Braves Victorious in First of Interleague Play

Written by Smitty on May 17, 2008 – 1:17 am

After falling behind in the 2nd inning, making it even in the 6th, and going ahead by one run in the eighth, the Braves provided a wild and weird victory over their American League visitors, the Oakland A’s.

And let’s just pause to say that we at BravesBlast.com do not necessarily have an opinion one way or the other on interleague play. It can be a welcome addition to a 162 game schedule. Especially if fans are treated to rivalries (Mets/Yankees) or to teams that “everyone” wants to see, i.e., the Cubs or Red Sox.

But Oakland?

Oakland in Atlanta?

All right. Back to the matter at hand.

This was a shaky start to the normally dependable and pleasantly surprising performance of one Jair Jurrjens. It could be argued which new player has made a greater impact; he or Escobar. But the Braves on Friday vividly illustrated the key to success, at least in my mind, to reaching October. And it can be summed up in one word: balance. I don’t care what kind of pitcher you are, you just aren’t going to be hot every time you are on the mound. So your offense needs to step up. And who cares if you are scoring 7 or 8 runs, if your bullpen is hemorrhaging runs like a sucking chest wound?

So Jair steps in, gives a shaky 2-3 innings, and finally gets his head right, pitching through 5 and (mercifully, for him) getting a no decision. Not trying to gripe, here, but he should be thrilled with a no decision. I know the box score only illustrates 2 runs on 8 hits from Jurrjens, but he also gave up 3 walks and got himself into trouble a couple times. Not to mention a botched throw to McCann at the plate.

And speaking of Brian McCann……(and if things keeps going like they did on Friday, Atlanta, as well as MLB enthusiasts the nation over will be speaking of McCann a lot), our stocky man-child behind the plate was extraordinary. Dude tags out a runner after receiving a rocket courtesy from Jeff Francoeur, hits two doubles and a single, with one RBI, and raises his average to .319.

What more can you ask from a backstop, eh?

And I’m with Rue. Andruw who? I mean, I liked the guy just fine. But would I trade him for Kotsay now? Nope.
So we bring in Kotsay to the plate twice on Friday. The first time, in a surreal twist of fate, he faces the pitcher we traded him for; Joey Devine, striking out. The second time, he hits the go-ahead run in with a double, bringing his own seasonal average to .304. Andruw Jones’s average right now? .176

And the bullpen? Outstanding.

And what a treat it was to observe Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde/Closer Manny Acosta absolutely slam the door on the A’s in the 9th.

So right now, the Braves home success continues. Maybe we can show a little more “southern hospitality” to the A’s and send them packing.


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