Tomahawk Chop

Friday – 7:35   Derek Lowe (13-8, 4.38) vs. Bronson Arroyo (11-12, 4.35)

Saturday – 7:10   Jair Jurrjens (10-9, 2.89) vs. Kip Wells (0-3, 5.48)

Sunday – 1:35   Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.38) vs. Johnny Cueto (9-10, 4.51)

W: R. Nolasco (10-8) L: K. Medlen (3-5)
HR: ATL – B. McCann (18)   FLA – None

For the second straight night, the Braves’ bullpen was not good. Everything fell apart for the Braves in the sixth inning.

Tommy Hanson was strong in his start, going five innings and only allowing one run. However, Hanson threw 104 pitches over those five innings.

Kris Medlen came on to relieve Hanson in the sixth and things didn’t fare well. Medlen was working for the third straight night for the first time in his career and it showed. Medlen lasted just one-third of an inning while giving up four runs (two earned). Eric O’Flaherty relieved Medlen and wasn’t much better. O’Flaherty allowed two runs of his own (zero earned) before getting out of the sixth inning.

Two straight losses to Florida now erase to two wins the Braves got to start off the series. Atlanta and Florida are now deadlocked again in the playoff picture. With another Philadelphia win Thursday night, both teams are 8.5 games back in the East, a race that seems all but over. The Braves are still only four games out of the Wild Card race though. They must pick up their play though over the rest of the month.

Atlanta heads back to Turner Field to tangle with Cincinnati. Atlanta has to start beating the teams below them and that’s where Cincinnati falls.

Where We Stand Today

70-64

NL East – (t-2nd) 8.5 Games Back

Wild Card – (t-3rd) 4.0 Games Back

Up Next

Friday – Reds   7:35   Derek Lowe vs. Bronson Arroyo

W: L. Nunez (4-4) L: M. Gonzalez (3-4)
HR: ATL – Y. Escobar (14)   FLA – D. Uggla (25), W. Helms (3)

Another frustrating loss for the Braves. It seems like every loss for them over the last month has been a game that the Braves had opportunities to win. Wednesday night was no exception.

Atlanta struck first for two runs in the opening inning. The lead lasted only three innings before Dan Uggla wiped it away with one swing. Uggla hit a two-run home run off Javier Vazquez to tie it in the third.

In the fifth, Yunel Escobar put Atlanta back out in front with a RBI single 3-2. However Vazquez, who struggled much of the night, could not make it out of the sixth inning. Vazquez left with a one-run lead, but the bases were loaded and only one out. Bobby Cox made an interesting decision to go with Kris Medlen instead of Peter Moylan out of the bullpen. Moylan had come on in the same situation on Tuesday and picked up a double play to end the inning. Medlen did not fare as well. Medlen gave up a three-run double down the right field line before allowing two more runs to score in the inning.

Trailing 7-3, Atlanta made their comeback in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Chipper Jones pinch hit for Ryan Church. Jones smacked a ball into the gap in left center for a bases clearing double of his own. After an Omar Infante single, runners were at the corners with just one out. Cox then again made another questionable decision to send Greg Norton to the plate to hit for the pitcher. Norton, who has been terrible off the bench all year long, chased a couple off the plate and struck out. I would have rather seen Kelly Johnson, Brooks Conrad, David Ross, or anybody else on the bench, just not Norton. The Braves would leave the bases loaded in the inning.

Yunel Escobar gave the Braves new life in the ninth inning with a solo home run to tie the game. However, Atlanta’s fortunes quickly turned as Wes Helms lined a pitch from Mike Gonzalez over the wall in left for the game winning home run.

There’s a lot that could be said about this one but they pretty much speak for themselves. Atlanta still holds a two to one advantage in this series, and with a win Thursday can take the series. Tommy Hanson will go to the mound hoping to actually complete his start after having the last one shortened because of rain.

Where We Stand Today

70-63

NL East – (2nd) 7.5 Games Back

Wild Card – (3rd) 4.0 Games Back

Up Next

Thursday – Marlins   7:10   Tommy Hanson vs. Ricky Nolasco

W: T. Hudson (1-0) L: A. Sanchez (2-6)
S: R. Soriano (21)
HR: ATL – None   FLA – D. Uggla (24)

From the Associated Press

After a three hour rain delay, Tim Hudson finally made his 2009 debut.

