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Chuck James Back Against Pittsburgh
May 10, 2008 – 6:43 pmA night after having their 6-game win streak snapped by the Pirates, the Braves are looking to Chuck James to get them back in the win column in the second game of this road trip. James is all too familiar with the trips back and forth between Richmond and Atlanta, having started the season in Atlanta and amassing a 2-1 record before heading back to Richmond to continue to strengthen his injured shoulder. He makes the start in place of the incapable-to-ever-be-healthy, Mike Hampton, so he has a real opportunity to shine tonight and help maintain a job in the bigs for awhile. I personally would like to see Chuck find some consistency and stay in Atlanta for awhile.
The spot for James on the roster was made by placing Buddy Carlyle on the 15-day disabled list after the collision that knocked him out of the game in Atlanta on Thursday. Buddy has a strained neck and bruised temple and hopefully we’ll see him back in action after a little bit of rest. Road games have been the weak point of the Braves so far this season. With a road record of 4-12, the Braves have the fewest road wins in the majors so far this season. You can’t make it to the postseason if you can’t win on the road.
Taking the mound for the Pirates will be Tom Gorzelanny (2-3, 6.91). Gorzelanny has a tendency to give up runs, but the real key is whether or not the Braves can get the bats going early in the game. We’ve had problems with McLouth and Nady patrolling the Pirates outfield and stealing hits away from us. Hopefully we can get that changed tonight and put another win up on the board.
Tags: buddy carlyle, Chuck James, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tom Gorzelanny
Posted in Game Threads |
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Only about 15 minutes until gametime . . . sounds like it’s about time for me to grab some food and settle in front of the TV.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
The Braves are wearing the alternate blues tonight.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
These are the little things that can come back to haunt us. Losing Infante at third with Chipper at the plate . . . that’s a good way to cost us a run.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 1st:
- Omar Infante doubles over Jason Bay’s head in left.
- Yunel Escobar bunts hard back to the mound. Gorzelanny throws Infante out at third. 1 out.
- Chipper Jones grounds into a fielders choice to third. Yunel out at second. 2 out.
- Mark Teixeira gets every bit of that pitch and drills it out of the yard for a 2-run homer.
2-0 Braves.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 1st, cont:
- Jeff Francoeur draws the two-out walk.
- Brian McCann flies out to left. 3 out.
Well, we got two. Could have been three, but I’ll take the first strike on the board.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 1st:
- Freddy Sanchez grounds out to Escobar at short. 1 out.
- Jose Bautista strikes out swinging. 2 out.
- Jason Michaels flies out to deep right. 3 out.
Good start for Chuck.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 2nd:
- Matt Diaz grounds out to third. 1 out.
- Mark Kotsay flies out to center on the first pitch. 2 out.
- Chuck James strikes out on a check swing. 3 out.
Bottom of the order down quick this time around. Hopefully the top can get a little more going in the third.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 2nd:
- Jason Bay with a ground rule double. Chuck didn’t keep that pitch down.
- Xavier Nady strikes out looking. 1 out. That’s the second K for Chuck tonight.
- Adam LaRoche walks. Runners on first and second.
- Double steal successful when BMac bobbles the ball. Both runners in scoring position now.
- Ronny Paulino lines out to center. 2 out. Bay tags and scores.
2-1 Braves.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 2nd, cont:
- Brian Bixler strikes out swinging. 3 K’s for James.
It could have been worse but hopefully Chuck can get settled in.
By Travis on May 10, 2008 | Reply
hey hows it going guys
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 3rd:
- Infante grounds to third, beats the throw to first.
- Yunel lines up the middle but stabbed by Gorzelanny. Infante, running on the play, is double up at first. 2 out.
- Chipper strikes out swinging. 3 out.
That double play pretty much defines how a lot of our games are going so far this season.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Hey Travis . . . a little quiet around here. How’re you doing?
By Travis on May 10, 2008 | Reply
pretty good got rained out of work tonight
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 3rd:
- Tom Gorzelanny grounds out to second. 1 out.
- Sanchez grounds out to third. 2 out.
- Bautista flies out to right. 3 out.
I’ll take some more innings like that out of the Braves.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Well, keeping up with the Braves game is better than working . . . so I guess you can’t complain too much
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Tex’s homer was 431 feet….
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 4th:
- Tex draws a four-pitch walk.
- Francoeur flies out to right. 1 out.
- McCann strikes out. 2 out.
- Diaz grounds out to short. 3 out.
Not much done with the leadoff walk there.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Terrible call by the first base umpire. Michaels was thrown out at first by McCann and called safe.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 4th:
- Michaels singles to right.
- Bay homers to center. 2-run shot.
3-2 Pirates. That bad call at first cost the Braves a run.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 4th, cont:
- Nady grounds out to third. 1 out.
- LaRoche grounds out to second. 2 out.
- Paulino strikes out looking. 3 out.
Well we got robbed there. Should be a 2-2 game, but one bad call has the Pirates in the lead.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 5th:
- Kotsay singles to center.
- James bunts, Gorzelanny gets Kotsay at second. 1 out.
- Infante grounds into the 4-6-3. 3 out.
We’re not doing well at moving runners into scoring position….at all.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 5th:
- Bixler flies out to left. 1 out.
- Gorzelanny walks.
- Sanchez lines out to second. 2 out.
- Bautista strikes out swinging. 3 out.
Five strikeouts through 5 for Chuck. Better inning there.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 6th:
- Yunel singles past short.
- Chipper grounds into the 6-4-3. 2 out.
- Teixeira singles to right.
- Francoeur grounds into a fielder’s choice. 3 out.
How many double plays can we hit into? You want to know why we lose one-run games . . . . that’s why.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 6th:
- Michaels singles past Yunel.
- Bay grounds back to James. Michaels to second. 1 out.
- Nady strikes out looking. 2 out.
- LaRoche walks. Runners on first and second.
- Paulino hits a 2-run double over Francoeur’s head.
5-2 Pirates.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 6th, cont:
- Bixler intentionally walked. Runners first and second.
- Gorzelanny strikes out swinging.
I’d say Chuck’s about done.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 7th:
- McCann grounds out to second. 1 out.
- Diaz strikes out looking. 2 out.
- Kotsay grounds out to first. 3 out.
Our offense can’t produce against the worst ERA team in the league. What is wrong with us?
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Jorge Campillo in to pitch the 7th for the Braves and batting 7th. Norton’s taking over in left field and batting 9th.
Bottom 7th:
- Sanchez flies out to left. 1 out.
- Bautista strikes out. 2 out.
- Michaels singles up the middle.
- Bay flies out to right. 3 out.
The Braves are down to their last 6 outs. We need to get something going here.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 8th:
- Greg Norton lines to short. 1 out.
- Infante singles past short. 3 hit game for Infante.
Gorzelanny’s done for the night.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 8th, cont:
- Yunel grounds into the 6-4-3. 3 out.
Hard to score when you lose all of your base runners.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Bottom 8th:
- Nady strikes out. 1 out.
- LaRoche pops out to third in foul territory. 2 out.
- Paulino grounds out to short. 3 out.
Campillo pitching well once again. Let’s see if we can come back on the Pirates in the ninth.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
Top 9th:
- Chipper flies out to center. Hitless night for Chipper again. 1 out.
- Tex grounds out to second. 2 out.
- Francoeur popes out to second. 3 out.
Game over, 5-2 Pirates.
By Jonathan on May 10, 2008 | Reply
So our offense didn’t really show up again tonight after the first inning. 4-13 on the road now……wonderful.