Braves.Today.Com

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Nationals 9, Braves 8, 10 innings

Top of the Order: The nature in which the Braves lose continues to spur frustration and agony, and this one was no different: Atlanta blowing leads of 4-0 and 6-2, losing in extra innings on a bases-loaded walk by Vladimir Nunez for the team’s 15th defeat in its past 19 games.

The Good: The Braves swung the sticks early and often, finishing with 14 hits. Martin Prado continues to make his case for a roster spot in 2009, going 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs. Chipper Jones raised his average to .359 with two hits, including his 20th homer, the 14th consecutive season Hoss has went yard 20-plus times. Chipper scored twice and drove in two. Brian McCann went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Kelly Johnson went 2-for-5. Josh Anderson continues to show he belongs in the majors, going 2-for-4 with two walks. Greg Norton had a pinch-hit single and scored the game-tying run in the eighth. Julian Tavarez pitched around a hit and a walk in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. Ah … if Tavaraz could’ve only pitched the only eight innings.

The Bad: Atlanta’s pitching was abysmal; flat out sorry. Jo-Jo Reyes couldn’t hold two separate four-run leads, giving up eight hits and four runs in four innings. Buddy Carlyle had a miserable inning: three hits, three runs, one walk and two inherited runners scoring as the Nats scored five times in the fifth. Jeff Bennett gave up a run and two hits in two innings. Nunez walked three and allowed a hit in 2/3 inning, a wretched showing that put a bow on another wretched defeat. Yunel Escobar did not play; Bobby Cox gave him the day off despite the fact Esco’s hit .307 in his past 20 games. Maybe those three double plays Escobar hit into played a role in it, but still … come on, Bobby. Play the dude.

View from the Sports Garage: I know the Braves are totally focused on 2009 and the pursuit of a playoff spot is over, but still … losses like this will make you throw your bottle of Coke Zero across the room and scream at the top of your lungs. Frustrating beyond description, good people. It is so vital for this team to win games like this, games where you have not one, but TWO four-run leads, games where you battle back from a two-run deficit to tie the contest, games against the team with the worst record in the majors. The Nats are 9-4 against Atlanta this season, so maybe that whole worst-record-in-baseball-thing doesn’t matter. Frankly, nothing matters when you’re dealing with the Braves. Even on a night where the offense pounded out plenty of runs and battled back from an 8-6 deficit to force extra innings, it didn’t matter. Oh well, at least the Dogs won today, D.J. Shockley made the Falcons’ roster, and a simple glance at The Weather Channel reminds us that the pursuits of a baseball team pale in comparison to a major U.S. city facing mandatory evacuation orders this morning. Thoughts and prayers to all of you down on the central Gulf Coast and to those of you in New Orleans, one of the most eclectic sites on the planet and one of my favorite cities. We’re with you in prayer and hoping for the best as Hurricane Gustav approaches.

On deck
Braves at Nationals
1:35 p.m. today, Nationals Park

The Skinny: Jair Jurrjens (11-9, 3.56 ERA) hits the end of August looking to get over the recent struggles that’s caused his loss total and ERA to rise. Jurrjens has won just once since the All-Star break, and the rookie only went three innings – his shortest start of the season – on Tuesday against Florida, allowing six earned runs. For the Nats, right-hander Collin Balester (3-6, 4.70 ERA) topped the Dodgers Tuesday, just his second victory since July 1. Balester held Los Angeles to five hits and one earned run.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Nationals 7, Braves 3

Top of the Order: Another rotten lowlight in a season full of ‘em – Yunel Escobar tying a franchise record by grounding into three double plays in the same game – as the Braves opened a series matching up the two worst teams in the NL East with their 14th loss in their past 18 games.

The Good: Chipper Jones still leads the majors in hitting, going 1-for-3 with a walk as his average dropped one point to .358. Brian McCann led the offense with two hits. Greg Norton hit a pinch-hit two run homer, his sixth of the season and just the ninth by a Brave this month. Buddy Carlyle retired the only hitter he faced. Blaine Boyer gave up a hit but struck out one in 1/3 of an inning. Vladimir Nunez fired two scoreless innings, his second consecutive solid appearance. Josh Anderson was back in center field and hitting leadoff for the second day in a row. That’s good; dude needs to play, and he had a hit and scored a run. Martin Prado doubled and drove in the other Braves’ run. Omar Infante scored a run.

