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)