Braves Report

A lot has happened in a month. The Braves moved from first place to last, and now they’re trying to make a run at first again. They’re 0.5 games behind the Phillies, who have been shutout in 5 of their past 8 games, who face the Braves on Memorial Day. On Sunday, the Braves were trying to complete a sweep of the Pirates. Let’s see how it went.

Kris Medlen, who has replaced Jair Jurrjens while he’s been on the DL, pitched this game and was pretty solid. He went 6 and 2/3rds innings, gave up 4 hits, 2 runs, a pair of walks, and struck out 2. Not perfect, but enough to keep the Braves in the game. O’Flaherty relieved him and struck out the only batter he faced. Saito followed and struck out 2, earning his first win of the season. Wagner came on in the 9th, struck out 1, and got his 7th save of the year.

The offense was lacking in the beginning of the game, but when the time came, they stepped up. Troy Glaus started off the game with a sacrifice fly in the first. In his next at-bat, he hit his 7th homer of the year. After that, the bats remained silent until the 8th inning. With 2 outs and runners on first and second, pinch-hitting Chipper Jones hit a bloop towards left field.

It dropped.

This gave the Braves a 3-2 lead. Then Jason Heyward came up to the plate and drove in McCann and Chipper with a triple, his 37th and 38th RBI of the year. Who expected this from him at the beginning of the year? All I can say is I’m very happy with the way this team has been playing.

Braves break out the brooms, 5 – 2.

Next game, 1:05 PM EST vs. the Phillies on Sports South.

Tommy Hanson (4 – 3, 4.06) vs. Joe Blanton (1 – 3, 5.63).