The Bad: Escobar won’t remember this one fondly. He became the first Braves player in 53 years to ground into three double plays in the same game, and just the third in franchise history. In addition, Esco made an error. Ugh. Jorge Campillo just didn’t have it, giving up eight hits and five runs with three walks on 3 2/3 innings. Before the game, the Braves activated veteran Elmer Dessens – sending Charlie Morton to Richmond; don’t worry, rosters expand Monday and Morton will make his scheduled start for the big-league club Tuesday. Dessens gave up one hit and two runs, walking two, in 1 2/3 innings. Folks, he’s simply here to get this team to Sept. 28. That’s all, so don’t sweat it. Prado left three runners on in scoring position, as the Braves finished with eight left on base.

View from the Sports Garage: Back to the very place where this horrid march straight toward baseball oblivion started, the Braves whipped out a stinker of a performance. Hitting fifth for the second night in a row, Escobar came up with runners on all night long, but couldn’t come through. If it seems like that’s all Esco’s done lately, you’re right. He’s grounded into five double plays in the past three games, and his 23 GIDPs this season is one off the team record shared by Dale Murphy and Andruw Jones. Otherwise, this one is a different story, even with Campillo struggling in what was his worst start of the season. Hey, just think: One month from now, all of this will be over and done. In a way, I think we’re all looking forward to the season being finished, even the players and the coaching staff. At the same time, I think all of us will be more anxious than ever to get the new season started. It’s gonna be tough to deal with the bitter aftertaste of this bitter, spoiled season.

On deck
Braves at Nationals
7:10 p.m. today, Nationals Park

The Skinny: Even though the Braves are out of the race and there is plenty of room for young players to work on proving they can play in the majors, Jo-Jo Reyes (3-10, 5.34 ERA) may be on a short leash tonight. The left-hander followed up his strong showing against the Mets Aug. 19 with another rough start Sunday against St. Louis: nine hits, six runs (five earned) and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. Control continues to be Jo-Jo’s big problem. For the Nationals, right-hander Jason Bergmann (2-10, 4.56 ERA) has won just once in his past 10 starts. He allowed four hits and four runs Sunday in a loss to the Cubs.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Braves 4, Marlins 2

Top of the Order: Charlie Morton delivered six strong innings and Brian McCann’s three-run homer led the Braves to victory in the rubber game of a three-game set.

The Good: Let’s start with Morton, who pitched with confidence and showed an aggressive mindset against Florida’s hitters. The results – outstanding: four hits, two runs and only two walks in six stellar innings. The bullpen held serve from there. Julian Tavarez struck out the side in the seventh. Jeff Bennett got a double-play ball to cap a scoreless eighth. Mike Gonzalez struck out the side in a perfect ninth, earning his seventh save. Chipper Jones raised his average to .359 with two hits. Martin Prado continues hitting; another two-hit game, his average up to .338. Josh Anderson, who hopefully will get a long look in center now that Mark Kotsay is in Boston, went 1-for-2 with a run scored, two walks and a stolen base from the leadoff spot. McCann blasted his 22nd homer in the fifth, a three-run shot with two outs. Brandon Jones, starting in left, made a great catch at the top of the wall, and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The Bad: Not much on the field went poorly on this night, but these are the Braves, so expect some bad news: Rafael Soriano underwent surgery on his elbow, ending his disappointing and questionably injury-plagued season. He’s expected to be ready for spring training … pardon me if I’m not waiting with baited breath.

View from the Sports Garage: Seventy-five pitches, 50 strikes. Those, my friends, are the two big numbers from young Charlie on this night. As has been opined in this space for two months, the lanky right-hander has the stuff to be a darn-fine major-league pitcher. But it’s between the ears, and not the right arm, that is the key as Morton figures out what it takes to succeed in the bigs. Mark Thursday down as a step in the right direction. A big step. Morton had great command of his fastball from the get-go, and when he can throw that 93-94 mph heater for strikes, then work his breaking ball and change-up off of it, he’s pretty good. Anderson looked super hitting leadoff; might we see him there quite a bit the final month? We better; dude can play. His stolen base forced the Marlins to walk Chipper to get to Mac, and Mac made them pay with the long ball that gave Atlanta the lead for keeps. Speed is a good thing, and Anderson has lots and lots of it. Games like this will go a long way toward building the confidence of the younger players who will be battling for roster spots come March in Lake Buena Vista. A good win, a series win. Now, on to the nation’s capital for the holiday weekend. Hopefully Chipper is getting hot; he leads Albert Pujols by two points in the race for the NL batting title.