Hudson struggled through his first inning, but shut down the Marlins afterward. A Jorge Cantu single into center field in the first inning brought home the only two runs Hudson allowed. As a sinker ball pitcher, Hudson has always been known for getting ground balls. That didn’t change Tuesday night. Hudson used the defense playing behind him to help get him out of jams.

Atlanta got a run in the first before Hudson allowed two in the bottom half. However, the Braves didn’t stay behind for long. With runners at first and third in the third inning, Marlins’ starter Anibal Sanchez balked allowing a run to score, then Brian McCann hit a ball off the top of the wall in center field to bring home another run.

In the sixth inning with the Braves still holding onto a one run lead, Hudson exited after a walk loaded the bases with one out. Bobby Cox went to Peter Moylan, who like Hudson is known for getting ground balls. Moylan got ground ball on one hop to Martin Prado who stepped on second and through to first to keep the Braves in the lead and Hudson in line for the victory.

Kris Medlen and Mike Gonzalez each pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth respectively before the ball was turned over to Rafael Soriano in the ninth. Soriano made things interesting by allowing a solo home run to Dan Uggla to start off the inning. Cody Ross walked to put the tying run on base, but Soriano picked up a strike out and a double play to end the game. It was save 21 on the season for Soriano.

That’s two in a row now for Atlanta over Florida, but there are still two games left in the series. Atlanta did not gain any ground in either race after wins by both Philadelphia and Colorado. Javier Vazquez will toe the rubber Wednesday night for Atlanta hoping to continue to Braves’ winning ways. Atlanta needs to take advantage of every chance they get in the regular season’s final month.

Where We Stand Today

70-62

NL East – (2nd) 7.5 Games Back

Wild Card – (3rd) 3.0 Games Back

Up Next

Wednesday – Marlins   7:10   Javier Vazquez vs. Rick VandenHurk

With September 1 upon us, rosters have now expanded to 40 players. Atlanta has now called up three players from Gwinnett. Brooks Conrad, Luis Valdez, and Clint Sammons have all been added to the Braves’ roster. Here is the news from Mark Bowman’s blog:

“After Monday night’s win over the Marlins, the Braves announced that Brooks Conrad, Luiz Valdez and Clint Sammons will join the big league club when the rosters are expanded on Tuesday.

Sammons will provide the Braves a third catcher for the season’s final month and Valdez, who has notched 26 saves and posted a 3.33 ERA in 57 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett this year, will provide bullpen depth.”

Also, Atlanta have made a roster move to make room for Tim Hudson. Brian Barton cleared waivers to make room for Hudson on the roster. Here is the release from Bowman’s blog:

“Tim Hudson has been activated from the 60-day disabled list and the Braves made room for him on their 40-man roster by placing outfielder Brian Barton on waivers.  Barton cleared waivers on Monday and was outrighted to the Triple-A Gwinnett roster.

Hudson’s start against the Marlins tonight will be his first Major League appearance since July 23, 2008.  The veteran right-hander is coming back from Tommy John elbow ligament transplant surgery.”

These were the only players added to the roster as of now, but I would expect several other moves to take place in the coming weeks.

W: K. Kawakami (7-10) L: J. Johnson (13-4)
HR: ATL – None   FLA – None

From the Associated Press

After being no-hit for 5.2 innings, Atlanta’s offense figured out Josh Johnson and pulled out an important victory over the Florida Marlins.

Matt Diaz came up with the single in the sixth that broke the bid by Johnson at the third no-hitter of the season.

Chipper Jones picked up the Braves’ next hit to lead off the seventh. The next two hitters made outs before Yunel Escobar singled to put runners on the corners with two out. Omar Infante then became the hero of the game by lining a fastball to the wall in center field that allowed both Jones and Escobar to score and Infante to reach third. David Ross followed with a soft single up the middle that scored Infante.

Atlanta picked up a pair of runs in the eighth as well. Adam Laroche drove in Diaz with a single to right field, and Escobar followed with a run-scoring single of his own driving in Jones.

Kenshin Kawakami was not supposed to start the game Monday night, however he pitched very well. I don’t know what it is about Kawakami, but it seems like every time he goes to the mound it’s against the opposing team’s best pitcher. Luckily for the Braves, Kawakami always pitches his best on those nights. Monday was no exception.

