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)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Series 9: vs. St. Louis
April 29, 2011
Eulogio De La Cruz vs. Brandon Beachy
This team seems to win in spite of itself. Despite four double plays and eleven runners stranded, Atlanta takes the opener of this homestand, 6-3. Nice to get win, but two players went down with injuries. During an RBI double in the sixth, Chipper Jones slowed up and was removed to open the seventh. And during that inning, Peter Moylan was removed after he felt something during a pitch.
The Cards took the initial lead when David Freese homered off Brandon Beach in the second. An RBI double from David Ross tied it in the fourth, though Jones was thrown out at the plate - the first of two runners thrown out at the plate for the Braves. In the sixth, the Braves pulled forward. A trio of singles by Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla, and Alex Gonzalez loaded them. Beachy, who bunted into a double play earlier, took three straight pitches and sat down. Martin Prado singled in a pair to put the Braves up 3-1. After a flyball got Gonzalez to third, he scored on a balk and with two outs, Prado scored on Jones's double. Nate McLouth, who had walked, was thrown out at the plate.
An awful seventh followed for Beachy and the pen. The former gave up two hits and was removed for George Sherrill, whose first pitch was ripped for an RBI single. After a wild pitch, a swinging bunt led to an out without a run scoring. Sherrill than loaded on a walk before Moylan came in and after a groundout that scored a run to make it 5-3, Scott Linebrink got the call after Moylan's injury. Facing Albert Pujols, the decision was easy. Intentional pass. Matt Holliday was struck out to end the threat.
Atlanta scored again in the bottom half and Jonny Venters K'd the side in the 8th and Kimbrel worked a quiet ninth for the save.
6-3 WIN (15-12)
W - B. Beachy (2-3)
L - E. De La Cruz (0-3)
SV - C. Kimbrel (7)
April 30, 2011
MRIs have been ordered for Jones and Moylan. No word yet on their diagnosis.
Kyle Lohse vs. Tim Hudson
What a weak effort for Atlanta as they fall 4-2. As usual, let's start with the negative for this offense. 12 runners left on, one caught stealing on a busted hit-and-run, two doubles play hit into by the leadoff hitter.
Just sad. An 0 for 4 day as Jason Heyward down to .183. Freddie Freeman is down to .237.
Despite eight great innings from Tim Hudson, the Braves couldn't muster any offense against Kyle Lohse and the brigade of six relievers who replaced him after he left with an injury in the third. Hudson went eight and gave up four hits. One of the three runs was unearned and he walked one while striking out five. The bullpen couldn't put a scoreless inning as Scott Linebrink put two runners on before Eric O'Flaherty gave up a single to score one of them. He got a double play, but the damage was done.
4-2 LOSS (15-13)
W - F. Salas (1-1)
L - T. Hudson (3-2)
SV - J. Motte (6)
May 1, 2011
Some news from April. Nate McLouth was named Player of the Month. After hitting .190 over 242 AB last season, McLouth has gotten off a torrid start to 2011. Hitting .347 with 7 HR and 19 RBI, McLouth has taken over the number three spot in the lineup. He also leads the NL with a 1.092 OPS and 63 TB.
Elsewhere, 25 year-old Yohan Flande was named International League Pitcher of the Month. In four starts, he won them all. He struck out 17 to 11 walks, put up a 1.91 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, and pitched into the seventh inning in each game.
Some good, bad, and okay news on the injury front. Chipper Jones has knee tenditis and will miss two weeks after a trip to the DL. He's hitting .259 with 1 HR and 11 RBI on the year. Peter Moylan was a sore hand and is day-to-day for about a week. He will be handled carefully and won't be used over the next week unless needed. On the farm, OF Ernesto Mejia broke a bone in his elbow and will miss around four months of action. He was hitting .200 for Gwinnett. Benino Pruneda, a reliever, will miss the remainder of the season with a torn labrum. He had pitched in 12 games for Mississippi and aside from a bad ERA, he was doing pretty well.
Joe Mather, who was hitting .322 for Gwinnett with five HR and 13 RBI, was called up to replace Jones on the roster.
P.J. Walters vs. Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe goes eight strong and the Braves do just enough to pull away with a 5-2 win. Lowe ran into an occasional bad pitch, often to Matt Holliday. He hit his first homer of the year in the fifth and drove in Albert Pujols with a single in the seventh. Outside of that, Lowe breezed through most innings. He only threw 86 pitches, allowed five hits and walked no one. He also induced three double plays and faced just two over the minimum
Nate McLouth, fresh off NL Player of the Month honors, belted his eighth homer in the fifth and was on three times. Martin Prado drove in a pair while Jason Heyward and David Ross each picked up ribbies. Eric Hinske had two hits and scored twice.
