince Fielder to plate Heyward. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked before Diory Hernandez doubled to left to score a pair. J.C. Boscan followed with his first RBI on a squeeze bunt. Asencio went 3.1 important innings before Scott Linebrink tossed two and George Sherrill got the game to the 8th with a scoreless frame.
9-5 WIN (17-16)
W - G. Sherrill (1-1)
L - T. Saito (1-2)
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