On deck
Braves at Nationals
7:35 p.m. today, Nationals Park

The Skinny: He ended up with a no-decision, but Jorge Campillo (7-6, 3.37 ERA) looked much better in his last start, Saturday against St. Louis. Except for Pujols – who is murdering every pitcher he faces right now – Campillo held the Cards in check. For the Nationals, former Braves hurler Odalis Perez (5-10, 4.21 ERA) toes the slab, just as he did back on opening night March 31, when this disaster march straight into baseball hell began. Perez left his last start in the fifth after allowing 10 hits and four earned runs.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Marlins 4, Braves 1

Top of the Order: One night after scoring four times in the bottom of the ninth for a thrilling victory, the Braves wasted Mike Hampton’s stellar performance, mustering just four hits in losing for the 13th time in 16 games.

The Good: For the most part Hampton was sharp, going eight innings and allowing eight hits and three runs with two walks and five strikeouts. Jeff Francoeur recorded two of the four Atlanta hits. Kelly Johnson tripled and scored the Braves’ lone run. Martin Prado drove home Johnson, and also backed up an errant throw to cut down a runner at second base. Gregor Blanco drew two walks from the leadoff spot. Before the game, the long-rumored Mark Kotsay deal to Boston was announced, the Braves acquiring 20-year-old Class A outfielder Luis Sumoza. Kotsay played well during his time with Atlanta; it’s not a coincidence when Kotsay was out of the lineup for all of June, the Braves really began struggling. Kotsay goes to Boston and joins a pennant race. We wish him all the best.

The Bad: Josh Johnson was really good for the Marlins, keeping the Braves off stride all night. The Braves didn’t get a hit until Johnson’s triple in the fifth. Atlanta wasted a second-and-third, one-out situation in the eighth, failing to score. Blaine Boyer gave up an absolute bomb in the ninth to Dan Uggla, a ball that landed in the terrace level in left field. Hampton, as mentioned above, got a few pitches up and the Marlins took advantage. Chipper Jones went 1-for-4, his average dropping to .356. Only 19,755 showed up at Turner Field – hey, at least the sparse crowd made the Fish feel at home. We probably won’t see Casey Kotchman anytime soon; the Braves placed the first baseman on the restricted list as he remains with his mother, who is hospitalized with an undisclosed medical condition in Florida. Before the game, the Braves signed 37-year-old Elmer Dessens, a veteran of 11 major-league seasons who spent this season pitching in Mexico … this is bad because it shows how far the vaunted Braves’ stable of pitching has fallen this season, picking up Dessens from south of the border just to make some starts during the final month. Personally, I’d rather see guys who will have a chance to impact this roster in 2009 get a chance during September, but Frank Wren’s number hasn’t showed up as a missed call on my cell today.

View from the Sports Garage: Tuesday’s come-from-behind victory, just the second time this season the Braves won after trailing entering the ninth, quickly evaporated against Johnson. Dude pitched really well; just one of those games where you tip your cap and move on to the next game. But Hampton really battled and put together a good outing. He constantly allowed the leadoff hitter to get on base, but more often than not was able to wiggle out of trouble. When that sinker is biting down in the zone, Hampton definitely is tough on opposing hitters. Dude can still pitch in the bigs, and pitch well. It’s truly a shame he missed so much time with injuries. People forget he was 32-20 for the Braves from 2003 until the first arm injury ended his 2005 season in August. Ah, what might have been … a phrase we’ll utter about the 2008 edition of the Braves for years to come.

On deck
Braves vs. Marlins
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field

The Skinny: The good news for Charlie Morton (3-8, 6.39 ERA) is he’s not facing the Cardinals anymore. Now, maybe young Charlie can begin rebuilding his confidence after St. Louis knocked Morton out in the second inning Friday. Control continues to be the bugaboo for the rookie; he walked five hitters in 1 1/3 innings his last time out, allowing five hits and four earned runs. For the Marlins, Annibal Sanchez (2-2, 3.99) makes his sixth start of the season since coming off the disabled list. He gave up eight hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings his last time out against Arizona. The Braves go for a series win in wrapping up this quick three-game homestand.

—30—

UPDATE, 6:21 a.m.: Morning! Nothing official from the Braves yet on the Mark Kotsay trade situation. Kotsay was scratched from the lineup yesterday as the Braves held trade discussions with the Red Sox, sources report. Kotsay said after the game he doesn’t know if he’s gone yet or not, and no word this morning on a trade, though some media outlets are reporting Kotsay to Bean-town is all but done.

