May 13 2008
Splitsville: Braves take one of two in doubleheader with Pirates
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Pirates 5, Braves 0 (first game)
Braves 8, Pirates 1 (second game)
Top of the Order: The Braves wrapped up a four-game series by splitting a doubleheader at PNC Park. In the first game, Atlanta gave Jair Jurrjens no offensive support, leaving 15 runners on base, but bounced back in the nightcap to give Tim Hudson plenty of cushion.
The Good: Following the opening-game loss, the Braves needed a great performance from Hudson. Timmy delivered, giving up just two hits and one unearned run in seven smooth innings. Mark Kotsay provided lots of support for Huddy, with three hits (including a pair of doubles) and three RBIs. Jeff Francoeur showed some signs of breaking out of his recent struggles at the plate with five hits in the doubleheader, including three in the second game. Brian McCann broke open the nightcap with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Chipper Jones had three hits in the opener. Jurrjens wasn’t all bad; he pitched four scoreless innings, and may be able to come back and pitch Friday’s opener against Oakland at Turner Field.
The Bad: We saw more of the same lack of execution from the offense in the opener. The Braves left a staggering 15 runners on base, and had plenty of chances to score, getting a runner to second base in six of the first seven innings. Jurrjens wasn’t as sharp as usual, but only had one bad inning (the fifth), allowing three runs. Matt Diaz misjudged a ball in that inning, helping set the stage for Freddy Sanchez’s three-run double later in the frame. Mark Teixeira didn’t last long in the doubleheader; he left the opener after experiencing back spasms and may not play tonight.
View from the Sports Garage: The Braves really needed to win both of these games, but seriously, do we have any right to complain when Atlanta wins away from Turner Field? After all, it happens about as often as a sighting of Haley’s Comet. The first game summed up exactly what is wrong with this team: for all their offensive talent, they are – for some reason – horrible when it comes to hitting in the clutch. Anytime you leave 15 runners on base and finish with no runs, that shows you the offensive execution in key situations is just not what it should be. It definitely was good for the Braves to get at least one victory out of this series, but looking back, Atlanta should have won at least two – if not three – of these games. When September rolls around, I think you may be adding one or two from this weekend to the list of “boy, if we’d only done what we should’ve done” games. The Braves still own the best home record in the majors (14-4), and they also possess the worst road record (5-14). Obviously, that cannot continue if the Braves hope to play meaningful games in September. At least Atlanta won’t see the Pirates anymore this season; Pittsburgh finishes the season series with five victories in seven games.
On deck
Braves at Phillies
7:05 p.m. today, Citizens Bank Park
The Skinny: Jo-Jo Reyes impressed everybody with his first start of the season, then left in the third inning Thursday with a blister on his left index finger. Probably was a good thing, considering Reyes (1-0, 2.25 ERA) had no control of the plate whatsoever in that effort against the Padres. So, what will we see from Jo Jo tonight as the Braves open a critical three-game series in Philadelphia? Hopefully, it’s the kid who pitched with confidence in that first start of the season against the Reds, and the kid who posted a 1.17 ERA this season at Richmond. Going against the Braves is Kyle Kendrick (2-2, 4.93 ERA), who has pitched at least six innings in his past three starts. With the Phillies’ top two pitchers – Brett Myers and Cole Hamels – going in the final two games of the series, a win tonight would be a good thing.
–30–
