May 20
With no need for a fifth starter until May 31, Mike Minor was demoted to Gwinnett. Jairo Acensio makes yet another trip back up to Atlanta. He started the year with the team, was demoted on April 23rd, recalled on May 3rd, demoted on May 6th, recalled on May 10th, and demoted on the 14th.
Brandon Beachy vs. Bob Keppel
The Braves scored five runs in the third inning and then watched helplessly as the Angels roared back to tie it up and then, with two outs in the tenth, Erick Aybar homered off Jonny Venters to send the Braves home with a loss in their first inter-league contest of the year.
Things were looking up after the Angels had scored a run off Brandon Beachy in the second. With one out, an error allowed Freddie Freeman to reach. Nick Punto singled and Nate McLouth singled home Freeman. Alex Gonzalez hit a big two-run double to put the Braves ahead 3-1. Brian McCann added an RBI double and Dan Uggla singled him home.
Even after McLouth was injured in the bottom of the third making a running catch to deep center and the Angels used an error by Joe Mather, replacing McLouth, to score a run, the Braves looked like they were in good position for a win. However, the Braves routinely had quick, ineffective innings and in the seventh, with Scott Linebrink replacing Brandon Beachy after the latter went the first six, the Angels tied things up with two outs. Maicer Izturis doubled, Howie Kendrick singled him in, and Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer.
6-5 LOSS - 10 INNINGS (25-22, L1)
W - S. Downs (2-0)
L - J. Venters (2-2)
May 21
Jairo Asencio goes back down and Matt Young was recalled. Young opened the year in Atlanta, but didn't get too many chances and was sent down. He has hit .345 in 19 games with Gwinnett and will help in CF until we know what's going on with McLouth.
Derek Lowe vs. Ervin Santana
For a guy who relies so much on a sinking fastball, Derek Lowe seems to like throwing a fastball, about belt high, that doesn't move. Lowe lost for the fifth time, though not all of it was his fault. Enough of it was, though. He gave up seven hits and five runs, three earned, in his five innings. The final runs were huge. A two-run shot by Howie Kendrick that was the difference. The ball was a "sinker" close to the letters.
Atlanta took the early lead on a Martin Prado homer and after Lowe gave up a second inning run, the Braves retook the lead when Dan Uggla grounded into a double play with the bases loaded. An error on Joe Mather plated the tying run in the third and another run followed on a groundout to put the Angels ahead. Atlanta again tied up things when Alex Gonzalez singled in Prado in the fifth, but Kendrick's homer soon changed that. Jason Heyward triped in the sixth and Mather made up for his earlier miscue to some degree with single that made it 5-4, but that was the end of scoring.
Prado had three hits on the day and has upped his average to .271. Cristhian Martinez, George Sherrill, and Peter Moylan all worked scoreless outings.
5-4 LOSS (25-23, L2)
W - E. Santana (4-0)
L - D. Lowe (3-5)
SV - J. Walden (11)
May 22
Nate McLouth's injury is a sprained wrist. He will miss about a month. Outfielder Drew Macias's contract was purchased. Macias spent a week at Mississippi hitting .455 before getting promoted to Gwinnett, where he has spent a week hitting .421. In addition, Jordan Schafer was promoted to Gwinnett.
Tommy Hanson vs. Dan Haren
Atlanta did not have a lot go right in their matchup with the Angels to close out the series, but they did just enough to win 1-0. Nick Punto was the key offensive performer. After Joe Mather walked to open the sixth, Matt Young bunted him to second and a wild pitch put him 90 feet away. Punto sent one to deep right and Mather tagged and scored the game's only run.
Tommy Hanson was superb. He went 7.2 ING, allowing six hits and walking none. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to 3.26. After giving up back-to-back singles in the eighth with two outs, Craig Kimbrel got the call and retired the next four for his 11th save.
Atlanta had a caught stealing and a runner picked off while only managing three hits, but a win is a win.
1-0 WIN (26-23, W1)
W - T. Hanson (2-2)
L - D. Haren (4-4)
SV - C. Kimbrel (11)
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