Craig Kimbrel worked a perfect ninth for his 8th save in as many chances.
5-2 WIN (16-13)
W - D. Lowe (2-3)
L - P. Walters (2-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (8)
Eulogio De La Cruz vs. Brandon Beachy
This team seems to win in spite of itself. Despite four double plays and eleven runners stranded, Atlanta takes the opener of this homestand, 6-3. Nice to get win, but two players went down with injuries. During an RBI double in the sixth, Chipper Jones slowed up and was removed to open the seventh. And during that inning, Peter Moylan was removed after he felt something during a pitch.
The Cards took the initial lead when David Freese homered off Brandon Beach in the second. An RBI double from David Ross tied it in the fourth, though Jones was thrown out at the plate - the first of two runners thrown out at the plate for the Braves. In the sixth, the Braves pulled forward. A trio of singles by Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla, and Alex Gonzalez loaded them. Beachy, who bunted into a double play earlier, took three straight pitches and sat down. Martin Prado singled in a pair to put the Braves up 3-1. After a flyball got Gonzalez to third, he scored on a balk and with two outs, Prado scored on Jones's double. Nate McLouth, who had walked, was thrown out at the plate.
An awful seventh followed for Beachy and the pen. The former gave up two hits and was removed for George Sherrill, whose first pitch was ripped for an RBI single. After a wild pitch, a swinging bunt led to an out without a run scoring. Sherrill than loaded on a walk before Moylan came in and after a groundout that scored a run to make it 5-3, Scott Linebrink got the call after Moylan's injury. Facing Albert Pujols, the decision was easy. Intentional pass. Matt Holliday was struck out to end the threat.
Atlanta scored again in the bottom half and Jonny Venters K'd the side in the 8th and Kimbrel worked a quiet ninth for the save.
6-3 WIN (15-12)
W - B. Beachy (2-3)
L - E. De La Cruz (0-3)
SV - C. Kimbrel (7)
April 30, 2011
MRIs have been ordered for Jones and Moylan. No word yet on their diagnosis.
Kyle Lohse vs. Tim Hudson
What a weak effort for Atlanta as they fall 4-2. As usual, let's start with the negative for this offense. 12 runners left on, one caught stealing on a busted hit-and-run, two doubles play hit into by the leadoff hitter.
Just sad. An 0 for 4 day as Jason Heyward down to .183. Freddie Freeman is down to .237.
Despite eight great innings from Tim Hudson, the Braves couldn't muster any offense against Kyle Lohse and the brigade of six relievers who replaced him after he left with an injury in the third. Hudson went eight and gave up four hits. One of the three runs was unearned and he walked one while striking out five. The bullpen couldn't put a scoreless inning as Scott Linebrink put two runners on before Eric O'Flaherty gave up a single to score one of them. He got a double play, but the damage was done.
4-2 LOSS (15-13)
W - F. Salas (1-1)
L - T. Hudson (3-2)
SV - J. Motte (6)
May 1, 2011
Some news from April. Nate McLouth was named Player of the Month. After hitting .190 over 242 AB last season, McLouth has gotten off a torrid start to 2011. Hitting .347 with 7 HR and 19 RBI, McLouth has taken over the number three spot in the lineup. He also leads the NL with a 1.092 OPS and 63 TB.
Elsewhere, 25 year-old Yohan Flande was named International League Pitcher of the Month. In four starts, he won them all. He struck out 17 to 11 walks, put up a 1.91 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, and pitched into the seventh inning in each game.
Some good, bad, and okay news on the injury front. Chipper Jones has knee tenditis and will miss two weeks after a trip to the DL. He's hitting .259 with 1 HR and 11 RBI on the year. Peter Moylan was a sore hand and is day-to-day for about a week. He will be handled carefully and won't be used over the next week unless needed. On the farm, OF Ernesto Mejia broke a bone in his elbow and will miss around four months of action. He was hitting .200 for Gwinnett. Benino Pruneda, a reliever, will miss the remainder of the season with a torn labrum. He had pitched in 12 games for Mississippi and aside from a bad ERA, he was doing pretty well.
Joe Mather, who was hitting .322 for Gwinnett with five HR and 13 RBI, was called up to replace Jones on the roster.
P.J. Walters vs. Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe goes eight strong and the Braves do just enough to pull away with a 5-2 win. Lowe ran into an occasional bad pitch, often to Matt Holliday. He hit his first homer of the year in the fifth and drove in Albert Pujols with a single in the seventh. Outside of that, Lowe breezed through most innings. He only threw 86 pitches, allowed five hits and walked no one. He also induced three double plays and faced just two over the minimum
Nate McLouth, fresh off NL Player of the Month honors, belted his eighth homer in the fifth and was on three times. Martin Prado drove in a pair while Jason Heyward and David Ross each picked up ribbies. Eric Hinske had two hits and scored twice.
