The Braves beat the Mets in the first of three Friday night. Jair Jurrjens continues to show that he belongs in the Big Leagues. Even after getting rustled in the 3rd, not getting the close strike calls and seeing his manager get ejected while walking 4 consecutive batters he buckled down and retired the next 10 batters faced.

The Braves battled hard and ended up on top of the Mets 6-3.

The win puts the Braves in 3rd place in the NL East and 2 games back.

Hudson regained his fastball and calmed the fears that arose when his last outing topped in the middle 80's (remember Mike Gonzalez?). While not at his best he still had the Nationals frustrated as even their hard hits against him were turned into outs by fine defense. Hudson took a shutout into the 7th but after giving up 2 runs he was removed completing 6 2/3 innings.

Matt Diaz came back to hitting getting three hits in the game and again showing his baserunning skills on a Tim Hudson sacrifice bunt that Diaz scored on. Again he followed the 3rd baseman down the line and once Zimmerman let the ball out of his hand toward firstbase, Diaz bolted home. The Nationals didn't even attempt to throw him out at the plate.

Speaking of being thrown out at the plate, Jeff Francoeur has his first assist of the year gunning down Cristian Guzman attempting to score from second on a single. McCann applied the tag and Guzman was out by 3 feet. That wouldn't be the only time the Nationals got caught taking extra bases. In the top of the 5th a hard hit ball to second went off a diving Martin Prado's glove and into center field. On a very heads up play by Escobar he raced to shallow center, picked up the ball and fired a strike to McCann as Lopez tried to score from second to save another run for Hudson. It was a little revenge for Escobar who should have 2 hits on the night but was instead credited with a sacrifice bunt when he easily beat out the throw to first but was called out by firstbase umpire Dan Iassogna. A shocked Braves dugout while Bobby Cox was out to argue but it appeared to me that Iassogna realized he missed the call and Bobby was quickly back in the dugout.

Prado went 2-5 with 2 RBIs
Escobar 1-3
Chipper 1-3 with 1 RBI
Teixeira 1-5
Francoeur 1-5 with 1 RBI
McCann 2-4 with 1 RBI
Diaz 3-4
Gregor Blanco 2-3

On the bullpen front, to be without some key members they're doing great. Royce Ring pitched 1/3 of an inning to complete the 7th for Hudson. He did however allow the inherited runner to score. Buddy Carlyle went 1 inning giving up 2 hits, a run, a walk and 1 strikeout. Manny Acosta finished out the game looking sharp. He gave up 1 hit in the 9th but no runs and 1 strikeout.

John Smoltz goes for 3000 strikeouts tonight at home against the Nationals.

6:00pm CDT on SportSouth

John Smoltz (RHP, 3-0, 0.56) vs. John Lannan (LHP, 0-2, 4.86).

Labels: Atlanta Braves Baseball, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Matt Diaz, Tim Hudson

Anytime the Braves can muster up three wins in a row without the help of John Smoltz and Tim Hudson, the team and fans have a lot to be excited about. Even more so, anytime you're riding a 4 game winning streak and the next pitcher in line is Tim Hudson followed by Smoltz you're just, well, thrilled.

And add to that some change of luck for Mark Kotsay and Mark Teixeira, and the continued blazing hot bat of Chipper Jones (provided his Quads don't keep him out of the lineup) and the emergence of Gregor Blanco in left and Jair Jurrjens on the mound Braves fans should be buying up tickets as fast as they can get them to watch this team play.

Just days after a shocking sweep in Colorado and a list of injuries added to that, Braves Manager Bobby Cox called a team meeting to keep the team focused. Did it work? The Braves haven't lost since and finally put pitching and hitting together in one game and have outscoured their opponents greatly since then.

Yesterday's sweep of the Dodgers put the team at .500 and in great position to play the Nationals at Turner Field with success. Hudson gets the start Monday night and Smoltz on Tuesday.

Check out the link to the updated EFF (updated after each game). This is the best the Braves have had in a long time!

Wins are always welcome, but this win to end a long & dismal road trip was most welcome for the Braves and fans alike.

While watching yet another dominating performance by John Smoltz who escaped several jams by striking out an unbelievable 10 batters in 5 innings fans continue to see why even hurt, John Smoltz will go down as one of the most frustrating pitchers this generation of hitters has ever seen. He gave up no runs, lowering his ERA to an eyepopping 0.56 and winning each of his first three starts and moving within 4 strikeouts of the rare 3000 circle.

