ESPN.com - MLB - Recap - Braves at Phillies - 07/19/2002

The Braves had a pretty typical win last night, scoring four runs, giving up only one, getting decent starting pitching for six innings then turning it over to the Hammonds/Remlinger/Smoltz group for an inning apiece. It even rained for a couple of hours before the game could get underway like it seems to a lot in the last couple of months. Damian Moss recovered from his two recent poor starts to have a good one, walking one, giving up five hits and one run, striking out four. He's still using a lot of pitches (101 last night, 58 of them strikes) to get outs, and the Braves don't have anyone who can go deep into games. Still, seven relievers; I really don't think they're overusing anyone.

Andruw homered and walked twice; actually, the latter is a better sign than the former. Throw in Chipper's two hits, walk, and two runs scored, and for one of the few times all year the Braves got production from all three of the outfielders, because Sheffield of course had another double to extend his on-base streak. (He's already singled in a run today to extend it again.) Mark DeRosa started at second base, and got a hit, a walk, and an RBI. Javy Lopez and his groin returned to the lineup, and Javy drove in a run with a walk of all things.

The Braves are wearing throwback uniforms as part of some promotion. I don't have any problem with throwback uniforms, but do they have to be from the 1974 season? It was actually the Braves' best of the seventies, but 88-74 and a third place finish isn't particularly impressive. Plus, they're ugly. Why not from the 1969 division winners or one of the great Milwaukee teams? I'm just saying.

Oddly, three regulars (Johnny Oates, Davey Johnson, and Dusty Baker) from that 1974 team later became longtime, and successful, managers... The Braves are winning 1-0 early against the Phillies. I'll post later on the result, if nothing happens like a heart attack or a really depressing outcome.