May 19 2008
Bullpen leads the way as Braves top A’s in rubber game
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Braves 5, A’s 2
Top of the Order: Yunel Escobar provided three hits from the leadoff spot, and Braves’ relievers extended their scoreless innings streak to 16 as Atlanta took the rubber game of a three-game set at Turner Field.
The Good: The vastly overworked Atlanta bullpen provided more good work Sunday. Jeff Bennett, Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman and Manny Acosta came on to preserve Jo-Jo Reyes’ second victory. Combined, the four arms from the bully scattered four hits in four innings, striking out four but not allowing any runs. Escobar looks like he’s getting his swing back with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored from the top spot in the lineup. Omar Infante added a big two-run pinch-hit triple in the eighth, turning a one-run lead into a three-run cushion. Jo-Jo was just so-so, but he only gave up two runs in five innings while striking out six and allowing eight hits. Brian McCann hit his 17th double (tops in the NL) in the first to score a run, and picked a runner off first base. Gregor Blanco got the start in left, and the rookie responded with two more hits. Gotta keep getting his stick in the lineup.
The Bad: Reyes could’ve been better, as his location wasn’t as sharp as we’ve seen. Perhaps that problematic blister on his left index finger was to blame, as it bothered him throughout his five-plus innings. Chipper Jones had a hit, but when you’re hitting .410, just one hit will drop your average. Jeff Francoeur and Mark Teixeira combined to leave seven runners on base. Perhaps it’s time for Frenchy to get a day off; sitting out one of the games of Tuesday’s doubleheader would be a good idea, as the wunderkid is hitting just .263 and looks like he’s tired already (we’re only at the quarter mark of the season). The worst news of the day came off the field, as John Smoltz admitted he’s still having trouble with the right shoulder that’s shelved him for three weeks, and could keep him out much longer than his hoped-for return by month’s end. Sounds like for now, plan on Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano returning to bolster the bully before the bearded one.
View from the Sports Garage: We all thought the Braves would have one of the best relief corps in baseball, but who thought it would be Bennett, Boyer and Acosta leading the charge instead of Peter Moylan and Soriano? Injuries, abbreviated outings by the starting rotation and overuse has ripped through the bullpen during the first quarter of the season, but the guys left behind the fence in right-center have settled down as April turned to May. Jorge Campillo will start the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader because Bennett has become the all-important bridge from the middle innings to the Boyer-Acosta combination in the eighth and ninth. Bennett bailed Reyes out after Jo-Jo puts runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, escaping the frame with the Braves still leading by one. Where in the world would this team be without the work of Bennett, Boyer and Acosta? Wait, don’t answer that! Another home victory, the 16th in 21 home games this season, and Atlanta awakens to today’s off day just two games out of first place in the NL East.
On deck
Braves vs. Mets (DH)
1:10 p.m. Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Turner Field
The Skinny: Talk about your differences in experience when it comes to starting. The Braves send 304-game winner Tom Glavine to the mound for the opener of a day-night doubledip with the Mets Tuesday. Starting the nightcap: Campillo, whose one career start in 2005 with Seattle lasted just one inning due to an elbow injury that led to surgery. Glavine (1-1, 4.41 ERA) got his first victory of the season in his last outing at Philadelphia and will make his first start against the Mets since leaving Flushing to rejoin the Braves in the offseason. Campillo (0-0, 1.27 ERA) started in the Mexican League and in the minors, and has pitched multiple innings in seven of his 13 relief outings this season. The Braves really need a long outing from Glavine in the first game, as it’s unrealistic to expect Campillo to toss more than three or four innings in the finale. Going for the Mets will be John Maine (5-2, 2.81 ERA) in the opener and recent addition Claudio Vargas (0-1, 2.84 ERA) in the nightcap. Maine has won his last four starts. Vargas pitched well in his Mets’ debut but lost when the bullpen couldn’t get him out of a jam, allowing the go-ahead run to score. It goes without saying the Braves need to start this four-game set with at least one victory.
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