The bullpen nicely came in the 6 inning and kept the Marlins wondering if this was the same team they've seen the first two nights. The bullpen gave up no hits and no runs in 4 innings. Ohman, Resop, Acosta & Carlyle completed an inning a piece.

On the hitting front the Braves finally got a boost from several of their players. Of course, Chipper continued to be Chipper going 4-4 with 2 homers and 3 RBIs. His Batting average was raised to .443.

Kelly Johnson, Mark Teixeira & Brian McCann all went deep as well including a back-to-back-to-back string by Jones, Teixeira and McCann in the 5th.

Francoeur went 2-5, Kotsay 2-5 and Pena delivered a pinch-hit double in front of a crowd that included some of his family and friends in Florida.

It's hard to remember a time when the Braves looked like they were doing anything they could to lose a ballgame. Not that any ball player ever wants to lose but with the Braves, something (a big something) is just not clicking. It's not happening and the Braves aren't firing on all cylinders. It brings me back to the disgusting June of 2005, or the days of Dan Kolb and Chris Reitsma. Let's hope we're not there again!

Of course, it's definately too early to speak doom and gloom, but for a Braves fan watching night after night and seeing a team that had the potential of grabbing early wins and setting a tone for the National League east it's been disappointing to say the least.

I think that may be the problem also. This team knew they had the guys put together to win series after series this season and they've seen their own best fall around them.

They've seen Glavine go out after 16 pitches in his second start, Smoltz start the season on the DL and Mike Hampton go on the DL minutes before his first start.

They watched their closer land on the DL and then his backup closer (Peter Moylan) after pitching so phenomonally also hit the DL, possibly for an extended period of time. The off season talk was about pitching depth and the Braves have it, but far too early in the season are we seeing that depth tested.

They've seen Chipper immediately strain his oblique muscles, and Mark Teixeira's cool bat ground into too many double plays in key situations. When the pitching has been great the hitting has been gone and also the other way. Everything just isn't clicking.

Through this the Braves will be tested. Is this the team the critics feared? Can the young guys show consistancy and depth mentally to overcome these early struggles? Can Bobby Cox find the magic he always had to right the ship no matter how bad things look, to keep the players positive and ready for another game?

This remains to be seen but for now, it's another night of baseball with fans getting itchy to see the Braves team they expected.

5-8 isn't the way we expected to see the first two weeks of April go.

It may have been the best offensive day of Jeff Francoeur's young career as he pounded out 2 homers and personal best 7 RBIs against the Nationals on Saturday afternoon.

It was a start delayed by rain but another day proving why the Braves may be heading to the top of the NL East soon.

John Smoltz, clearly not at his best, proved why he's undoubtedly one of the greatest pitchers in the game. Battling congestion and shoulder stiffness, Smoltz went 6 strong innings giving up only 5 hits and 1 run (his first of the season). His control was shaky at times but he made the pitches when he needed to.

The offensive also proved dominating boasting 10 runs on the afternoon. Jeff Francoeur had 3 hits including 2 homeruns and Brian McCann went back-to-back once with Francoeur for his 3rd homer of the season. He also had a 3-hit game.

Diaz provided the offensive spark by busting out a double on what would normally just be a single up the middle. Nationals Center-fielder Lastings Milledge played the roller up the middle as routine and took his time tossing the ball back to the infield. By that time it was too late, Diaz was diving into second for a shocking double. He moved to 3rd on a deep fly to right by Kotsay but then provided another surprising moment when Smoltz hit the ball to third. It didn't appear he could score as Zimmerman "looked him back" to third before throwing out Smoltz at first, but as soon as the ball was out of his hand Diaz hustled down the line and scored to a cheering Braves dugout.

That would be the spark the Braves needed and they pounded the Nationals thereafter.

Another good game for the bullpen, giving up 2 hits and 1 run over 3 innings.

Once the game was lopsided, Bobby Cox took Chipper out of the game to rest his sore Quads and Martin Prado took over duties at 3rd.

Tomorrow, Glavine (0-0, 0.79 ERA) takes the mound in an attempt to give the Braves the sweep of the discouraged Washington franchise who have suddenly dropped a gut-wrenching 9 in a row.

He'll be facing Tim Redding (1-1, 0.82 ERA) at 12:35pm CDT in Washington.

Labels: Chipper Jones, Jeff Francoeur, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine

A sick Tim Hudson wasn't sad to learn that the final game in Colorado had been postponed due to 2 inches of snow covering the field.

