Apr 24 2008
Wasted chances add up as Marlins take series opener
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Marlins 7, Braves 2
Top of the Order: One night after being shut out, the Braves squandered scoring chance after scoring chance, leaving a staggering 13 runners on base in a series-opening loss to the NL-East leaders.
The Good: Can’t pin this one on Jeff Bennett at all. Running a fever on Tuesday, the right-hander survived a rough three-run first inning, then locked up the Florida offense for the next five innings. Left fielder Matt Diaz looks like he’s not interested in platooning with Gregor Blanco anymore. Diaz, who didn’t start over the weekend against the Dodgers, went 2-for-4 with a homer and is 7-for-12 since returning to the starting lineup Monday. Leadoff hitter Kelly Johnson did his job, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Buddy Carlyle and Will Ohman both looked good in relief in the seventh. Off the field, there is word Mike Gonzalez’s rehab is going so well, the lefty could be ready for the majors by the middle of next month.
The Bad: OK, so the bullpen let the game get out of hand in the eighth and ninth innings. Whatever. Never should’ve gotten to that point. Florida starter Andrew Miller came into the game with a 9.68 ERA, and the Braves had him on the ropes constantly throughout his five innings. The Braves finished with 12 hits, but were miserable in the clutch, going 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Horrible. Bullpen wise, Blaine Boyer and Chris Resop didn’t get the job done in the late innings, each allowing a pair of runs as the Fish swam away with the series opener.
View from the Sports Garage: Most of the time, you can pinpoint one situation in a game in retrospect and say, “yep, that’s where it turned.” Wednesday, that moment came in the bottom of the second. After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Braves pulled within 3-2 and had the bases loaded in the second – after the Marlins intentionally walked Chipper Jones – with cleanup hitter Mark Teixeira at the plate. But Tex grounded out to end the inning, setting the tone for a very, very frustrating night offensively. Granted, the Braves scored twice, but had so many more opportunities in a game that could’ve seen Atlanta pull within one game of first place. I don’t care if Moe, Larry and Curly are pitching, you can’t afford to squander opportunities, and the Braves were pros at doing just that all night long.
As for Resop, who allowed three hits and two runs in the ninth? He’s quickly, quickly pitching himself out of a spot with this organization. Watching him in spring training, it was easy to get excited about his 99 mph fastball. The problem? That 99 mph is going about 115 back up the middle. Resop’s control has been brutal (six walks in 7 1/3 innings pitched), and his stuff gets hammered far, far too often (12 hits allowed). He’s out of options, and in my opinion, he’s out of time. The LAST thing an injury-riddled and overworked bullpen needs is somebody who can’t get hitters out, and all the speed in the world doesn’t mean squat if you can’t hit your spots.
On deck
Braves vs. Marlins
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field
The skinny: In a matchup of pitchers sporting 7-something ERAs, Chuck James (7.88) toes the slab for the Braves against Florida’s Burke Badenhop (7.00). For all the bashing James takes, well deserved after his putrid season debut in Colorado two weeks ago, Chuckie shined against the Dodgers in his second start last Saturday (he did allow a homer to the shell of Andruw Jones’ former self). James allowed four hits in five innings and, beyond getting the Braves the victory, hopefully gave himself the confidence he needs to pitch at the major-league level. James’ keys remain the same: keep the ball low in the zone and try not to get drilled the third time through the lineup. Want something encouraging in closing? James is 3-1 lifetime against the Marlins, with a sparkling 1.19 ERA (hey, it sounds better than 7.78).
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