Craig Kimbrel worked a perfect ninth for his 8th save in as many chances.
5-2 WIN (16-13)
W - D. Lowe (2-3)
L - P. Walters (2-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (8)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Series 8: at San Diego
April 25, 2011
Tim Hudson vs. Simon Castro (MLB debut)
Not as magical as yesterday, but Atlanta pulls off back-to-back shutouts as they roll 2-0. Again, the offense struggled, even lining into a triple play. So, yeah, after being no hit, they follow that up with a triple play being turned against them. Yet, they win both games. Fluky game, this baseball is.
Braves scored their first run in the third. Alex Gonzalez singled and after he was bunted to second, Martin Prado hit a two-out double. In the seventh, Chipper Jones drew a bases loaded walk to plate Freddie Freeman. Offense!
Meanwhile, Hudson was superb. He yielded four hits, walked a pair, and struck out seven over his seven frames. He added two sacrifice bunts and even beat out a bunt. After 97 pitches, the Braves went to the pen. Jonny Venters tossed a perfect 8th and while Craig Kimbrel gave up a two-out triple, he worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.
2-0 WIN (14-10)
W - T. Hudson (3-1)
L - S. Castro (0-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (6)
April 26, 2011
Derek Lowe vs. Mat Latos
Frustrating loss as Derek Lowe lacked any ability to get through an inning without putting on at least 743 runners. Surprisingly, that's not a winning formula. After Atlanta gave him an early run with a Jason Heyward triple and a two-out Chipper Jones single, Lowe gave up a single and a double. I guess on the bright side, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs and only allowing one run is awesome?
In the fifth, after a single by Nate McLouth gave him a lead, Lowe would have none of that. A single, a sacrifice bunt that ended up being a single, another single...two-run double, RBI single, and it was 4-2. Brad Hawpe added a two-run homer off Cristhian Martinez, who sucks by the way.
Atlanta stranded 11 runners.
6-2 LOSS (14-11)
W - M. Latos (1-1)
L - D. Lowe (1-3)
SV - H. Bell (7)
April 27, 2011
Tommy Hanson vs. Clayton Richard
Losing a series against the lowly Padres really put us in our place. After wasting a chance in the first when we had two runners on and one out, the game was scoreless until the fourth when, with no outs, Will Venable hit a two-run shot off Tommy Hanson. He missed the zone on his next four and after a sacbunt and needless stolen base, Aaron Cunningham picked up a RBI double. A two-out RBI made it 4-0 and ended Hanson's day.
Julio Teheran, who was getting skipped because of an off day tomorrow, got out of the inning. The Braves finally scored in the sixth, but it was bittersweet. With the bases loaded, Chipper Jones, whose double play killed the Braves in the first, grounded into another twin killing. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Braves got one run from the inning. The Padres would get that run back in the 8th off Scott Linebrink.
Teheran was pretty awesome, striking out five in 2.1 innings. He gave up a hit, walked a batter, and struck out five. But the offense was way too loaded at the top. Today's top three hitters - Martin Prado, Alex Gonzalez, and Nate McLouth, combined to go 7 for 12 with all three picking up multi-hit games. The rest of the lineup was 0 for 20 with a walk, five K's, and three double plays.
5-1 LOSS (14-12)
W - N. Figueroa (2-1)
L - T. Hanson (0-1)
Tim Hudson vs. Simon Castro (MLB debut)
Not as magical as yesterday, but Atlanta pulls off back-to-back shutouts as they roll 2-0. Again, the offense struggled, even lining into a triple play. So, yeah, after being no hit, they follow that up with a triple play being turned against them. Yet, they win both games. Fluky game, this baseball is.
Braves scored their first run in the third. Alex Gonzalez singled and after he was bunted to second, Martin Prado hit a two-out double. In the seventh, Chipper Jones drew a bases loaded walk to plate Freddie Freeman. Offense!
Meanwhile, Hudson was superb. He yielded four hits, walked a pair, and struck out seven over his seven frames. He added two sacrifice bunts and even beat out a bunt. After 97 pitches, the Braves went to the pen. Jonny Venters tossed a perfect 8th and while Craig Kimbrel gave up a two-out triple, he worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.
