Archive for the 'Braves Games Recap' Category

The Atlanta Braves ended their 4 game skid last night in Arizona with a huge early offensive surge to give support to Jair Jurrjens who went to 5-2 with the win.

From MLB.com: “The Braves made a big offensive statement in ending their four-game losing streak. Sparked by Yunel Escobar’s three-run homer in the third inning, Atlanta put up 10 runs after four innings, a large enough cushion to give Jair Jurrjens his fifth win of the season. The starter helped himself with a two-run double…”

Well if you were looking for a good pitching matchup you definietly tuned into the right games as D-backs ace Dan Haren and Braves ace Derek Lowe squared off tonight. For the Braves D Lowe went 7 strong innings giving up 5 runs, but only 3 earned. He gave up 10 hits and struck out 2. And for the Arizona(21-27) Dan Haren went 8 innings allowing 2 runs and striking out 8 while walking 0 batters and Chad Qualls pitched a perfect 9th to earn his 12th save on the year.

The dagger came in the 4th inning for the D-backs as the they plated 4 runners, 2 of which came after Kelly Johnson was unable to field a Justin Upton ground ball cleanly. That was all the D-Backs needed to win the game.

For the Braves offense Kelly Johnson had 2 doubles and scored twice(didn’t do enough to make up for that error if you ask me). Also Casey Kotchman added 2 hits and an RBI, along with Chipper Jones also batting in 1. The struggles continue for the Atlanta outfield as Schafer, Anderson, and Francouer combined for 5 k’s and 1-10 showing. What to do what to do…I sense a shakeup coming soon! For Arizona Eric Byrnes scored 2 times and Justin Upton added 3 hits and 1 run.

Another tough lose for Atlanta as the pitching continues to be strong, but the offense has yet to consistently show up and help out the Braves staff. Something needs to be done soon…! Well there is always tomorrow…Braves vs. D-backs play tomorrow again at 9:40 PM with Jair Jurrjens on the mound.

GO BRAVES !!!

Tonight’s Box Score

Braves starter pitched 5 scoreless innings, striking out 6 and not walking a batter. The Braves once again had the bats going, they beat the Colorado Rockies 12-4 tonight. The Braves offense has found their way in the last 2 games tonight, knocking Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa around for 7 runs in only 3.2 innings of work. It was his worst start of the season. But enough about the Rockies poor pitching lets talk about the Braves offense.

For the Braves Yunel Escobar went 2-4 including a 3-run HR in the 4th inning where he plated 3. Outfielder Matt Diaz had 3 hits, including a triple, and scored 4 times for the Braves. Also for the Braves Jeff Francouer went 1-3 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs, David Ross(who played catcher for Brian McCann tonight) had  RBI’s, and Jordan Scahfer also had 2 RBI’s to bring his season total up to 8.

This is good sign for the Braves who had been struggling to get runs, but while I agree this is good that we not look to far into it as the Rockies pitching is far below average. But hell we’ll take the win and the success of the offense. Just a note Jeff Franocuer saved a spot on my fantasy team tonight with a solid performance. Braves and Rockies play the final game of the series tomorrow at 7:00 Pm as Kris Medlen will make his major league debut for the Braves. GO BRAVES!

Tonight’s Box Score

Tonight the Atlanta Braves defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-1. The Braves finally got their bats going, jumping out to a 4-0 lead for Jair Jurrjens, who was excellent once again.

Jair went 7 innings giving up 3 hits, 1 run, while walking 3 and striking out 8. He was in complete command throughout his entire outing. This was his 3rd straight of going 7 or more innings, and he has continued his excellent play throughout the year. Jurrjens lowered his already low ERA to 1.96. But not only was Jair good, but the Braves offense was finally back tonight.

For the the offense, Casey Kotchman went 3-5 with 2 doubles, 3 RBI’s and 1 run scored. Also for the Braves Kelly Johnson had 3 hits and scored 2 runs. Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens also went 1-3 scoring 1 run and driving in 1 run. It was good to see the lackluster offense of the Braves finally start to hit. It also helps they were facing Jason Hammel who has been struggling, but I know we’ll take this good all around performance. They look to keep it up tomorrow when they send Javier Vazquez to the mound. The game starts at 7:00 PM, and we’ll have a preview up by tomorrow afternoon. GO BRAVES!

Tonight’s Box Score

The Braves bats once again failed to show up to support another great pitching performance. Failing to score only 1 run in the 5-1  lose tonight the offense once again looked terrible.

Braves starter Derek Lowe went 8 innings giving up 2 runs, 3 hits and striking out 3 while only walking 1. This is a reoccuring theme for the Braves as the lack of offense has ruined starts from Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, and now D. Lowe. The lone Braves run was driven in on an error plating Chipper Jones.

