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Braves Lose 20th Straight One-Run Road Game
Written by Akshay on May 31, 2008 – 9:11 pmThe Braves entered the bottom of the ninth leading on the road by one run for the first time in a long time, yet could only achieve what they had in their last 19 one-run road games: a loss. Rafael Soriano, in his first save situation since April 6th. Soriano allowed the tying run to score when Ryan Freel scored on a groundout by catcher David Ross. Manny Acosta (3-2), pitching for the third straight game, allowed rookie phenom Jay Bruce to hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th.
Francisco Cordero (2-0) allowed a single to Josh Anderson to start the inning and allowed him to take second after both Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson struck out. Chipper Jones was then intentionally walked. As always, though, the Braves failed to score with an opportunity. This time Mark Teixeira, who hit a game-tying three run home run in the top of the third, lined out to center.
The Braves, who seem unable to get anything going offensively unless the other team does it first, lost their 20th straight one-run road game with the only positive being the fact that they got later into the game with a small lead at all and Smoltz one game closer to coming back.
Ken Griffey started the scoring off for the Reds in the bottom of the first. Griffey, after Bruce singled with one out, launched the 599th home run of his career off Jair Jurrjens, the Braves starter. Griffey’s home run was just the third allowed by Jurrjens all year, he then proceeded to allow his fourth as Brandon Phillips hit one to follow Griffey.
After loading the bases on three walks with a strike out sandwiched in between, Jurrjens got pitcher Josh Fogg to ground out to end the inning.
Fogg, starting for the first time since April 16th, allowed six runs in three and one third innings for the Reds, despite the fact that he had a lead to work with in three of the innings he pitched in. Leading 3-0, Greg Norton hit his first home run for the Braves—a two run shot that followed a Jeff Francoeur single.
With the score 3-2, Jurrjens allowed two more runs on a Griffey sacrifice fly and an Edwin Encarnacion single. Fogg, with a three run lead again, proceeded to allow Mark Teixeira’s three run home run. Johnson doubled to lead off and Jones walked ahead of Teixeira’s hit.
Both pitchers would allow one more run before leaving the game. Neither team would score again until Francoeur hit a home run to lead off the seventh off reliever David Weathers.
Game Notes: Bobby Cox was ejected for the third time this season when arguing a play at the plate that involved Freel scoring the tying run.
Link: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=140#s=140&f=2939&t=2531242 – Link that explains the Braves road woes.
Tags: Cincinatti Reds
Posted in Game Analysis | 6 Comments »
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- Jun 1, 2008: Sunday Smattering at Heard in the Cheap Seats
By Colin on May 31, 2008 | Reply
I’m really unsure what to do now. This is so far beyond ridiculous.
By Akshay on May 31, 2008 | Reply
On a brighter note, Tech advanced to the Championship game Sunday night against the winner of Lipscomb-Georgia in the Athens regional. Go Jackets!
By Chris Iafolla on Jun 1, 2008 | Reply
It’s baffling really. One day the offense disappears, the next it is the pitching. The Braves are too good to play this woefully on the road. They better snap out of it soon or they can forget about the NL East crown.
By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
I'm really unsure what to do now. This is so far beyond ridiculous.
By Chris Iafolla on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
It's baffling really. One day the offense disappears, the next it is the pitching. The Braves are too good to play this woefully on the road. They better snap out of it soon or they can forget about the NL East crown.