2-0 WIN (14-10)
W - T. Hudson (3-1)
L - S. Castro (0-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (6)
April 26, 2011
Derek Lowe vs. Mat Latos
Frustrating loss as Derek Lowe lacked any ability to get through an inning without putting on at least 743 runners. Surprisingly, that's not a winning formula. After Atlanta gave him an early run with a Jason Heyward triple and a two-out Chipper Jones single, Lowe gave up a single and a double. I guess on the bright side, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs and only allowing one run is awesome?
In the fifth, after a single by Nate McLouth gave him a lead, Lowe would have none of that. A single, a sacrifice bunt that ended up being a single, another single...two-run double, RBI single, and it was 4-2. Brad Hawpe added a two-run homer off Cristhian Martinez, who sucks by the way.
Atlanta stranded 11 runners.
6-2 LOSS (14-11)
W - M. Latos (1-1)
L - D. Lowe (1-3)
SV - H. Bell (7)
April 27, 2011
Tommy Hanson vs. Clayton Richard
Losing a series against the lowly Padres really put us in our place. After wasting a chance in the first when we had two runners on and one out, the game was scoreless until the fourth when, with no outs, Will Venable hit a two-run shot off Tommy Hanson. He missed the zone on his next four and after a sacbunt and needless stolen base, Aaron Cunningham picked up a RBI double. A two-out RBI made it 4-0 and ended Hanson's day.
Julio Teheran, who was getting skipped because of an off day tomorrow, got out of the inning. The Braves finally scored in the sixth, but it was bittersweet. With the bases loaded, Chipper Jones, whose double play killed the Braves in the first, grounded into another twin killing. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Braves got one run from the inning. The Padres would get that run back in the 8th off Scott Linebrink.
Teheran was pretty awesome, striking out five in 2.1 innings. He gave up a hit, walked a batter, and struck out five. But the offense was way too loaded at the top. Today's top three hitters - Martin Prado, Alex Gonzalez, and Nate McLouth, combined to go 7 for 12 with all three picking up multi-hit games. The rest of the lineup was 0 for 20 with a walk, five K's, and three double plays.
5-1 LOSS (14-12)
W - N. Figueroa (2-1)
L - T. Hanson (0-1)
Series 7: at San Francisco
April 22
Before the game, Christhian Martinez was activated and Anthony Varvaro, who did not appear in any games, was demoted. Tomorrow, the Braves will make another move to call up a starter.
Tommy Hanson vs. Jonathan Sanchez
Frustrating game, but at least it's a win. Atlanta strands 16 runners in 12 innings, but escapes with the 2-1 win after rookie Freddie Freeman singled in Chipper Jones and George Sherrill worked a quiet 12th for the save. Jones had opened up the inning with a grounder that Mark DeRosa threw away.
Tommy Hanson worked into the 7th, leaving with two runners on and a lefty at the plate. Eric O'Flaherty gave up a single to Nate Shierholtz to score one of the runners and only Nate McLouth's brilliant throw home to gun down a second runner kept the game tied.
Atlanta had so many scoring chances, it was pretty sad that they scored all of two runs.
2nd, runners on the corners and two outs, stranded.
4th, runners on second-and-third and one out, stranded.
5th, bases loaded and two outs, one run scores on a BB and three stranded.
7th, runners on second-and-third and two outs, stranded.
9th, runners on first-and-second and two outs, stranded.
10th, bases loaded and one out, stranded.
But a win's a win? For the first time since taking their first series with the Nats 2 games to 1, the Braves are above .500.
2-1 WIN - 12 INNINGS (11-10)
W - C. Kimbrel (2-0)
L - J. Affeldt (1-1)
SV - G. Sherrill (1)
April 23, 2011
Due to a mishap, Mike Minor started a game in Gwinnett three days ago. Julio Teheran was called up to get the start today. How long he holds Jair Jurrjens spot will likely be answered by how well he performs. If he struggles, he likely will head back down and Minor will get the call.
Julio Teheran vs. Barry Zito
Welcome to Atlanta, Teheran. Keep pitching like that and you may stick around for awhile. Teheran worked five scoreless, walking three and striking out five. He gave up a pair of singles and was lifted after 82 pitches. Atlanta wasted a bases loaded, nobody out opportunity in the fourth, put made good on it in the fifth. With two outs and the bases juiced, Freddie Freeman pulled a double that cleared the bases and made it 3-0.
Alex Gonzalez, in the sixth, and David Ross, in the seventh, added solo bombs to up the lead to 5-0. It stayed that way until the Giants' third hit, a two-run shot by Buster Posey in the eighth off Cristhian Martinez, who was making his first appearance since he was activated off the DL. Martinez got the next hitter and Eric O'Flaherty finished off the eighth before giving way to Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. He hit a batter, but worked a quiet ninth for his fifth save.
