May 12 2008
Braves washed out in Pittsburgh, setting up important double-dip
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA – Anybody who remembers last season’s mid-May trip to Pittsburgh recalls how the Braves captured the first two games of that series with the Pirates.
Chuck James carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the Saturday night game, as the Braves won to move to 24-12 on the season. Then came Mother’s Day. Anthony Lerew was rocked, the Braves were blown out and that game served as the first step on a descent toward a second-consecutive third-place finish in the NL East.
There would be no such Mother’s Day Massacre this season, as rain was the big winner Sunday, washing away the third game of a four-game set with the Buccos. But the rain sets up a pretty important Monday for Atlanta, which has dropped its first two games in the Steel City.
The Braves send Jair Jurrjens and Tim Hudson to the mound today for a doubleheader that in retrospect could prove to be just as important as that series finale one year ago at PNC Park.
Atlanta sits four games behind streaking Florida in the NL East. The Marlins won their seventh straight game on Sunday, and while most of us still are waiting for the other fin to flop for the boys from South Florida, at this point, the Braves have to focus more on themselves than on the band of overachievers currently occupying the division’s top spot.
In the midst of a seven-game road trip through the Keystone State – Atlanta begins a three-game series at Philadelphia Tuesday night – the troubles that have plagued the Braves on the road so far this season have reared their ugly head once again through the first two games of this current swing away from Turner Field.
In losses Friday and Saturday, the Braves bats struggled. Nothing new there. Atlanta has been dismal at the plate on the road, especially late in games. True, Atlanta rallied to tie Friday’s contest in the eighth inning, but the combination of Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny on Friday and Saturday pretty much kept the Braves’ offense at bay. And, while Tom Glavine pitched very well on Friday, the bullpen couldn’t hold down the fort. Saturday, James couldn’t nurse an early lead and allowed five runs with five walks in six innings, not good enough for a team that can’t score runs away from home.
So today dawns with two games, just two in the marathon of 162 games. However, circumstances dictate these two games are a little more important, and the Braves can take solace in the fact they will send their best two pitchers to the bump for today’s double-dip. Jurrjens has been so good so far, seven very solid starts that have pushed the rookie right-hander into the early conversation for NL rookie of the year. Hudson seems to have emerged from his troubling April with consecutive good starts.
The Braves really need both of these games today. Winning twice in one day is not easy, certainly. But for confidence, and not to mention the fact the Braves can ill-afford to fall any further behind in the East, two victories today would be a big boost as this team leaves Western Pennsylvania and heads east to Philly.
Who pitches Friday: The rainout jumbled the Atlanta rotation in regards to Friday’s series opener at home against Oakland. Jurrjens was slated to pitch, but by going today, he would have to come back on three days rest, which the Braves don’t want to do (remember, Atlanta has one off day between now and early June). Charles Morton has pitched very well at Richmond so far; he could be promoted for a spot start Friday night. Or, the Braves could turn to Jeff Bennett, who has started, relieved and closed so far this season.\
Soriano, Smoltz making progress: The beleaguered bullpen could get a big boost in the coming days. Rafael Soriano reported better results after his bullpen session Sunday. He plans to throw again Tuesday and, if all goes well, could begin a minor-league rehab assignment with a return to the big-league team in mind for early next week. Meanwhile, Smoltz played catch and reported no problems. He plans to play catch again today, then begin pushing himself harder as the veteran right-hander looks to recover from shoulder problems and move into the bullpen by the end of the month.
Mad Dog gets it done: Congrats to Greg Maddux, who notched his 350th career victory Saturday night for the Padres. San Diego is struggling, and it took Mad Dog five chances to get No. 350. The greatest pitcher of this generation, bar none.
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CL: Thanks. I so enjoyed watching Maddux pitch during his time in Atlanta. One of my favorite moments as a sports writer was a Sunday morning conversation I had with him in the locker room leading up to the All-Star Game in 2000. Just two guys, talking pitching, one with a notebook, one sitting with his feet propped up discussing ball. Great stuff, for sure.
And the thing about Maddux that I so appreciated was he KNEW how good he was (and still is, to a certain degree), yet it never came out in discussion. He wasn’t cocky at all. Humble as ever, yet you know how competitive he is … an absolute delight to watch do his thing on the hill every fifth day.
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