Braves.Today.Com

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Nationals 6, Braves 3

Top of the Order: Different city, same result as the Braves struggled in Tom Glavine’s return from the disabled list, losing at Washington by the same score they lost by in Sunday’s series finale in New York.

The Good: Glavine was solid in his first game following the first disabled-list stint of his career, going six innings, scattering six hits while allowing two runs, walking one and striking out two. The lefty had good command most of the night and didn’t look like he was rusty at all. Also back in the lineup was Chipper Jones, who picked up where he left off before back spasms sidelined him for the final two games in New York. Chipper went 2-for-5 and smacked his eighth homer of the season, a solo shot that tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth. Mark Kotsay and Kelly Johnson each drove in runs. Yunel Escobar also returned to the field after missing most of the Mets series with a busted finger. Ruben Gotay came off the bench with a pinch-hit single. Away from the big-league club, Mike Gonzalez threw another good inning at extended spring training and the lefty appears close to joining the big-league club. ETA: mid-May.

The Bad: Glavine deserved a much, much better fate, but – stop me if you’ve heard this before – a lack of situational hitting and a bullpen meltdown turned a close game into a mini-rout. First, the bullpen. Charged with keeping the game locked at 2-2 entering the seventh, Blaine Boyer failed miserably, allowing four runs in the frame as the Nats blew the game open. The big blow: A double by Ryan Zimmerman that plated the first two runs, on a pitch that got way, way, WAY too much of the plate. Jorge Campillo came on and allowed two more runs (charged to Boyer) score. Hmmmm, down 6-2 with six outs to go is a heck of a lot different than being tied. Now, that lack of offense. The Braves had their chances. In the seventh, with two runners on and the top of the order up, Johnson, Escobar and Jones couldn’t do jack to plate the go-ahead run. Weak. Chipper left three runners in scoring position on the night, and committed an error (still good to have him back, obviously).

View from the Sports Garage: Another night where you feel like the Braves left one on the table. Frustrating as all get out. Sure, the three-run margin at the finish isn’t as painful as losing a one-run game (and let me remind you, Atlanta has yet to win a one-run decision in 2008). But, this game felt like one the Braves should’ve won, especially after Glavine manned up and pitched well. Take out the back-to-back jacks he allowed to Zimmerman and Nick Johnson in the third, and he was just about as good as you could ask for, and still, it wasn’t enough. Boyer’s problem continues to be pitches in key spots that get too much of the plate; the ball Zimmerman hit was intended to be outside, yet tailed back over the heart of the dish. Smack! Two runs in, game totally changed. At some point, you keep thinking, the Braves are going to break out of this and put it all together. And we’ve seen that already this season (remember the Dodgers’ series, when the Braves came through in the clutch AND the bullpen locked down things?), but Atlanta just can’t put the clutch hitting and solid bullpen work together enough times to fashion another winning streak.

And with John Smoltz on the shelf for maybe two weeks, for maybe a month – and maybe returning to the bullpen in an attempt to salvage his season and career – ANY night the Braves get an effort like they got from their starter tonight, they HAVE to win. Plain and simple. When they don’t, it’s a wasted opportunity. True, the NL East remains a quagmire, but eventually the Mets or Phillies are going to rip off eight of 11 or 10 of 14. If the Braves continue to lose games they are in position to win, they are going to find themselves in one heck of a hole as summer arrives. I still think this team will kick it into gear and soon – especially if the pitching health can stabilize – but right now, sitting here today, I don’t think there is any way the Braves can afford to slip seven or eight games out. And if somebody other than the Braves gets hot in the East, that’s exactly what will happen.

On deck
Braves at Nationals
4:35 p.m. today, Nationals Park

The Skinny: Jair Jurrjens, savior of Braves Nation. Huh? Yeah, that’s where we’re at right now, turning to the 22-year old greenhorn time and time again to stop the bleeding and pitch the Braves into the winner’s circle. His performance this season has been stellar, and no example shines brighter than what he did at Shea Stadium Friday night. On the verge of completely losing control – of the game and of his emotions – Jurrjens gathered himself and locked down New York from there, as the Braves roared back for victory. Hmmm, that’s the last time the Braves won a game. Jair Jurrjens, skid stopper. He climbs the hill against Shawn Hill, who was a surprise last season but so far has battled control issues and a sore forearm for the Nats. Note the 4:35 p.m. start time … at least the game will be over before the Hawks take on Boston in Game 5 of their playoff series that suddenly is a series (had to give the Hawks an attaboy … not like anybody else in the A is giving us reason to cheer these days).

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