Ross had a perfect day with the bat, finishing with three hits and a triple short of the cycle. He also walked twice. Brooks Conrad had his first hit of the year. At two games over .500, the Braves have set a new high for the season.
5-2 WIN (12-10)
W - J. Teheran (1-0)
L - B. Zito (2-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (5)
April 24, 2011
Brandon Beachy vs. Tim Lincecum
*sorry Brandon...starting a j.v. lineup. Prado, Heyward, Gonzalez, Freeman, Conrad, Hinske, Ramirez, Boscan, Beachy.
You don't win many games in which you fail to get a hit.
However, Atlanta used a balk by Tim Lincecum to score the only run of a 1-0 game that sent the Braves to a season-best three games over .500.
The Braves seemed more focused on forcing Lincecum to throw a lot of pitches and they succeeded. Unfortunately, they couldn't bust threw against the right-hander. After 7.1 ING, Lincecum was lifted with no hits against him, two walks, and ten K's. An error forced the Giants bullpen to face one over the minimum, but no hits came out of it.
Brandon Beachy was close to Lincecum's equal, going six innings, yielding a single, a walk, and striking out six. Scott Linebrink and Peter Moylan tossed perfect innings and it looked like there would only be one hit throughout the entire game, but Jonny Venters gave up a single and walked the bases loaded before striking out the final two hitters.
The only score of the game came in the fourth. Jason Heyward led it off with a walk. With Alex Gonzalez at the plate and a fullcount, the Braves rolled the dice and sent Heyward. That proved to be very important as Gonzalez grounded right back to Lincecum and the Braves avoided a double play. Heyward would reach third on a Freddie Freeman grounder. With Brooks Conrad at the plate, the umpire came out of his crouch and called balk. Heyward scored. And thus, that's how you win a game without getting a hit.
1-0 WIN (13-10)
W - B. Beachy (1-3)
L - T. Lincecum (2-2)
SV - J. Venters (2)
Before the game, Christhian Martinez was activated and Anthony Varvaro, who did not appear in any games, was demoted. Tomorrow, the Braves will make another move to call up a starter.
Tommy Hanson vs. Jonathan Sanchez
Frustrating game, but at least it's a win. Atlanta strands 16 runners in 12 innings, but escapes with the 2-1 win after rookie Freddie Freeman singled in Chipper Jones and George Sherrill worked a quiet 12th for the save. Jones had opened up the inning with a grounder that Mark DeRosa threw away.
Tommy Hanson worked into the 7th, leaving with two runners on and a lefty at the plate. Eric O'Flaherty gave up a single to Nate Shierholtz to score one of the runners and only Nate McLouth's brilliant throw home to gun down a second runner kept the game tied.
Atlanta had so many scoring chances, it was pretty sad that they scored all of two runs.
2nd, runners on the corners and two outs, stranded.
4th, runners on second-and-third and one out, stranded.
5th, bases loaded and two outs, one run scores on a BB and three stranded.
7th, runners on second-and-third and two outs, stranded.
9th, runners on first-and-second and two outs, stranded.
10th, bases loaded and one out, stranded.
But a win's a win? For the first time since taking their first series with the Nats 2 games to 1, the Braves are above .500.
2-1 WIN - 12 INNINGS (11-10)
W - C. Kimbrel (2-0)
L - J. Affeldt (1-1)
SV - G. Sherrill (1)
April 23, 2011
Due to a mishap, Mike Minor started a game in Gwinnett three days ago. Julio Teheran was called up to get the start today. How long he holds Jair Jurrjens spot will likely be answered by how well he performs. If he struggles, he likely will head back down and Minor will get the call.
Julio Teheran vs. Barry Zito
Welcome to Atlanta, Teheran. Keep pitching like that and you may stick around for awhile. Teheran worked five scoreless, walking three and striking out five. He gave up a pair of singles and was lifted after 82 pitches. Atlanta wasted a bases loaded, nobody out opportunity in the fourth, put made good on it in the fifth. With two outs and the bases juiced, Freddie Freeman pulled a double that cleared the bases and made it 3-0.
Alex Gonzalez, in the sixth, and David Ross, in the seventh, added solo bombs to up the lead to 5-0. It stayed that way until the Giants' third hit, a two-run shot by Buster Posey in the eighth off Cristhian Martinez, who was making his first appearance since he was activated off the DL. Martinez got the next hitter and Eric O'Flaherty finished off the eighth before giving way to Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. He hit a batter, but worked a quiet ninth for his fifth save.
Ross had a perfect day with the bat, finishing with three hits and a triple short of the cycle. He also walked twice. Brooks Conrad had his first hit of the year. At two games over .500, the Braves have set a new high for the season.
