I said yesterday that Jurrjens would have to bring his “A” game to win this one, I was wrong. This game was carried by the bats. We drove Webb’s pitch count up, we hit the ball where it was pitched, we did the little things and it all paid off. While its fun to watch the ball leave the yard, its also fun to watch small ball be played the right way! This game had both.
Jurrjens battled today, he really didn’t have his best stuff, and it showed. He couldn’t even finish the fifth. After last night, Bobby didn’t want to take any chances. Jair went 4.2 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs. It could have been worse, but he made his pitches when he needed to. Bennett closed out the fifth with one pitch! Acosta went two solid innings, no hits, no walks, two strikeouts. It was good enough for him to get the win. Boyer pitched the eighth and ninth, allowed a couple of hits, but nothing came from them.
The bats played it smart. If a pitch wasn’t in the zone we didn’t swing. We forced Webb to make pitches, and if he didn’t we hit them. We pounded out twelve hits and seven runs. Tex swung the biggest bat of the day driving in four runs on two hits. (I really hope I get to talk about Tex’s bat more). Escobar, who is beginning to get mentioned as one of the best shortstops around, had two hits and scored. Blanco went three for three with a walk. Chipper’s batting average may have dropped, but his on base percentage went up. He reached three out of six times. McCann launched a long solo shot. Braves also laid down two successful sacrifice bunts, something they have been struggling with.
Tomorrow’s game 8:05 PM. Not nationally televised.
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