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Braves 10, Marlins 9

Top of the Order: Trailing by three runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Braves roared back for one of their most-stirring victories of the season, Yunel Escobar’s single scoring Jeff Francoeur with the game winner.

The Good: On a night where the Braves lost an early three-run lead and played from behind, the offense led the comeback. Escobar finished with two hits, three walks and three RBIs. Francoeur had two hits, two RBIs, scored twice and had a bunch of really good swings all night long. Martin Prado, Kelly Johnson and Gregor Blanco also had two-hit nights, as the Braves finished with 14 hits. For the most part, the bullpen pitched well, Buddy Carlyle (one inning), Vladimir Nunez (two innings) and Jeff Bennett (one inning) keeping the Fish off the scoreboard.

The Bad: Jair Jurrjens could not hold a 3-0 first-inning lead, allowing six hits and six runs in three innings, easily his worst outing of the season. Julian Tavarez gave up two runs in one inning of work. Will Ohman continues to struggle, allowing a run in the ninth after the Braves had pulled within two. Atlanta had a chance to score even more in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs but only scoring on a pair of bases-loaded walks. But hey, why complain about that when the Bravos actually got up off the deck for once.

View from the Sports Garage: It doesn’t mean squat for 2008, but man, didn’t it feel good to see the Braves get it done in the clutch? Seven runs in the final three innings, including two in the eighth and four in the ninth. Atlanta simply could have rolled over and taken another loss, another stumble in this sorry season, but the Braves showed a lot of moxie and fight in this one. And maybe, just maybe, the baseball gods felt like they owed the Braves one after all the misery this team and its fan base have endured this season. Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez couldn’t get the ball out of his glove on a Blanco grounder in the ninth. Ramirez may not have thrown Blanco out – if he had, the Marlins win by one. But regardless, after that play Escobar came through with the opposite-field single to win the game. Man, it felt good seeing the Braves run out of the dugout wearing big smiles. A nice way to end a dreary, soggy night at Turner Field. Jurrjens simply didn’t have it, that early lead evaporating like dew off your lawn. That’s problematic, as JJJ is struggling now. But for one night, the Braves grabbed lightning in a bottle and dealt the Marlins a very painful loss. The Fish are in a pennant race. The Braves are not. But Atlanta played with a ton of heart, and it was nice to see their effort – which has been less than stellar of late – be rewarded in this one. They might not lose 90 after all!

On deck
Braves vs. Marlins
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field

The Skinny: As the Braves wind down the season, one emerging bright spot three years in the making continues to show he can pitch in the majors. Yes, Mike Hampton (2-1, 6.47 ERA) toes the slab in his remarkable comeback. While it’s doubtful the Braves will invest anything to bring him back in 2009, you know somebody’s going to take a flyer on the former 20-game winner. Hampton allowed eight hits and three runs Thursday against the Mets. For the Marlins, right-hander Josh Johnson (3-0, 3.51 ERA) has given the Fish a big boost since coming off the disabled list in July. Johnson has pitched six-plus innings in his last five starts, and has allowed three runs or less in seven of his eight starts.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

ATLANTA – You look at the standings, and what you see is not pretty.

The Braves reside 17 games under .500, 15 ½ games out of first place, and you allow that little voice inside your head to whisper a fair question:

“Why watch any more of this train wreck?”

And really, who could blame you for donning your Bulldogs’ jersey, grabbing your Thrashers’ hat and biding this disaster of a season a bitter adieu? Nobody wants to watch what the Braves have become, and certainly there is little reason to think this team will do anything other than continue its march toward its worst finish since 1990.

But there remain plenty of reasons to pay attention as Atlanta plays out the string on a 2008 campaign that will go down in the annuals as one where just about everything went wrong. Jobs – and truth be told, more jobs than we realize – are on the line. What happens these final five weeks probably will help shape what management does in the offseason.

So, while it may be tempting to close your eyes and pretend baseball season is finished, it’s not. This season – as unpleasant as it may be – marches on, and here are a few reasons why you should tell that little voice in your head to zip it:

Can Chipper Jones win the batting title?
Two months ago, the question wasn’t whether Hoss would secure his first NL batting crown, it was whether he’s make a serious run at being the first player since Ted Williams in 1941 to hit .400. A strained quad followed by a hamstring injury sapped his leg strength, and Chipper’s average has steadily dipped since mid June. But still, seeing a future Hall of Famer – and I believe Jones will end up in Cooperstown, albeit it not on the first ballot – chase a batting title adds some needed intrigue and drama to what’s left of this season.