5-2 WIN (12-10)
W - J. Teheran (1-0)
L - B. Zito (2-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (5)
April 24, 2011
Brandon Beachy vs. Tim Lincecum
*sorry Brandon...starting a j.v. lineup. Prado, Heyward, Gonzalez, Freeman, Conrad, Hinske, Ramirez, Boscan, Beachy.
You don't win many games in which you fail to get a hit.
However, Atlanta used a balk by Tim Lincecum to score the only run of a 1-0 game that sent the Braves to a season-best three games over .500.
The Braves seemed more focused on forcing Lincecum to throw a lot of pitches and they succeeded. Unfortunately, they couldn't bust threw against the right-hander. After 7.1 ING, Lincecum was lifted with no hits against him, two walks, and ten K's. An error forced the Giants bullpen to face one over the minimum, but no hits came out of it.
Brandon Beachy was close to Lincecum's equal, going six innings, yielding a single, a walk, and striking out six. Scott Linebrink and Peter Moylan tossed perfect innings and it looked like there would only be one hit throughout the entire game, but Jonny Venters gave up a single and walked the bases loaded before striking out the final two hitters.
The only score of the game came in the fourth. Jason Heyward led it off with a walk. With Alex Gonzalez at the plate and a fullcount, the Braves rolled the dice and sent Heyward. That proved to be very important as Gonzalez grounded right back to Lincecum and the Braves avoided a double play. Heyward would reach third on a Freddie Freeman grounder. With Brooks Conrad at the plate, the umpire came out of his crouch and called balk. Heyward scored. And thus, that's how you win a game without getting a hit.
1-0 WIN (13-10)
W - B. Beachy (1-3)
L - T. Lincecum (2-2)
SV - J. Venters (2)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Series 6: at Los Angeles Dodgers
April 18, 2011
Jair Jurrjens vs. Chad Billingsley
Despite losing Jair Jurrjens in the third, the Braves cruise to a 11-3 throttling of the Dodgers. Jairo Asencio gave up a homer that initially gave the Dodgers 3-2 lead in the fourth, but the Braves would erase that in the sixth and with a pair of three-run shots in the seventh and eighth, this game became a laugher.
Juan Uribe hit a two-run bomb off Jurrjens in the second to start the scoring. Nate McLouth matched that with a two-run shot in the third. After Asencio gave up Rod Barajas's fourth homer of the year in the fourth, David Ross doubled in Chipper Jones to tie it up in the sixth. After a walk, a flyout got Ross to third and he scored on a balk. The Braves used their muscle the rest of the way. Martin Prado reached to open the seventh. On a busted hit-and-run, Prado stole second. Possibly to put a double play in order, Blake Hawkesworth walked Jason Heyward intentionally to bring up McLouth. Bad idea. Three-run bomb, 7-3. In the 8th, Dan Uggla walked and Diory Hernandez sneaked a single through. Wilkin Ramirez, who entered during the previous inning during a double switch, launched a 1-0 pitch for his first hit in his first at-bat as a Brave. That homer made it 10-3. Jones added an RBI double to make it 11-3.
Asencio went 2-1 ING to pick up his first win. Scott Linebrink tossed a scoreless inning and Peter Moylan struck out two, but his two walks brought in former Dodger George Sherrill (and Ramirez), who got Moylan out of the 7th and worked a quiet 8th. Jonny Venters finished up. In addition to McLouth's five ribbies, Jones had a four hit game, Heyward scored three times, and Hernandez had his first two-hit game. Ramirez added a single in his second at-bat.
11-3 WIN (8-9)
W - J. Asencio (1-0)
L - C. Billingsley (2-2)
April 19
The story on Jurrjens is a strained shoulder. He will hit the DL and probably return in mid-May. Anthony Varvaro was promoted for the time being. When Jurrjens' spot comes up, Mike Minor will be called up.
April 19
Brandon Beachy vs. Hiroki Kuroda
Atlanta had absolutely no answer for Kuroda and Brandon Beachy, despite going seven innings, put the Braves in too big of a hole as they fall 4-0. Really, the solo shots to Rod Barajas in the second and Andre Ethier in the fourth are forgivable, but walking Kuroda to open the fifth, an inning that led to the other two runs? And on four pitches?
Atlanta managed all of two singles off Kuroda. They did get four walks and a hit-by-pitch, but simply could not come up with a big hit. They loaded the bases in the second on a single, a walk, and a HBP, but Beachy fouled off a squeeze bunt before grounding into a twin killing. Only Freddie Freeman reached base twice. He singled and walked.
