Braves Baseball Blog

In yesterday’s game against the Pirates, the Braves had a great start in the First inning when Mark Teixeira hit a two-run home run. The long shot was not enough as the Pirates held the Braves to just these two runs for the rest of the game and in the end the Braves lost 5-2.  Chipper Jones was unable to improve his .400 batting average as he has just one hit in his last 11 at-bats.  Braves starter Chuck James lasted six innings and gave up five runs on five hits.  James struck out seven and walked four. Pirates outfielder Jason Bay hit a two-run shot in the Fourth and the Pirates combined for a total of six hits on the day.  In the end, James went 2-2 for the year and the Braves lost another road game.  With each road loss, the team’s  frustration builds and the battle to turn things around gets tougher.

Yesterday afternoon, the Braves dropped their first game on the road since the recent success at home.  The Braves lost against the Pirates 2-3, another one run loss.  Tom Glavine remains winless this season after failing to capture a win in his sixth start, which lasted seven innings.  Glavine gave up 2 runs on five hits, while walking four and striking out three.  Atlanta took the lead in the Sixth with one run but Pittsburgh battled back in the Seventh to take the lead 2-1.  Then in the Eight, Atlanta rallied for another run to tie the game at two.  Both of Atlanta’s runs were knocked in by outfielder Jeff Francouer.  However, once again the Braves were on the losing end of a one-run game when in the Ninth Freddy Sanchez hit a two out, walk-off RBI single to win the game for the Pirates.  Glavine recorded a no decision, and now will have to fight to get his first win in his seventh start.  The Braves take on the Pirates again tonight with Chuck James getting the start on the mound.

Yesterday, the Braves finished up their series at home against the Padres with a 5-4 win.  Thus, sweeping the Padres at Turner Field after losing four straight on the road.  Jo-Jo Reyes, the recent addition to the Braves rotation, was forced to leave the game in the Third inning with a blister developing on his throwing hand’s index finger.  Reyes allowed five hits and two runs in the 2 2/3 innings.  Atlanta has struggled this season in the one-run games, continually being on the losing side, but yesterday, the Braves not only continued their success at home, but did so by winning a one-run game.  The Braves had lost nine one-run games.  In the bottom of the Ninth with the bases loaded, Matt Diaz hit a walk-off single and the Braves won the game. The Braves are 4-11 on the road and with that in mind are hitting the road to take on the Pirates.  Veteran Tom Glavine (0-1) will take on Ian Snell in hopes of success on the road to boost Atlanta in the competition for the NL East. 

The Braves gained their fifth straight victory last night against the Padres with a 5-2 victory at Turner Field where they have recently enjoyed success.  The Braves have won the last 12 of 14 at home and lost the last 11 of 15 on the road.  Last night, starter and veteran pitcher Tim Hudson lasted seven innings.  Hudson gave up only six hits and two runs with three walks and three strikeouts while improving to 5-2 for the season.  The change in the lineup of adding pinch hitter and first baseman Greg Norton paid off the for Atlanta as it was his RBI single in the seventh with the bases loaded that sparked a three-run inning.  The Braves play again home this afternoon to wrap up the series against the Padres.  The other addition to the Braves lineup, Jo-Jo Reyes, will take the mound and look to continue the momentum at home for the Braves.

Jair Jurrjens pitched six strong innings, allowing only one run and seven hits, while striking out eight and walking only one.  Chipper Jones hit a 2-run homer in the Third and Mark Kotsay not only had a highlight catch in center field, but he also helped Jurrjens out at the plate having a two hit, two RBI day.  Kotsay hit a RBI single in the Second and later a solo shot in the Fourth.  Kotsay had been hitless in his last 12 at bats against Padres starter Chris Young.  For Jurrjens it was his fourth win in seven starts as the Braves improved to over .500 for the first time since April 25th with their continued success at home winning the last 11 of 13 at Turner Field.   Tonight, Tim Hudson will try to further the team’s success at Turner Field taking on Randy Wolf and the Padres.

In a seven-run second inning, Chipper Jones hit a three-run home run and later in the inning had a two-run single.  Jones was 3 for 6 on the day and now has a .425 batting average.  The Braves combined for 19 hits including a 4 for 6 day for Kelly Johnson and a solo homer in the 8th by Mark Kotsay to top the Reds 14-7. The Reds’ starter Bronson Arroyo was pulled from the mound after 1 1/3 innings, the shortest start of his career out of 166 starts.  Starter Tom Glavine gave up six runs on seven hits, but was pulled from the game after 4 2/3 innings, and thus was unable to earn the win. The Braves have today off before facing San Diego at Turner Field tomorrow. Rookie Jair Jurrjens (3-2) will take the mound against Chris Young (2-2) of the Padres.

After a close 2-0 win on Friday, the Braves combined for 15 hits to beat the Reds 9-1.  Rookie Jo-Jo Reyes was solid on the mound.  Reyes only allowed one run on four hits and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings.  The score was 2-1 until the 7th when the Braves rallied for six runs and added one more in the 8th to stretch the lead even further.  Yunel Escobar hit 3 for 4 having two runs and an RBI, and Brian McCann was once again a valuable bat with two RBIs.  Jeff Francoeur and Mark Teixeira both had an RBI during the night as well.  The Braves now have back-to-back wins after their four-game losing streak, the highest of the season thus far. This afternoon the Braves will take on the Reds for the last game of the series with veteran Tom Glavine taking the mound in search of his first victory of the season against Josh Fogg.

In the 4th Inning, Braves catcher Brian McCann hit a two-run homer to give the Braves all the lead they would need to boost them over the Reds for a 2-0 win.  Starter Tim Hudson earned his fourth win and pitched a complete game giving up only three hits.  The Braves needed a solid start from a veteran and they got more than they bargained for when Hudson put on a show for the entire game striking out ten and walking none.  Hudson needed the turn-around outing after lasting only three innings in two of his last three starts.  Consequently, not only did he eliminate any doubts as to his health, he also earned his 22nd complete game outing.  Atlanta will take on Cincinnati again tonight with Jo-Jo Reyes on the mound for the Braves and Matt Belisle for the Reds.

In the 12th Inning, Mark Kotsay’s RBI single in the top of the inning was not enough last night to give the Braves the win.  In the bottom of the inning, the Nationals rallied back to win the game 3-2 against Manny Acosta and Buddy Carlyle.  Yet again, the Braves lost by one run, the 14th straight one-run decision that goes back to last season.  The rookie Jair Jurrjens once again dominated on the mound, pitching seven innings and only allowing two hits alongside one earned run.  Yet, the bad luck continued for the Braves in the one-run game loss.  In other news, John Smoltz has declared he will return as a reliever once coming off the disabled list.  The Braves have today off before looking to turn around their bad luck against the Cincinnati Reds this weekend with Tim Hudson taking the mound on Friday.