Braves Report

What a sad day for Braves fans. First we get the news that Smoltz is having season (career?) ending surgery. Smoltz has been the heart and soul of this team for so long, I’m not sure what the team will look like without his day to day presence. If that wasn’t enough bad news, our “temporary” closer, who has been fantastic, couldn’t hold a 2 run lead in the ninth. Hopefully, we will bounce back tomorrow and make it three of four from the fish.

Tom Glavine gave us another solid outing, but he seems to struggle to get past the fifth or sixth inning, with the loss of Smoltz that will HAVE to change. But, his pitch count had gotten up there… He gave us five innings limiting the fish to six hits and only two runs. Without a doubt he gave the Braves a chance to win. Then, bullpen by committee started. Boyer was outstanding, giving us 1.1 innings, not allowing a hit with only one hitter reaching base via a walk. Ohman closed out that inning, equally as impressively. He threw zeros across the board. Acosta came in to pitch the ninth and four hits and two home runs later he was pulled for Ring. Ring ended the madness (sadly, a little too late).

It really seemed, when I had to head into work, that the bats weren’t having trouble pushing runs across. I’m not sure what happened, but that must have stopped. The top of the order was solid. Escobar reached base three times, KJ had two hits, Frenchy (batting third) also had two hits. But, Chipper wasn’t in today and Tex went 0 – 4, not really the best way to have runs driven in. Josh Anderson, getting his first (?) start with Atlanta also had two base knocks, not a bad day for him.

Braves lose in the ninth, 4 – 6.

Tomorrow’s game, 7:10 PM. Not nationally televised.

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