Braves extend Nats losing streak

What a pitching performance by Tim Hudson!!!! The bullpen essentially got the night off, which I think was long over due. Huddy was in and around the plate all night long. He went 8 strong and I mean STRONG innings for us. He had a couple of innings where he threw only 9 pitches so that helped to extend him. The defense behind him came up big on a couple of plays and his catcher, Brian McCann even helped out by throwing out a runner attempting to steal. McCann is now 2 for 2 in throwing out runners at 2B.

This game turned into a pitching dual until Yunel Escobar took a Matt Chico pitch just over the RF wall for his 2nd home run of the season. That was all the help Huddy would need, he would do the rest.

In the 9th inning, bases juiced and Matt Diaz hits a 2-run single to give the Braves a couple of insurance runs. Bring on the temp. closer, Peter "Aussie" Moylan. He got them 1-2-3 and the game was over. Braves win, ending that 3 game skid and extending the Nats to 8 games.

Chipper came up hurt, it seem to be his right quad muscle, but he toughed it out and came out for the bottom of the 9th, you could see the pain on his face. Let's hope he is not out for any extended period of time, Tex needs protection in this lineup or they will pitch around him.

Soriano went on the DL with right elbow soreness. So basically the closers role will be between Moylan and Acosta. After seeing Moylan and the movement on his pitches, I think he should close and don't use a "closer by committee" until Soriano returns.

Hampton threw on the side, he told Braves reporters, he felt great and probably would throw in a couple of day. That is some good news.

As I said the defense stepped up big, KJ had a couple of key plays in the infield which helped Huddy but the big play which kept this game scoreless early was the outstanding running catch by CF Mark Kotsay. This is like his 4th outstanding catch this season for us. My statement after that catch was Andruw Who? So far, Kotsay has played every game for us, that alone is a very good sign and the offense he is giving us, is alittle added bonus. Eventually those hard hit balls that are for outs will drop in.

In a little side note:MLB, imo, has a double standard. It was revealed that two of the guys named in the Mitchell Report, had their suspensions dismissed and the evidence is there proving they used 'roids yet Jordan Schafer has some rat, snitch or whatever you want to call that idiot, call a hotline and report him, no test to verify that this is true. Sorry, you spend Jordan 50 games then Gibbons and Guillen of the Royals do their suspensions too. Sorry you can't have it both ways MLB. Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

W:Hudson 2-0
L:Chico 0-2
S: Moylan 1