Braves Report

(Image: Yahoo! Sports)

Seriously, is this the best the team can do in support of Jojo? Of course, without Chipper in the lineup Tex is the only real threat…. and he was walked three times (twice intentionally). We need Chipper or Kotsay or Diaz or Escobar back in the line up.

Jojo pitched a great game, he really did. Over seven innings he gave up six hit, only one run and kept his weakness (walks) to a minimum. This season he has really established himself as a Braves starter of the future. The pen did a good job tonight. Boyer pitched a scoreless inning.

The downfall of this game was behind the plate. Blanco had another good night with two hits…. and that’s about it for the team. We managed five hits, only one for extra bases.

Braves lose 0 - 1.

No game tomorrow. Tuesday’s game 7:10 PM. Not nationally televised.

This game in on the pen. I know Huddy had all those runs charged to him. I know he was in effective. But, when it comes down to it, the losing runs all crossed after he had left the game. If the pen could have just held, we would have had a chance to come back and win this one.

Huddy did pretty well through the first five innings, only giving up two runs. But, in the sixth, the wheels came off. After he was pulled, Bennett pretty much let everyone one base score. Of course, none of the runs were charged to him. Ohman pitched well, no runs, one hit, two strikeouts. Acosta made sure the game was put out of reach by giving up three runs on three hits.

Blanco was on fire yesterday. He went an amazing four for five, scored once and drove one in. KJ also swung a hot bat. He had two hits, also drove in and scored one run. Big Tex hit another home run. He’s just been on a tear lately.

Braves drop this one, 5 - 9.

Today’s game 1:07 PM. Not nationally televised.

This was one heck of a game. Jurrjens had the game of his career. Blanco did some good work in the lead off spot. Tex finally is swinging a hot bat. All and all this equaled a easy win for the Braves and the hurting Braves need every one they can get till (at least until a few of) their players get healthy.

Like I said, Jurrjens was amazing. He went eight innings, I think that is (it at least ties) the longest outing if his career. He limited the jays to only thee hits while walking only one. He only had thrown 104 pitches at the end of the eighth, in years past he would have gone for the complete game. But, in the era of specialization (and throw in the fact our closer needs every opportunity to fine tune) time to bring in the closer. Gonzo threw a perfect inning, in a non save situation.

We were pretty solid behind the plate, nine hits, four walk and four runs. We did some quality hitting with RISP and Tex broke out the long ball again. Blanco, leading off reached base three time, two hits and a walk. He scored once and drove one in. Tex, seems to be trying (finally!) to pick up the slack for the missing Chipper. He had two hits, one for a home run. All his RBI came with two outs. That the kind of clutch hitting we need to see out of him.

Braves cruise to the win 4 - 0.

Today’s game 1:07 PM. Not nationally televised.

(Picture: Yahoo! Sports)

As I was watching the pregame talk on TV, the announcers felt this was the make or break game of the season. The Phils have been struggling, so we are hardly out of the race. On the other hand, we haven’t exactly been gaining ground on the slumping Phils either. Maybe one of the other bloggers would like to see if we have more payroll sitting (not necessarily on the DL) or on the field. The list just keeps growing, Glavine, Soriano, Smoltz, Diaz, Kotsay, Prado, Moylan, Hampton, Lerew, Chipper, Escobar and Infante. That’s 12 (TWELVE?!?) players on the DL. That’s practically a whole team.

Campy was back to his old junk balling self. He kept the Brewers guess, wonder, “How do I keep getting out?” (And he hit a little too) Campy went seven innings, only gave up four hits, walked none and struck out six. Just a great outing. Boyer was solid again today, going an inning, not allowing a run. Gonzo got his second save of the season, striking out two.

The bats weren’t on fire, but they were good enough. Does Blanco read my recaps? After being critical of him yesterday, he answers back with two hits, a run and an RBI. The biggest bat of the night was KJ. He logged two hits as well and drove in three runs. Lillibridge, who was called in for the injured Infante, did get a double. Of course Campy put the rest of the lineup to shame with two hits of his own, scoring both times.

Braves win 4 - 2!

Off day tomorrow, Friday’s game 7:07 PM(?). Not nationally televised.

(Picture: Yahoo! Sports)

Is there any team in baseball better at coming from behind and losing by one run? I don’t think so. Errors early put the Braves in a hole and they were (again) almost able to climb out of it. I’m tired of saying, “This is a game we should have won.” So I won’t.

Errors really killed our chances today. The errors in the first, two by Frenchy one by Escobar but the team in a hole early, and we were never able to get back on top. Morton looked good, he went six innings giving up only two earned run (four total). He allowed seven hits and struck out four in his losing effort. He deserved better. Acosta pitched two solid innings (for a change). He allowed no runs, no hits and only one walk. Boyer, who tends to pitch better when the game isn’t on the line, went one perfect inning.

Nothing to write home about behind the plate. Blanco has not been impressive as a lead off hitting. He was O - 4 today and his average is down to .242. Big Tex had a big day. He had two hits, one for a home run, two runs and two RBI. Frenchy did his best to make up for his errors with two hits.

Braves lose 3 - 4.

Today’s game, 1:05 PM