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Braves On The Road? … No Comment
Written by Akshay on May 28, 2008 – 11:00 pmA strange at-bat by Brian McCann in the eighth and a Rickie Weeks (.205) triple that scored a run highlighted the latest Braves’ one-run loss on the road trip; a 1-0 game in the favor of the Brewers.
Jeff Suppan (3-4) pitched eight sparkling innings and out-dueled an arguably sharper Jo-Jo Reyes (2-3). Blaine Boyer came in relief for Reyes can’t seem to keep guys off base lately and allowed Weeks’ second triple of the season. Solomon Torres, the lone remaining closer for the Brewers picks up his fourth save with a perfect ninth inning.
In the eighth inning, Reyes walked the leadoff hitter and was replaced by Boyer after the best outing of his season. Boyer got the first two outs of the inning, but the offensively challenged Weeks was able to sneak one inside the line for a triple that scored J. J. Hardy.
Suppan pitched his best game of the year, allowing just four hits—all singles—to the Braves. The Braves didn’t help themselves either by going 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
In the first inning, Chipper Jones and Mark Teixeira walked, but McCann grounded out to end the threat with a runner in scoring position. In fact, McCann struck out three times and left five men on base after coming off a 13 game hitting streak that ended yesterday.
In the second inning, Gregor Blanco singled and moved to second when Omar Infante reached on an error. Reyes came up with one out and bunted to the third base side. Jason Kendall, the Brewers catcher, streaked in and threw to third for an out and onto first for a bunt double-play.
The third inning saw another Braves threat go up in smoke when Chipper and Teixeira singled back-to-back that put Chipper on third. McCann’s strike out to end the inning also ended the Braves scoring threat. The Braves had runners on first and second with two out in the second, but Teixeira flied out to end that threat.
Umpire Mark Wegner, who called a fairly even game all night, angered Teixeira with a called third strike in the eighth and inning and also irked McCann with a call. McCann stepped out and would not return to the batter’s box when instructed and was pitched to anyway. Suppan’s throw was in the general vicinity of the plate and called a strike, a crucial second strike that allowed Suppan to strike out McCann two pitches later.
Game Notes: With the loss, the Braves fall to 0-11 on the road in one run games and 2-14 overall in one run games. Kelly Johnson’s 13-game hitting streak ended one game after McCann’s last night.
Injury Notes: Kotsay avoided the DL today and did some light running and throwing before the game. Soriano was activated from the DL when Diaz was disabled after crashing into the wall yesterday. Diaz strained his PCL and may require surgery on the ligament that will keep him out for four to six weeks. Smoltz, who has been feeling under the weather with flu-like symptoms, will make a scheduled rehab start this Thursday to test his new three-quarters arm delivery and could rejoin the team as early as this weekend or early next week.
Posted in Game Analysis | 6 Comments »
By Josh on May 29, 2008 | Reply
This is becoming, no wait it already is f-ing ridiculous.There is no doubt in my mind that this losing on the road has become more of a brain cluster f**k than anything else. How else do you explain the lack of offence this team has shown after the last home stand? Its to the point that my yelling at the Braves on TV is causing me to have migraines.
What the hell?
By Colin on May 29, 2008 | Reply
This is frustrating. The boys have got to pull through on this. Tonight we’re gonna win, I have faith. Gotta start moving in another direction here, or the season’s done.
By Cameron on May 29, 2008 | Reply
Were gonna win today with Campillo taking the hill. We need to string the hits together and get runners in scoring position in front of Chipper and Tex. I’m expecting a line like this for Jorge.
6IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K
He has been phenomenal in his last two starts and the braves will be hoping he can stop the slide
By Akshay on May 29, 2008 | Reply
Hopefully his blisters have healed. Otherwise, his curve ball will be doing that thing that it did last week, hang in the air…I have as much confidence in Campy to get this done, but not the blisters will make it noticeably more difficult.
By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
This is frustrating. The boys have got to pull through on this. Tonight we're gonna win, I have faith. Gotta start moving in another direction here, or the season's done.
By Cameron on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Were gonna win today with Campillo taking the hill. We need to string the hits together and get runners in scoring position in front of Chipper and Tex. I'm expecting a line like this for Jorge.
6IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K
He has been phenomenal in his last two starts and the braves will be hoping he can stop the slide