The Braves had its from catcher Brian McCann, Garret Anderson, Derek Lowe, Yunel Escobar, and Chipper Jones…As for Jeff Francouer and Casey Kotchman stranded a combined 5 men LOB. For the Rockies Jason Marquis pitched just a little bit better than Low. Marquis went 8 innings giving up only 1 run on 5 hits, while walking 3 and striking out 3. And for their offense they got RBI’s from Dexter Fowler, Chris Iannetta, Todd Helton, and Ryan Spillborghs.

This is the 2nd conseecutive game where the bats have failed the pitching staff, and for sure not the first time it has happened this year. The Braves and Rockies square up again tomorrow at 7:00 PM, where they’ll send Jair Jurrjens to the mound to face Jason Hammel. Hopefully they can get the bats going this time against a struggling Hammel.

Tonights Box Score

A night after being crushed 12-0 the Atlanta Braves get an unexpected day off, due to the postponement of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks today. The Braves are back in action tomorrow against the Colorado Rockies at 7:00 pm at Turner Field, the Braves plan to send Jair Jurrjens to the mound while the Rockies are sending Jason Marquis. So far this year Jurrjens is 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA, and Marquis is 4-3 with a 5.40 ERA.  Hopefully the Braves can get the bats going against the struggling Marquis.

Wicked pissed not going to write anything, except Braves lose 12-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Braves argue about double play that could have kept them in the game.

From the article: So much for the fake-to-third-and-throw-to-first pickoff play never working. Atlanta learned on Saturday night just how wrong that is. The Braves were duped in the first inning and never recovered, their game against the D-backs going from bad to worse.

Here is the article

The Braves look to rebound tomorrow at 1:30 pm at Turner Field.

Tonights Box Score

The struggles for Braves closer Mike Gonzalez continue as he gave up a solo home run to Stephen Drew in the top of the 9th to tie the game.

But the Braves were able to load the bases in the bottom of the 9th with 1 out. Yunel Escobar then came up and hit a sac fly that drove in Casey Kotchman off Tony Pena to give the Braves the win in the bottom of the 9th. The final score was 4-3 Atlanta.

One bright spot for the Braves was starter Javier Vazquez, who went 7 innings, allowing 2 runs all int eh 1st inning and striking out 10. It was his 2nd consecutive solid start even though he didn’t get the win tonight. At the plate for the Braves Chipper Jones went 1-3 with his 4th home run of the year. Other than that the RBI’s came from a Yunel Escobar sac fly, and a Jordan Schafer RBI single. The Braves bats and closer continue to be the story of the year for the Braves as once again they get a solid outing from their starter jsut to have it blown by Gonzalez. Look for the Braves bats to get going tomorrow against youngster Max Scherzer, who is winless in his major league career.

Tonight’s Box Score

The Braves and Mets played another thrilling game at Citi field, but this time the Braves prevail and beat the 1st place Mets in 12 innings! The Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes struggled once again only lasting 3.0 innings, giving up 4 hits, 5 earned runs, while walking 3 and striking out no body. Not the start that the Braves were looking from Reyes. But the bullpen picked up some of the slack for him.

The struggles continued for the Braves closers, this time it was Rafael Soriano, giving up a game tying home-run to Gary Sheffield in the bottom of the 8th.Then in the top of the 9th with the scored tied 7-7 Yunel Escobar lead of the inning with a double to deep left. Mets closer Fransisco Rodriguez then intentionally walked Chipper Jones, giving the Braves runners on 1st and 2nd with 0 outs. Garret Anderson then flied out and Escobar was thrown out trying to advance to 3rd. Jeff Francouer then struck out, a great oppurtunity wasted by the Braves offense…

It wasn’t until the top of the 12th inning that the Braves would strike when Martin Prado hit a 1 out solo home-run off Ken Takashi to break the 7-7 tie and give the Braves the lead 8-7. An in the bottom of the 12th the Braves called on Mike Gonzalez to hold the 1 run lead. And the first batter he faced, Jose Reyes knocked a double to deep left. Louis Castillo then sacrificed Reyes to 3rd. Gonzalez then got Carlos Beltran to strike out swinging, and then got Gary Sheffield to wiff also to end the game and pick up the save.

For the Braves Chipper Jones, Garrett Anderson, and Omar Infante all had 2 or more hits. Jones hit 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. While Anderson drove in 3 and had 3 hits. Infante got 2 hits and scored 2 runs for the Braves. It was a great win for the Braves who capped off their road trip and picked up 6 wins while on it. The Braves are off tomorrow, but resume play on Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Today’s Box Score

From the Article: 

“When Carlos Beltran slid into third with a ninth-inning stolen base during the 4-3, 10-inning win the Mets claimed over the Braves at Citi Field on Tuesday night, Chipper Jones didn’t react with enough emotion to cause his always-protective manager to tempt the possibility of adding to his all-time ejections record.”

 

 

When I first saw the video of Beltran stealing 3rd I didn’t think anything of it, but then once I saw it again I now think that Beltran was out and that Chipper Jones has a legitamate argument.

 

Follow this link for the video

Here is the original article, which has Chipper Jones talking about the call