One day later, temperatures in the upper 70's in our Nation's Capital and Tim Hudson one more day removed from the nasty cold and flu-like symptoms he's been feeling pitched about as well as anyone could. Escobar's late-in-the game solo homerun proved all the Braves would need as Hudson simply dominated the last-place Nationals to end the Braves 3-game losing streak.

Matt Diaz also made a contribution with two out and the bases-loaded in the 9th by dropping a single in Center Field and scoring 2.

Peter Moylan looked terrific as he closed out the game striking out two and facing the minimum in the 9th.

The Braves are 2 1/2 back in the NL East.

Smoltz starts Saturday at Noon Central Time.

I'll show a batting average update and standings report after the game!

As always, check out the updated pitching efficiency (EFF) updated after each game.

Hudson's 8 strong innings dropped his ERA after 3 starts to 2.14 and he's the first this season to win 2 games.

Swinging the bat on a cold night at Coors Field might have stung but not as much as this loss did. Glavine on the other hand was hot allowing only 3 hits and 3 walks in 6 1/3 innings. The performance appeared effortless as Glavine, who was brilliant, cruised along only getting into trouble in the 7th where he gave up two of his three walks. However, Peter Moylan came in and quickly got Glavine out of the inning and kept the Braves on top 1-0.

But Blaine Boyer couldn't hold the lead after giving up a hit in the 8th. Matt Holliday who barely beat out Chipper Jones for the batting title last year delivered a 2 run homer to put the Rockies on top by 1.

Top of the 9th Kelly Johnson worked the count and fired a single to right but that was quickly dimished when Yunel Escobar grounded into a 6-3 double play and Chipper made the final out to end the game. Glavine got the no-decision. Blaine Boyer was handed the loss.

Glavine's ERA after 2 starts: 0.79.

NOTE: All 4 Braves losses this year were by 1 run - the bullpen is responsible for each of those 4 losses.

A look at the Brave's Starting Lineup averages after game 6:




Though I didn't get to post after Sunday's game it was (in my opinion) the best of the young season as it lived up to its billing. John Smoltz beat out Met hero Johan Santana in a pitcher's duel.

NL East Standings as of 9:54PM Central Time on 4/7/08



Next game:
Tuesday 7:35pm Central Time
TV: SportSouth

Kelly Johnson has been frustrated about his knee. He's a competitor and competitors want to play and they want to make a difference. Well, Kelly Johnson might not be in the starting lineup just yet but he made sure the fans remember his name loud and clear Saturday night.

In the 7th inning the Braves were holding on to a Tim Hudson 5-3 lead. While the bullpen enjoyed the unexpected night off on Friday, Kelly Johnson was ready to play. Coming in as a pinch-hitter Kelly was facing a struggling Jorge Sosa. After giving up a double to McCann, a single to Francoeur and a walk to Martin Prado, Sosa was 1 out from getting out of the inning. But after taking the count to 3-2 to Johnson he was also 1 pitch away from letting the Braves blow the game open. Kelly Johnson took a fastball down the middle and crushed it deep to right field for a pinch-hit grand-slam. The first pinch-hit slam for the Braves since Julio Franco did it in 2005. The fans called for a curtain call and Kelly gave them their desire. The Braves cruised to an 11-5 victory in the first of a NL East showdown between what's considered are 2 of the 3 favorites to win the East.

Hudson went 6 innings giving up 3 runs (all earned) and struck out 4. His ERA after two starts is 3.46.

Peter Moylan had another good outing, and Soriano closed the game in fashion, however, with the score at 11-5 he didn't qualify for a save.

Royce Ring struggled in the 8th giving up 2 hits and 2 runs but the Braves quickly silenced the runs but adding two more of their own in the bottom half of the 8th. With 2 out, Mark Teixeria singled to right, McCann followed with a walk and Jeff Francoeur doubleed on a deep fly ball to right driving in two.

Also on the offense, Kotsay went 2-5, Chipper Jones 3-5 (.478 on the year), Francoeur 3-5 and Gotay came off the bench for his first Atlanta hit.

Next Game: The much anticipated Smoltz vs. Santana start kicks off at 12:30pm Central Time on SportsSouth.

Santana is 1-0 in 1 start and John Smoltz will pitch his first game while coming off the disabled list.

With the win the Braves have moved themselves into a 4th place tie with the Phillies.

NL East Standings as of 9:27pm:

Labels: Atlanta Braves Baseball, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Kelly Johnson, Mark Kotsay

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has been around baseball a long time. One thing he knows is not to be surprised when things don't go as originally planned. However, losing two of his five starters before they could make their first start was something I'm sure even he wasn't immediately prepared for.

