Series 12: vs. Washington

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)