Kawakami went six innings, allowing just one run on six hits. This was just win seven for him on the season, but he has pitched much better than that over the second half of the season. He will lose his spot in the starting rotation though with the return of Tim Hudson Tuesday night.

With the victory, Atlanta picks up a half game in the wild card race, and now sits just three games behind the Rockies and Giants. They look to be playing good ball of late, and have as good of a chance as anyone else at winning this race. They have three more games coming up against the Marlins this week before they come back home to meet the Cincinnati Reds.

Tim Hudson makes his 2009 debut on Tuesday night in Florida. Hopefully everything feels good and he begins working himself back to the pitcher he was before the surgery. If the Braves could get to the playoffs, I can’t imagine a team with a better playoff rotation than Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, and Hudson. That’s what makes this Braves team so scary if they can just get there.

Where We Stand Today

69-62

NL East – (2nd) 7.5 Games Back

Wild Card – (3rd) 3.0 Games Back

Up Next

Tuesday – Marlins   7:10   Tim Hudson vs. Anibal Sanchez

W: J. Blanton (9-6) L: J. Jurrjens (10-9)
S: B. Lidge (27)
HR: ATL – M. Prado (9)   PHI – C. Utley (29)

These are the type of games the Braves have to win. They had an excellent opportunity to knock of Philadelphia and take advantage of a Colorado loss. However, a pair of errors led to two runs and Brian McCann killed a rally with a double play.

Jair Jurrjens becomes the victim of poor run support yet again. I really feel bad for him because he has been outstanding this season.

Atlanta now heads to Florida to take on the Marlins. The two are tied in for second in the East and third in the Wild Card.

Where We Stand Today

68-62

NL East – (t-2nd) 8.0 Games Back

Wild Card – (t-3rd) 3.5 Games Back

Up Next

Monday – Marlins   7:10   Kenshin Kawakami vs. Josh Johnson

W: D. Lowe (13-8) L: C. Lee (12-10)
HR: ATL – G. Anderson (12), M. Diaz (10), Y. Escobar (13), C. Jones (16)   PHI – C. Utley (28)

From the Associated Press

Well as bad as it looked after Friday night’s loss, the Braves could not have asked for a better Saturday. After the second rain delay of the night during the seventh inning, the game was called.

Atlanta broke out the power bats and swung them like Philadelphia does. The Braves bombed four home runs, including three off Phillies’ starter Cliff Lee. Lee had previously been undefeated since coming over to the National League.

Garret Anderson got the Braves on the board early with a three-run laser over the wall in right field. Anderson continues to turn fastballs around. I still don’t understand why any pitcher in baseball throws fastballs to him.

Later in the same inning, Matt Diaz used him patented inside-out swing to launch one out in right. Diaz has been outstanding in the leadoff spot filling in for Nate McLouth. Diaz is now 18 for his last 27.  He had three hits again on Saturday night.

Yunel Escobar got a fastball over the heart of the plate in the fifth, and he promptly parked it over the wall in left center. Escobar’s home run really capped off Lee’s night on the mound. Lee lasted five innings, but the Braves got him for six runs and ten hits.

A welcomed sight happened in the sixth inning when Chipper Jones hit a long two-run home run to straightaway center field. It was his first home run since August 11. However, it was his only hit on the night in five tries, dropping his average down to .277.

Nine runs was plenty for Derek Lowe to pick up his 13th win of the season. Lowe was his typical self, bending but not breaking. Lowe gave up eight hits in just under six innings, but the only blemish against him was a solo home run in the first inning by Chase Utley.

Mike Gonzalez may have had his most impressive inning of relief work of the season on Saturday. He came in with the bases loaded and nobody out during the seventh inning in place of Peter Moylan. Gonzalez then proceeded to strike out Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth before getting Raul Ibanez to fly out to center.

Atlanta badly needed this victory, and with the Rockies losing as well, the Braves picked up a game in both races. The division, at seven games back, may be out of reach. However, the Braves are just 3.5 games behind Colorado in the Wild Card. There is still plenty of time to overtake that deficit.

The Braves and Phillies will play the final game of their series Sunday night on ESPN. Jair Jurrjens will take the ball for Atlanta and will go against Joe Blanton.