Beachy's seven innings at least helped the bullpen. Scott Linebrink tossed a scoreless 8th in relief.
4-0 LOSS (8-10)
W - H. Kuroda (1-2)
L - B. Beachy (0-3)
SV - J. Broxton (5)
April 20, 2011
Alex Gonzalez was activated off the DL and Diory Hernandez, his replacement, will stick with the team since he was 6-of-19. Brandon Hicks, 3-of-30, will head to Gwinnett.
Tim Hudson vs. Jon Garland
Despite leaving eleven runners on base, the offense did just enough to get by the Dodgers today, 5-2. Tim Hudson gave up an early run as Xavier Paul doubled, reached third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly. In the third, the Braves responded. Dan Uggla doubled and after a wild pitch, scored on Alex Gonzalez's single. It was Gonzalez's first at-bat after being activated earlier that day. Hudson bunted and Garland went for the play at second, throwing wildly. Martin Prado beat out a grounder to load them and Jason Heyward walked in Gonzalez. After an out, David Ross singled in Hudson to make it 3-1. The Braves would load the bases again in the fourth, but failed to score after Nate McLouth K'd looking.
Paul homered off Hudson in the fifth to make it a one-run game, but Hudson kept the Dodgers at bay. In the seventh, he gave up a leadoff single and a wild pitch, but got a pop-up for the first out and with back-to-back lefties due up, Eric O'Flaherty finished off the inning with the tying run stranded at third.
Prado doubled to open the ninth. After an intentional pass to Heyward and an unintentional pass to McLouth, Chipper Jones grounded into a fielder's choice, eliminating Prado. But Ross singled and an error on the play helped a second runner to score. Craig Kimbrel gave up a single, but K'd the side in the ninth for his fourth save. Ross and Prado had three hits with Ross picking up three RBI's. Uggla had a two-hit game to get back over .200.
5-2 WIN (9-10)
W - T. Hudson (2-1)
L - J. Garland (0-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (4)
April 21, 2011
Derek Lowe vs. Ted Lilly
He needed just 97 pitches to hurl nine solid innings and Derek Lowe breaks into the win column with a complete game eight-hitter. Lowe gave up two unearned runs via a Diory Hernandez error in the second, but the Braves gave him plenty of support. He walked one and struck out three and got 16 ground ball outs.
Braves took the early lead after Alex Gonzalez, getting a shot to hit second with the lefty starting in Ted Lilly, singled with one out and Nate McLouth continued his torrid start with a two-run homer, his seventh. He hit six last year. After Hernandez threw one away, leading to the Dodgers' two runs in the second, Gonzalez hit his first homer to give the Braves the lead they would not give up. Hernandez made up for his mistake with a two-out double in the fourth to plate Dan Uggla. Lowe followed with an RBI single. Jason Heyward belted a two-run bomb in the fifth for his first homer and the ultimate edge in the 7-2 win.
Gonzalez finished a triple short of the cycle, but did pick up four hits. Hernandez had three and McLouth added a double to his solid day. For the first time since April 4th, when they were 2-2, the Braves are again at .500. They look to continue the good times on this 10 day, 10 game road trip through California with three in San Francisco.
7-2 WIN (10-10)
W - D. Lowe (1-2)
L - T. Lilly (1-1)
Jair Jurrjens vs. Chad Billingsley
Despite losing Jair Jurrjens in the third, the Braves cruise to a 11-3 throttling of the Dodgers. Jairo Asencio gave up a homer that initially gave the Dodgers 3-2 lead in the fourth, but the Braves would erase that in the sixth and with a pair of three-run shots in the seventh and eighth, this game became a laugher.
Juan Uribe hit a two-run bomb off Jurrjens in the second to start the scoring. Nate McLouth matched that with a two-run shot in the third. After Asencio gave up Rod Barajas's fourth homer of the year in the fourth, David Ross doubled in Chipper Jones to tie it up in the sixth. After a walk, a flyout got Ross to third and he scored on a balk. The Braves used their muscle the rest of the way. Martin Prado reached to open the seventh. On a busted hit-and-run, Prado stole second. Possibly to put a double play in order, Blake Hawkesworth walked Jason Heyward intentionally to bring up McLouth. Bad idea. Three-run bomb, 7-3. In the 8th, Dan Uggla walked and Diory Hernandez sneaked a single through. Wilkin Ramirez, who entered during the previous inning during a double switch, launched a 1-0 pitch for his first hit in his first at-bat as a Brave. That homer made it 10-3. Jones added an RBI double to make it 11-3.
