On the Road Again....Struggles

What is it when the Braves leave the friendly confines of Turner Field where they have a winning record of 13-4 and hit the road? Unfortunately, not even I can understand why the Braves are struggling on the road.

We headed into Pittsburgh for a 4 game series against the Pirates and two of our former Braves, Adam LaRoche and Tyler Yates. In Friday Night's game, Tom Glavine was pitching a good game and went 7 innings. Frenchy looks as if he is starting to come out of it, he had both RBI's for the Braves. Yet when it came down to it, we lost another 1 run game and thus ending our 6 game winning streak and continuing our road woes.

Tonight's game, pitted Chuck "Can't Keep the Ball Down" James against their young LHP Gorzelanny. Granted James went 6 innings but he didn't keep it in the park or down in the strike zone thus he gave up 5 runs. The only runs we scored were on a Mark Teixeira 2 Run Home Run. We give him a 2 run lead and he can't hold it. Sorry but this is going to be a bashing session. Until Chuck James learns to pitch down in the strike zone and learns another pitch, he will continue to get hammered by the opposing team. No matter how much of a lead we give him, he will blow it. I am not a big fan of his. He does well down in the minors but he comes up to the big team and seems to lose it. Put him in the bullpen and let Jeff Bennett start at least we know what we are getting with him.

We have Jair Jurrjens going for us tomorrow against Zack Duke, in my opinion, Jurrjens is going to be our #2 guy in the rotation. He is composed and is not afraid to go after guys. He doesn't get rattled. I like the make up of this young kid. Let's see if he can get us a win tomorrow against the Pirates. The offense needs to wake up too. Infante had a good night for us. He went 3 for 3. A nice option to give KJ a day off here and there and bat off the bench. The bench is looking nice if you ask me.

6 Game Winning Streak

Yes folks, that is not a misprint. The Braves came home and took care of business. They went 6-0 against the Reds and Padres. Everyone from top to bottom of this order help to get to 6-0 and now they head on the road to Pittsburgh where they face their old friends, Adam LaRoche and Tyler Yates, Friday-Sunday.

We finally pulled out a 1 Run Victory, after being down 4-1, we pulled out a 1 run victory in the bottom of the 9th with a bases loaded game winning RBI Single by Matt Diaz. Again, the bullpen comes up big and does its job, shutting the door. What can you say about this bullpen, whether it is Campillo, Ring or Ohman, they are coming in and keeping the other team from scoring? These guys are not getting recognized and they must like it. Carlyle came in after Reyes had to leave with blisters on his pitching hand. Carlyle got bowled over when fielding a swinging bunt, he looked as if he didn't know where he was. He managed the out. He ended up with a strained neck.

Diaz and Kotsay pulled off a double steal and Ruben Gotay also had a stolen base. 3 Stolen Bases for the Braves. This is something we don't see much of by the Braves.

Braves 5-4

18-15

1 Game out of 1st Place.

Winner: Manny Acosta (1-1 3.38)
Loser: Joe Thatcher (0-4 6.75)


Braves Starting Lineup:
Omar Infante 2B
Yunel Escobar SS
Chipper Jones 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Matt Diaz LF
Mark Kotsay CF
Corky Miller C
Jo-Jo Reyes P

The new PH, Greg Norton has 3 RBI's in his 1st 2 PH AB's for the Braves. Very Nice if you ask me. Infante returned today, giving KJ a day off, he got his 1st hit in a Braves Uniform. In order for Infante to put on the roster, Pena went on the DL with lower back injury, apparently he hurt it while moving.

Let's see if we can go to 7 in a row and make a run for 1st place, some where we haven't seen in a while.

Braves are on the move.

Braves busy on an off day

Braves were busy for a team that has an off day. Well, it seems Martin Prado will be spending the next 6 to 8 weeks wearing a cast on the injured hand. It seems he has a grade 1-2 sprain and it will require him to wear a cast. He was officially placed on the 15 DL by the Braves.

The Braves officially moved Peter Moylan from the 15 DL to the 60 DL. It appears as if Moylan will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery. There was the slimmer of hope that he could pitch through this but after 7 pitches on Saturday, there was discomfort and he shut it down. For those who read our blog and are not aware, Moylan has a bone spur growing into the ligament in his pitching arm. He will be missed greatly in the bullpen. Let's get this done now so he can return hopefully this time next year.

The Braves made a trade with the Seattle Mariners for a bench player. We acquired Greg Norton for PBTNL. Norton will be another bat for us off the bench and he can play 3B and 1B so he will essentially take over for Prado.

Infante is getting ready to make his rehab starts so he should be back with the team in very short order. Gonzo is getting ready to return also.

I have to hand it to the bullpen, they are a bunch of no name guys who are taking care of this pitching staff in a major way. Ohman is the vet out there and he seems to be telling the young guys, pitch as if you are closing out the game, no matter how many outs there are. He, to me, as been a nice surprise considering how he struggled last year with the Cubs.