Can the Braves win a one-run game on the road?
Mention the words “The Streak” to Braves fans, and you’ll likely enter a discussion about the team’s 14-consecutive division titles won from 1991-2005. Older fans might hear “The Streak” and think of Atlanta’s 13-0 start to the 1982 season. But “The Streak” of 27 consecutive one-run road losses is anything but a point of pride. Atlanta holds the major-league record for this type of road futility, and time is running out to snap the slide in 2008: only 15 road games remain. Win one, by one, away from home, or expect to hear this mentioned ad nausea throughout the offseason.

Can Brian McCann hit .300?
The long toll of catching nearly every day has caught up to Mac. He’s hitting just .222 in his last 10 games, dropping his average from .303 to .295. McCann hit .333 in his first full season in 2006, but dipped to .270 last season. His splits are pretty even (.300 vs. lefties, .293 vs. right-handers; .313 at Turner Field, .281 on the road). Clearly, this is the one Baby Brave from the wave of 2005 call-ups who has cemented his place as a star in the majors.

Can Jair Jurrjens finish out his impressive rookie season?
Jurrjens has been even better than advertised in this season, but now that he’s surpassed his career high in innings pitched (156 1/3 IP this season, 12 2/3 more than his combined minor/majors total last season), the Braves will be watching closely to see if the right-hander loses steam during the final five weeks. And maybe he is. Jurrjens, who toes the slab tonight against the Marlins at Turner Field, has won just once in his past five starts, and his ERA has rose nearly half a run since the start of July.

Can Charlie Morton and/or Jo-Jo Reyes grab a tentative hold on a spot in next year’s rotation?
There is no denying both Morton, 24, and Reyes, 23, possess the ability to excel at the major-league level. Control is key for both, and as is so often the case with young pitchers, when control is lost, confidence suffers. Morton has walked four or more hitters in five of his 13 starts, going 0-4. Reyes has issued four or more walks in three of his past four appearances, and his ERA has rose from 4.42 to 5.84 in his past 10 games in the majors. With three spots in next year’s rotation clearly up for grabs (of those on the current roster, only Jurrjens and Jorge Campillo are locks to be in the starting five next April), these last five weeks are ultra important for both Morton and Reyes.

Can Jeff Francoeur finally find his swing?
It appeared Frenchy was putting it together a couple of weeks ago: a three-hit night against the Cubs, followed two days later with a 4-for-5 against the Giants, moving his average to .233. Since then, we’ve seen nothing but more Francoeur failure at the plate: three hits in 26 at-bats, his average back down to .227. It’s been a miserable year for Atlanta’s chosen one, an epic struggle that has cast some serious – and dare I say, not so crazy – thought as to whether Francoeur is indeed a cornerstone of this franchise. I don’t think you trade somebody with Frenchy’s potential, somebody who’s proven it for 2 ½ years straight, just because of four bad months. But there is no denying things would be a whole lot easier on the Braves, and on Jeffro, if Francoeur could put together a decent September.

Can any of the September call-ups provide hope for the future?
Josh Anderson, impressive in his brief call-up to Atlanta earlier this season, had his 27-game hitting streak snapped at Triple-A Richmond Friday night. Still, the speedster is hitting .315 and has swiped 41 bases in 48 attempts. He deserves to get a long look in center field next month, especially with the likelihood Mark Kotsay won’t return to the Braves in 2009 (look for Kotsay to be traded to a contender before playoff rosters have to be set Sunday). The Braves also will give Brent Lillibridge some playing time, as he is the most sought-after high-level prospect in the organization and very well could be packing his bags in the offseason as part of a trade. Don’t expect to see Jordan Schafer or Tommy Hanson promoted from Double-A Mississippi, however, as neither is on the 40-man roster and promoting them to the majors would start their clock toward arbitration this year.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Cardinals 6, Braves 3

Top of the Order: Jo-Jo Reyes gave up a pair of runs in each of the first two innings, setting the tone for another frustrating day as the Braves concluded a 1-5 road trip by losing for the 13th time in the past 15 games.