John Smoltz started the season on the DL with shoulder stiffness but with Tuesday's off day it didn't affect the rotation that much as he is expected to make his start April 6th vs. Johan Santana of the Mets. But when Hampton was declared unable to start just minutes prior to first pitch and later deemed headed to the DL, Bobby Cox had to make one of those decisions no manager wants to make.

Braves reliever Jeff Bennett got the call to start the game. He was impressive in his impromptu start in the series finale against the Pirates allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 innings.

The Bullpen did another nice job, especially considering every member has worked at least 3 if not all 4 of the Braves games.

Blaine Boyer worked a solid 2 innings giving up no hits, no walks and a strikeout.

Ohman, Acosta, Soriano all had good outings.

Then in the 10th, Chris Resop came in to keep the game tied vs. Jason Bay. Hey got Bay out and Bobby Cox, not wanting to waste another pitcher brought Royce Ring in to face Laroche and sent Resop to play left field replacing a shocked Matt Diaz. As Ring took care of Laroche, Bobby Cox brought Resop BACK to pitch sending Prado to left field. However, that move didn't work as hoped when Braves basher Xavier Nady came through in the clutch again, with two outs, and drove the ball for a hit and also driving in what would become the winning run.

In the bottom of the 10th, with two quick outs, Mark Kotsay crushed the ball deep to center just missed a game-tying homerun by inches. He ended up with a standup triple and Brian McCann was sent in to pinch hit for starting catcher Corky Miller. Brian hit the ball hard to first but sure handed Adam Laroche handled the hard hit and beat McCann to the bag for the 3rd out and game winner.

Despite a good game with difficult odds (starting with Mike Hampton being sidelined) and another difficult 1-run ending, Chipper Jones went 3-5, Mark Kotsay 2-5 and Matt Diaz 2-4.

The Braves end their home opening series in last place in the NL East and with a sour record of 1-3.

Here are the standings:



Next Game: Friday 6:30pm Central Time vs. New York Mets
Tim Hudson (RHP; 0-0) vs. John Maine (RHP; 0-0)

Jair Jurrjens pitched a great game for his first start in a Braves uniform. He was everything the Braves wanted and more and left the game in the 6th, his only shaky inning, with a standing ovation from the crowd after striking out 5 in 5 1/3 innings.

The Braves picked up their first win of the season by a final score of 10-2.

Martin Prado got the Braves off to a good start while filling in for Kelly Johnson who's listed day-to-day with the sore right knee. He started the game off with a triple and came around to score on a Chipper Jones RBI single. Chipper ended up with 2 RBIs on the night and 6 for the season.

In the bottom of the 4th Matt Diaz homered to right, his first this year.

The only Pirates runs came in during the 6th inning. Xavier Nady continues his torrid start to the season by picking up two more RBIs on a 2-run single off Jurrjens.

The bullpen, however, had its best night so far allowing no runs, no hits and 2 walks in 3 2/3 innings. Acosta pitched a one-two-three 7th; Peter Moylan, Lefty Royce Ring & Chris Resop all got out of their spots unscathed.

The Braves got their offense really going from the 7th inning on. Brayan Pena came off the bench to deliver a single, but in the 8th the runs piled on and dashed the Pirates hope of pulling off a comeback. Chipper Jones started the inning off with a walk, Mark Teixeira promptly brought him around with a 408 ft. 2 run blast to center. Francouer continued the hits with a dunked single followed by Brian McCann's single to move Jeff to 3rd. After the Pirates managed to scrape up 2 outs without any more damage Martin Prado brought another great at-bat. In a momentarily scary situation Prado hit the ball to right, 2nd baseman Sanchez got the ball but while attempting to throw Prado out at first he threw the ball way into the outside side of first base and Laroche attempting to save it tripped Prado who fell to the ground and was immediately attended to by braves trainer Jeff Porter. He was able to get up however, and stay in the game and picked up the RBI single. Kotsay to third on the error. Escobar wasted no time and on the first pitch he saw crushed his first homerun of the young season into left-centerfield. A 3-run blast that put the Braves up by 8.

Braves lefty Will Ohman came in to pitch a perfect night courtesy of a barehand 5-3 by Chipper and solid defense by Escobar behind the bag at second to give the Braves the win.

Next Game
Wednesday 6:10 Central Time @ Turner Field
Paul Manholm vs. Mike Hampton

NL East Standings as of 9:59pm Central