Game 1 – Braves 4, Phillies 1
by lsu31always on Apr.05, 2009, under Recaps
A new year, a new forum, a new team, and new hope for a season to remember. I do not know where to begin. What a great way to begin the season. A victory over the defending world champion Phillies. The bats started out with a bang, having hit a trio of home runs by the time the second inning had ended. But as loudly as the bats began the game, they were the polar opposite the rest of the way. All four of the runs that the Braves scored were scored in the first two innings.
Wife beatin’ Brett Myers started the game off well, retiring the first two batters he faced. Chipper then singled. McCann would make Myers pay for leaving one up in the zone by blasting one out of the park, for the first home run of the 2009 season. To start the second inning, on the first pitch, Frenchy with his new and (hopefully) improved stance took Myers deep to make it 3 – 0, Braves. Rookie Jordan Schafer would be the next to join in the festivities. In his first Major League at-bat, Schafer went deep, becoming the 99th player in MLB history to hit a home run in their first MLB AB. He is the first Brave to do so since Jermaine Dye did it on May 17th, 1996. The Braves would get 4 more hits the remainder of the game. Chipper and Yunel would each add a double. Anderson would get his first hit in the National League, and Schafer would add to his great debut by adding a base knock on top of his home run.
Derek Lowe looked like the investment of the decade tonight. In a time where investments are dealing nothing but heartbreak, Derek Lowe far exceeded expectations. He went 8 extremely strong innings. He allowed just 2 base runners, a double and a single. He did not allow a run and struck out 4 on the night. Mike Gonzalez came into finish the game off. While he was able to close the door, he had a flair for the dramatic. He allowed a lead off double, followed by a sac fly, then proceeded to let the next two batters reach base. Allowing Ryan Howard to come up to the plate as the tying run. He shut the door on the Phils emphatically by striking out Howard and Raul Ibanez to end the game.
Braves win, 4 – 1.
Next game: Tuesday @ Phillies
7:05PM EDT. Jurrjens vs. Moyer.
Feel free to join in the discussion of the game with us on our new forums.
April 6th, 2009 on 9:47 am
Fantastic way to open the season, even with Gonzo’s 28-pitch ninth inning. He got the big outs (Howard, Ibanez) when he had to.
Lowe was superb. Totally in control. Pitching like an ace, totally locking down a good-hitting team in a hitter’s park. THIS is what dominant starting pitching looks like.
And who says the Braves don’t have power? Sure, they’re not going to hit three home runs every night. But they got Lowe an early lead and took the Philly faithful out of it. That ball by McCann was blistered. Good swing on Francoeur’s homer, and quite a debut by Schafer.
A great start. On to Tuesday night.
Bud.
http://braves.today.com
April 6th, 2009 on 12:07 pm
A great start on a great day. I think that’s the warmest it’s been up here for the entire year.
It was good to see that the bats were just as hot, especially when we’re not used to seeing this team get a hit until the 7th inning.
Very solid win.