ESPN.com - MLB - Recap - Pirates at Braves - 09/04/2002

The Braves won 6-0 to close out the series. Marcus Giles hit two homers, including a three-run shot in the sixth that turned a 1-0 lead to 4-0. But he made an error (oh no!) in the first, so you probably won't see him for a week. Because that error, which obviously didn't lead to any runs, is far more important than the two homers and four RBI. We have to get Vinny back in there!

Damian Moss pitched well, going seven innings and giving up only four hits. He did have his usual problems with walks, issuing five against five strikeouts. He's a very odd pitcher, isn't he? Hammond and Remlinger finished it off. Hammond was efficient, using sixteen pitches to retire the side in order. His ERA is now 1.04; he would need to go two and two-thirds innings without giving up an earned run to lower it to 1.00. He hasn't pitched that well -- he's given up seven unearned runs -- but he's been awfully good. Remlinger seems a little shaky still and gave up a hit and a walk.

Every Braves starter reached base. Early on, they had the DP problem that haunted them on Tuesday, with three in the first five innings. But they stopped after that. All six runs came on homers, and I'd prefer to score some runs in other ways. But I'll take it. The Phillies lost and fell to 19 back. The Expos, whom the Braves face next, are 19 and a half out. The Braves still have six games on the homestand and a chance of clinching the division at Turner Field, but I still think it will happen in Florida in the following series.