Braves Report

Sure, not that I all but give up on this team, I comment to a friend that we are rapidly catching the Nats for the cellar, that management has given up, we go on a winning streak. If only this could have happened back before we gutted this team for a bunch of mediocre players.

Jurrjens had another good outing. He may be tiring, since he has pitched more than he has pitched in all his career. He had a few rough outings, but seems to be back on track, for the most part. Last night he gave us six innings, only allowing four runs, but striking out ten. The pen actually held! Julio, Tavarez, and Gonzo each pitched a scoreless inning.

The bats poured it on once again. We banged out nine hits and drove in eight runs. The big bat of the night belonged to Escobar. He had three hits, a home run, drove in three, and scored twice.

Braves win again, 8 - 4.

Who is this team and what have they done with the 2008 Atlanta Braves? I don’t know quite what to make of this, yesterday an extra inning win, today a come-from-behind-after-the-pen-blows-it win. It’s almost like they care?

Parr is making his case to be in the starting rotation next year. In his first two outings, he has compiled a 0.00 ERA. Tonight, he went six scoreless (duh) innings, striking out five. After Parr’s outstanding performance, Boyer was horrible. He didn’t get a single batter out and gave up three runs. Ohman gave up a run getting one out. Bennett went .2 innings of scoreless ball to get the win. Tavarez and Julio each went a scoreless inning.

Lots going on behind the plate, again the top of the order got it done, Anderson, two hits. KJ two hits (both home runs), Chipper three hits, and McCann three hits. KJ and Anderson each drove in two and Chipper also had a home run.

Braves win 9 - 5.

Well, it was just a few days ago that I stated one of the constants of the universe was the Braves not winning in extras, and then they had to go and prove me wrong. Of course, the Braves didn’t so much win as the other team lost. Seriously, balking in the winning run in the 10th?

Campy was steady again. He might turn into quite a good middle/back end of the rotation starter. Today he gave us 6.1 innings and only gave up three runs. I’ll take that from a #4 guy any day. Bennett went 1.1 innings, perfectly and Ohman gave us .1 perfect innings. Of course, Gonzo blew the save giving up the tying run. Tavarez was the vulture who got the win.

Lots of hitting at the top of the order today. Anderson, Infante, Chipper and McCann each had two hits… as did Frenchy. Kotchman drove in two as the Braves pounded out 14 hits.

Braves win in extras 5 - 4.

A few recaps ago Ben posted one of the world constants in this universe was the Braves losing one run games on the road. I think we have found another. The Braves losing in extras.

The pitchers, this is going to take a while. A 14 inning game uses a lot of pitchers, ten to be exact. Reyes started the game and was good. He gave us six innings, limiting the Nats to only one run on four hits. Enough for a win? Nope. Tavarez went an inning, giving up a run. Boyer gave up two runs to be hung with a blown save. Ohman had to bail him out of that inning, and did. Gonzo rebounded from from his rough outing with a scoreless inning. Nunez went .2 scoreless innings, while Jeff Ridgway went 1.1. After that, Carlyle came in and went two scoreless innings. Bennett was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs in .1 innings. Julio got the last two, pointless outs.

You’d think in 14 innings we could score more than four runs, but not our bats. Blanco, back in the lead off spot, had two hits, scored two runs and an RBI. Prado had two hits and drove one in. Chipper had three hits and two RBI. Escobar went three for seven (SEVEN?!?).

Braves lose 4 - 7

I hate to say this, but I am really tired of writing recaps for losses. When I first decided to write these recaps, I said to myself, “I will keep these positive, I will focus on the good.” I haven’t been able to hold myself to that, this season has just been too disappointing.

Hampton had another pretty good outing. He may not be the pitcher he once was once, but since his return, he hasn’t been that bad, either. This game he gave us seven innings, allowing four earned runs. On the negative side, he did give up four home runs. Bennett gave us two scoreless innings. Gonzo was less than stellar. He only managed to get out one batter while allowing three runs. Once the game was all but over, Julio got the last two outs.

Once again, the bats pounded out ten his. Sadly, this time it wasn’t enough for the win. KJ seems to be heating up again (a little too late) with two more hits and two RBI. Kotchman also had two hits and scored twice. And lastly, Frenchy came in as a pinch hitter, stayed in the game, got two hits and scored once.

Braves lose 5 - 8.