Asencio went 2-1 ING to pick up his first win. Scott Linebrink tossed a scoreless inning and Peter Moylan struck out two, but his two walks brought in former Dodger George Sherrill (and Ramirez), who got Moylan out of the 7th and worked a quiet 8th. Jonny Venters finished up. In addition to McLouth's five ribbies, Jones had a four hit game, Heyward scored three times, and Hernandez had his first two-hit game. Ramirez added a single in his second at-bat.
11-3 WIN (8-9)
W - J. Asencio (1-0)
L - C. Billingsley (2-2)
April 19
The story on Jurrjens is a strained shoulder. He will hit the DL and probably return in mid-May. Anthony Varvaro was promoted for the time being. When Jurrjens' spot comes up, Mike Minor will be called up.
April 19
Brandon Beachy vs. Hiroki Kuroda
Atlanta had absolutely no answer for Kuroda and Brandon Beachy, despite going seven innings, put the Braves in too big of a hole as they fall 4-0. Really, the solo shots to Rod Barajas in the second and Andre Ethier in the fourth are forgivable, but walking Kuroda to open the fifth, an inning that led to the other two runs? And on four pitches?
Atlanta managed all of two singles off Kuroda. They did get four walks and a hit-by-pitch, but simply could not come up with a big hit. They loaded the bases in the second on a single, a walk, and a HBP, but Beachy fouled off a squeeze bunt before grounding into a twin killing. Only Freddie Freeman reached base twice. He singled and walked.
Beachy's seven innings at least helped the bullpen. Scott Linebrink tossed a scoreless 8th in relief.
4-0 LOSS (8-10)
W - H. Kuroda (1-2)
L - B. Beachy (0-3)
SV - J. Broxton (5)
April 20, 2011
Alex Gonzalez was activated off the DL and Diory Hernandez, his replacement, will stick with the team since he was 6-of-19. Brandon Hicks, 3-of-30, will head to Gwinnett.
Tim Hudson vs. Jon Garland
Despite leaving eleven runners on base, the offense did just enough to get by the Dodgers today, 5-2. Tim Hudson gave up an early run as Xavier Paul doubled, reached third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly. In the third, the Braves responded. Dan Uggla doubled and after a wild pitch, scored on Alex Gonzalez's single. It was Gonzalez's first at-bat after being activated earlier that day. Hudson bunted and Garland went for the play at second, throwing wildly. Martin Prado beat out a grounder to load them and Jason Heyward walked in Gonzalez. After an out, David Ross singled in Hudson to make it 3-1. The Braves would load the bases again in the fourth, but failed to score after Nate McLouth K'd looking.
Paul homered off Hudson in the fifth to make it a one-run game, but Hudson kept the Dodgers at bay. In the seventh, he gave up a leadoff single and a wild pitch, but got a pop-up for the first out and with back-to-back lefties due up, Eric O'Flaherty finished off the inning with the tying run stranded at third.
Prado doubled to open the ninth. After an intentional pass to Heyward and an unintentional pass to McLouth, Chipper Jones grounded into a fielder's choice, eliminating Prado. But Ross singled and an error on the play helped a second runner to score. Craig Kimbrel gave up a single, but K'd the side in the ninth for his fourth save. Ross and Prado had three hits with Ross picking up three RBI's. Uggla had a two-hit game to get back over .200.
5-2 WIN (9-10)
W - T. Hudson (2-1)
L - J. Garland (0-1)
SV - C. Kimbrel (4)
April 21, 2011
Derek Lowe vs. Ted Lilly
He needed just 97 pitches to hurl nine solid innings and Derek Lowe breaks into the win column with a complete game eight-hitter. Lowe gave up two unearned runs via a Diory Hernandez error in the second, but the Braves gave him plenty of support. He walked one and struck out three and got 16 ground ball outs.
Braves took the early lead after Alex Gonzalez, getting a shot to hit second with the lefty starting in Ted Lilly, singled with one out and Nate McLouth continued his torrid start with a two-run homer, his seventh. He hit six last year. After Hernandez threw one away, leading to the Dodgers' two runs in the second, Gonzalez hit his first homer to give the Braves the lead they would not give up. Hernandez made up for his mistake with a two-out double in the fourth to plate Dan Uggla. Lowe followed with an RBI single. Jason Heyward belted a two-run bomb in the fifth for his first homer and the ultimate edge in the 7-2 win.
Gonzalez finished a triple short of the cycle, but did pick up four hits. Hernandez had three and McLouth added a double to his solid day. For the first time since April 4th, when they were 2-2, the Braves are again at .500. They look to continue the good times on this 10 day, 10 game road trip through California with three in San Francisco.
7-2 WIN (10-10)
W - D. Lowe (1-2)
L - T. Lilly (1-1)
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