June is over. Interleague play has ended. Chipper and Kotsay are back. Yet, despite this, the Braves are still running into trouble, particularly against the Phillies, who are now 6 - 1 against them on the season. Something needs to be done or this team will have more and more trouble regaining their footing.
So, where to start? I might as well begin with the starting pitching. Morton got through the first inning with relative ease, but things only went downhill from there. Burrell tagged a solo homer off of him in the second, and Victorino had a two-run shot in the third. The Phillies then started a hitting conga-line, until the point where Morton was pulled. When all was said and done, he recorded no outs in the third, allowed six consecutive hits, and let three runs cross the plate. His line on the day was 5 earned runs, 8 hits, and a walk and a strikeout. Carlyle came in to put out the fire, and did. He was sensational, and ended up going three innings. He retired eight in a row, while striking out five, and only giving up one hit. I know that he’s the the long reliever/mop-up man, but he’s always impressed me. Perhaps with Morton’s performance tonight, it’s time to think about giving Buddy another shot at starting. After Carlyle, Acosta pitched two innings, and gave up a pair of hits. Ohman did one, while striking out and walking two. Boyer came in the 9th, and let the game get blown wide open. He let 3 runs cross on 3 hits and some sloppy fielding by Lillibridge. Ring ended it with a popout.
The bats were being their normal self, while being nonexistent in the beginning of the game, and showing up to make a late, ineffective comeback. This tried to happen in the 7th, where Norton came off the bench and smoked a 2-run double. Tex also had an RBI groundout, to put the Braves within two runs, but that was about it. Blanco and McCann each had a pair of hits throughout the game, but it was all for naught. Francoeur and Lillibridge each singled, and Chipper had a double and two walks in his return. Not enough, not nearly enough.
Braves get beaten down, 8 - 3.
Tomorrow’s game, 7:00 PM, not nationally televised.