Been a busy day for the Braves and we aren't even playing tonight. Little side note: NEVER SLIDE INTO FIRST BASE. BAD MOVE!!!!!

Home Sweep Home

The Atlanta Braves are glad to be back at Turner Field, as they completed a three game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, by a score of 14-7, improving to 11-4 at home this year(They are 4-11 on the road.)

The bats got going in the 2nd inning, as the Braves scored 7 in the inning, capped off by a Chipper Jones 3-run homer. Jones continues to tear it up, as he went 3-6 at the plate, with 5 RBI's, and the Braves chased Reds starter Bronson Arroyo after only 1 1/3 innings.

The two guys in front of Jones provided a majority of the offense as well. Kelly Johnson went 4-6 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored, and Mark Kotsay went 3-4 on the day with 3 RBI's and 3 runs scored, as the top of the lineup ripped the Reds apart.

One of the only downers that came from the game, is that Braves starter Tom Glavine managed only 4 2/3 innings, giving up 6 runs. Glavine started to struggle with his control in the 4th and 5th innings, and couldn't regain it. He left the game with the bases loaded in the 5th, but Royce Ring came in, and got Adam Dunn to pop out to left on the first pitch, ending the inning.

The Braves pullpen would pitch 4 1/3 innings of 1 run ball, halting the Reds attempt at a comeback. Royce Ring would pick up the win.

The Braves have an off-day Monday, before welcoming the San Diego Padres to town for a 3-game set.


Notes:


Martin Prado got the start at SS, as Yunel Escobar had flu-like symptoms.


Prado would injure his left-hand, sliding into first in the top of the 5th. He would later leave the game, and Escobar would return. X-rays came back negative on his hand.

Hudson pitches a gem

Just what the Braves needed from Tim Hudson, a pitching gem. He came out and gave one heck of a pitching performance. He threw a complete game for the Braves. Yes, this is the same Tim Hudson who had struggled the last 2 out of the last 3 starts.

Here is Tim Hudson's Line: 9.0 IP 3 H 0 ER 0 BB 10 K's 2.94 ERA. Now that is an outstanding night from Huddy. He got his offensive help from his catcher, Brian McCann who took the Reds outstanding rookie pitcher Volquez deep for a 2 Run Homer. That is all the run support Huddy would need.

This was big game for this team, coming home, having lost two games to the Nats, Smoltz going on the DL, Hampton not expected back any time soon and Smoltz saying when he does return, he is coming out of the pen as a closer. Who knows when Soriano will return.

Some good news, Moylan is planning on throwing off the bullpen mound tomorrow. His elbow is feeling better. Let's hope he is not trying to come back to assist this team. Gonzo is making great strides himself and is projected to be back by mid May. What a big asset he will be to this team but someone will have to either go down or be release to make room for him. The question is, who will replace Smoltz in the rotation? Will it be one of the following: Bennett, Carlyle, Reyes, James, or will Wren go out and get someone like Millwood or trade for someone?

We have Reyes going for us tomorrow. Game time: 7:00 on Peachtree TV.

Again, another outstanding win by the Braves. Outstanding pitching performance by Hudson, we needed it, the pitching staff, starters and bullpen needed it big time.

Brave's Slide Continues.

The Braves may be relieved that they won't have to face the Washington Nationals again until July, as the Nationals took a 13 inning affair yesterday, by a 3-2 score, and now have taken 5 of 8 from the Braves this season.

The game was dominated by the two young starters, Jair Jurrjens for the Braves, and Shawn Hill for the Nationals. The two seemingly matched each other pitch for pitch, as Jurrjens went 7 innings, allowing only 2 hits, and striking out 3. Hill went 8 innings, while allowing 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 1. Both pitchers allowed only 1 run.

The Braves took the lead in the top of the 6th with a Yunel Escobar RBI single. The Nationals tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning, with a fielders choice grounder by Felipe Lopez.

The game would go to extras, and in the 13th inning, as Mark Teixeira led the inning off with a double, and later scored on a Mark Kotsay single making it 2-1.

In what many view as a poor managerial decision by Bobby Cox, he would leave in relief pitcher Manny Acosta to hit for himself, with runners at 1st and 2nd, and 2 outs. Acosta had already pitched two innings, and it appeared Brent Lillibridge was going to pinch hit for him. But when Ruben Gotay drew a walk, Lillibridge was called back, and Acosta hit for himself. Acosta would strike out, and the Braves had to settle for the one run.

Ascota, who had struggled a bit with control his previous two innings of work, lost it completely in the bottom of the 13th. A pair of walks, including one with the bases loaded that tied the game, and a pair of fielding blunders, one by Acosta himself, led to Felipe Lopez hitting the game winning single.

The loss was the second straight to the Nationals, and fourth straight overall, dropping the Braves to 12-15 overall. The Nationals improved to 11-17

The Braves have an off day Thursday, before heading home to start a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Notes:

Ruben Gotay got the start at 2nd base Wednesday, as Kelly Johnson was a late scratch due to lower back stiffness. Johnson should be ready to go the series opener against the Reds on Friday.