Where We Stand Today

68-61

NL East – (2nd) 7.0 Games Back

Wild Card – (3rd) 3.5 Games Back

Up Next

Sunday – Phillies   8:05  ESPN   Jair Jurrjens vs. Joe Blanton

W: J. Moyer (12-9) L: T. Hanson (9-3)
S: B. Lidge (26)
HR: ATL – None   PHI – R. Howard (36), R. Howard (37)

Here’s all you need to know:

Ryan Howard continued to own the Braves. He hit two home runs and drove in three. Atlanta couldn’t get any offense going against Pedro Martinez or Jamie Moyer.

There were two rain delays in the game, one of which caused Tommy Hanson to be taken out. Hanson only completed two innings but took the loss because of the solo shot he gave up to Howard.

The Braves’ postseason hopes seem to be fading away quickly.

Where We Stand Today

67-61

NL East – (t-2nd) 8.0 Games Back

Wild Card – (t-3rd) 4.5 Games Back

Up Next

Saturday – Phillies   7:05   Derek Lowe vs. Cliff Lee

You really hate to say that a series will make or break the season for a team, but this one has that feel for the Braves. Atlanta currently sits seven games back of Philadelphia. Upcoming though is a three game series with the aforementioned Phillies. If the Braves are to make a serious run at the playoffs, a series sweep may be needed this weekend. Philadelphia has been playing too well recently not to win every matchup against them from here on out.

Atlanta is 8-4 currently this season against the Philadelphia Phillies, but dropped two of three at Turner Field in the last meeting between these teams.

Tommy Hanson will start off the series by celebrating his 23rd birthday. Friday marks the day our young phenom turns 23, and his present is a start against the Phillies. Hanson has not had a chance to go against Philadelphia this season. He has been the Braves’ best pitcher though over the past month. In his last four starts, Hanson is 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA. At 9-2 he is making a push for himself as the National League Rookie of the Year.

Hanson will be going up against a pitcher the Braves are very familiar with, Pedro Martinez. Pedro is undefeated since joining the Phillies, but that doesn’t mean he has pitched well. Martinez has struggled in his starts, but the offense has scored lots of runs for him. Hopefully the combination of Hanson pitching well and the Braves offense scoring against Pedro will lead to a Braves’ win.

Derek Lowe takes the hill in game two on Saturday looking to bounce back from two rough starts. It has been an up-and-down season for Lowe. He had a rough stretch earlier in the season in which he posted a 6.14 ERA over eight starts. Lowe then followed that up by going 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA over his next seven. Now in his most recent two starts, Lowe has allowed 20 hits in under nine innings. Here’s to hoping the good Derek Lowe shows up. He will try to become the first starter to defeat Cliff Lee since coming over to the National League.

The game on Sunday will be featured on ESPN as the game of the week. Jair Jurrjens will go up against Joe Blanton. Jurrjens has pitched very well against the Phillies this year. In 19 2/3 innings he has allowed just two runs. This has been the common theme for Jurrjens this year. He has allowed two runs or less in 19 of his 27 starts, including his most recent one against the Padres on Tuesday. Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo home run, the only mistake Jurrjens made on the night. However, the Braves’ offense didn’t score while Jurrjens was in the game, leaving him with a no-decision.

Atlanta’s offense must come to play if they want to have any chance in this series. The Phillies score runs in bunches, and as much as it’s on the pitching staff to keep the runs to a minimum, the offense must score some runs to help the staff out. Chipper Jones has been struggling mightily of late, but picked up two hits and hit another ball well on Thursday. Hopefully that will continue and he will get hot.

Matt Diaz and Adam Laroche have been carrying the offense over the past couple weeks. Both have been scorching hot and the Braves will need them to continue to contribute this weekend. The Braves will need production from everyone in the order because, unlike the Phillies, the Braves don’t have a Ryan Howard in the middle of their order.

The biggest series of the season is upon us and with a couple of losses the Braves could be quickly out of the race. However, should the Braves pull off the sweep this weekend, Atlanta would be just four games out. More than likely, we will wind up somewhere in between, but we can all dream.

Pitching Matchups

Friday – 7:05   Tommy Hanson (9-2, 3.12) vs. Pedro Martinez (2-0, 5.14)

Saturday – 7:05   Derek Lowe (12-8, 4.48) vs. Cliff Lee (12-9, 2.63)

Sunday – 8:05  ESPN   Jair Jurrjens (10-8, 2.91) vs. Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.88)