Braves Journal

Braves Journal

Here's the permanent link to the site. Just use the bravesjournal.com URL which will take you to whereever I am most currently posting.

Braves 2, D-Backs 1

ESPN.com - MLB - Box Score - Braves at Diamondbacks

Tim Hudson came up with a valiant pitching performance, the Braves managed two runs on only three hits, and they actually won one of these games, little thanks to Chris Reitsma.

Hudson allowed six hits and walked three, but struck out five and kept the ball in the park. He needed a lot of pitches -- 122, 69 for strikes -- to get through eight innings, or he probably would have started the ninth. As it was, Chris Reitsma came out to save it -- for the last time?

Reitsma got the first guy, but then allowed a walk. After a grounder (advancing the runner -- LaRoche and Reitsma just nipped the hitter) he then allowed a double to score the run and get the tying run to second. Exit Chris Reitsma, finally, as Bobby apparently at last figured out that he's just not any good. I figured Remlinger would get first crack, but Bobby went with McBride instead. He walked the first guy (on a 3-2 pitch) but struck out Luis Gonzalez to end the game. I figure closer will be a combination of Ray (who was warming up) and McBride for the moment.

The Braves got their runs in the sixth. Hudson led off with a walk, Marcus bunted him to second, then Renteria doubled Hudson home. He went to third on a wild pitch, and after Chipper was walked Andruw drove him home with a groundout. The only two other hits were by Francoeur (who later actually drew a walk) and by Andruw (a double leading off the ninth, but they stranded him at third).

Brayan Pena is up, taking the place of Travis Smith, who was DFAd. If McCann is ready by then I assume Pena will go back down when Horacio comes up... On to San Diego.

Game Thread in Exile: May 21, Braves at D-Backs

Boy, it's hot. Guess I'll stay indoors.

DBacks 13, Braves 0

ESPN.com - MLB - Box Score - Braves at Diamondbacks

So, when you lose 13-0 and you're relieved. An odd game.

On the first run of the game, in the fourth, Eric Byrnes -- who is an idiot, "clean play" or not -- rolled over Brian McCann's leg. McCann had to be helped off the field and into the clubhouse, and things looked grim. But late in the game, word came down that it was an ankle sprain and McCann was day-to-day. It's a first diagnosis, and sometimes things turn out differently in the morning, but hopefully he'll be okay.

So, after that nobody much cared that the Braves were getting beaten savagely about the head and neck. Travis Smith wasn't atrocious through three, but gave up two in the fourth, thanks largely to poor defense (McCann was charged with an error on the play at the plate, which is just mean) and didn't get out of the fifth. After that, they were down 4-0, but really didn't seem to have much of a chance.

They had none at all after Lance Cormier pitched. He was really bad. Six runs on three hits and five walks over 1 2/3. His fellow ex-Diamondback Oscar Villareal helped out by giving up three more. The D-Back fans really enjoyed it, I could tell.

The Braves had only four hits, two by Chipper. They really never seriously threatened, but then Brandon Webb is an awfully good pitcher. Tomorrow, Hudson versus Juan Cruz, just to add to the whole incestuous feel of this series.

Game Thread in Exile: May 20, Braves at D-Backs

Let's see... Travis "The Human Pitching Machine" Smith, versus Brandon Webb, looking to go 7-0. Sounds unpleasant.

Diamondbacks 10, Braves 9

ESPN.com - MLB - Box Score - Braves at Diamondbacks

I'm really starting to hate Chris Reitsma.

The Braves took a 5-0 lead in the first, the big blow a LaRoche grand slam. I'm guessing if you factored out extreme blowouts, and maybe even then, you're a lot more likely to lose a game in which you score five or more runs in the first than five or more runs in any other inning. You relax. The Braves sure seemed to. John Thomson couldn't hold it. He left the game with two out in the sixth having given up a three-run homer to make it 7-5.

But the Braves woke up. They cut it to 7-6, then when McBride gave up a run (he really shouldn't have, and I thought it should have been scored unearned) Chipper hit a two-out single in the eighth to tie it. In the ninth, McCann hit a leadoff double, was pinch-run for (I think that was a bad call, taking out your best hitter in a game like this) with Orr, who went to third on a Francoeur flyout and came home on a LaRoche single. The Braves had a shot to score more but couldn't.

Enter Spazman. Reitsma immediately gave up a double in the gap. He actually got the next guy, but then followed that with another double. (Ken Ray was up, but Bobby didn't go to him. This was a mistake.) Reitsma intentionally walked the next guy -- Johnny Estrada! -- then hit a pinch-hitter with an 0-2 pitch. He followed that with the inevitable hit to end it.

Tomorrow, Travis Smith. I am not optimistic.

Game thread in exile: May 19, Braves at D-Backs

I don't know if this will work!

Temporary solution only.