The Good: When your team is out of the race, players who don’t have a guaranteed roster spot for next season need to step up and make a statement for themselves. Safe to say Martin Prado understand this. Making his fourth consecutive start at first base, Prado went 2-for-4 with a run scored, raising his average to .339. Prado is hitting .449 in August, extending his hitting streak to six games (11-for-25 in that stretch). Blaine Boyer retired the only hitter he faced. Manny Acosta made his first appearance since coming off the disabled list – two hits, two walks, one strikeout and no runs in two innings. Reyes did drive in the first two runs of the game with a single in the second. Greg Norton contributed a pinch-hit single. Brandon Jones finally got a start – why has he been sitting on the bench for four days? – and had one hit in four at-bats.

The Bad: Take away his two-run single, and it wasn’t a stellar day at all for young Jo-Jo. The control issues remain: four walks in 5 2/3 innings. Allowing two runs in both the first and second innings put the Braves in a hole, as Reyes finished with nine hits and six runs allowed (five earned). Jeff Francoeur went hitless, grounding into a double play, his average back down to .227. He also committed an error with an awful throw. Chipper Jones went 1-for-3, and now is tied with Albert Pujols for the NL batting lead at .359.

View from the Sports Garage: I wasn’t at Hartsfield-Jackson when the Braves charter landed Sunday night, but I’m pretty confident it resembled what it’s like to get out of your car after a really long day at the office. You just trudge through the rain to your door, come inside and take a deep breath, trying to get over the garbage from the past few hours. For the Braves, this road trip was like one really long, bad day sitting at your cube. One win in six tries. Several close games in which the Braves had a chance, only to fall apart at key times. Bad starting pitching. Some bad bullpen work. And, oh yeah, that epically embarrassing blowout loss Friday night. Reyes continues to baffle me; one start he seems like he’s working his way back toward some of the dominance we saw from him earlier this season, then he wobbles through a lackluster effort Sunday. I can kinda understand seeing it from Charlie Morton, who’s been in the majors for two months. But Jo-Jo made his major-league debut last summer. By now, he should know what it’s like up here, and he’s experienced some success up here. There are plenty of openings in the rotation for 2009, but if Reyes wants to be here next April, it’d serve him well to pitch better these final five weeks. Prado is making a case to be on somebody’s major-league roster next spring, be it here or someplace else. He’s actually looked pretty good in the field overall, and he’s raking at the dish right now. Gotta play him; he’s generated more offense in a week than Casey Kotchman has in a month.

On deck
Braves vs. Marlins
7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Turner Field

The Skinny: The Braves open a three-game set at home with Jair Jurrjens (11-9, 3.28 ERA) looking to return to the win column. The rookie right-hander hasn’t pitched poorly of late, but he does have a 4.35 ERA in his past five starts, losing four of those five. A 44-pitch first inning Wednesday against the Mets helped send JJJ to the showers after five innings, his shortest outing since May 31. Jurrjens is 1-1 against Florida in 2008. For the floundering Marlins, lefty Scott Olsen (6-8, 4.11 ERA) makes his third appearance against the Braves this season. He’s 1-0 with a no-decision. He gave up nine hits and four runs in a loss to San Francisco in his last start.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Braves 8, Cardinals 4

Top of the Order: For just the second time in 14 days, the Braves walked off the field as winners, getting a pinch-hit single from Greg Norton in the eighth and three runs in the ninth to snap a six-game losing streak.

The Good: One night after getting pummeled in a lifeless, embarrassing performance, the Braves fought back from a 3-1 deficit to win for just the second time since Aug. 10. And it was the fill-in duo at first base who stepped up. Martin Prado, getting his third consecutive start at the position while Casey Kotchman remains on the bereavement list, went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Prado’s average rises to .333; dude wants to play and is making the most of the opportunity. Norton, who normally would be the first backup at first but has nursed a sore shoulder in recent days, singled with two outs in the eighth to score two runs and snap a 3-3 tie. Yunel Escobar remains red hot: 3-for-5, 8-for-22 on the road trip and 14-for-37 (.378) in his last 10 games, his average up to .290. Chipper Jones sits at .360, four points higher than Albert Pujols in the NL batting race, after a 2-for-5 day. Brian McCann scored twice. Jeff Francoeur singled home two runners in the ninth. Jorge Campillo wasn’t as his best, but gave up just three runs and seven hits in five innings. He also singled in the third and scored the Braves’ first run. Buddy Carlyle got the win after two innings of scoreless ball. Jeff Bennett retired the only hitter he faced, and Mike Gonzalez nailed it down for his sixth save, allowing one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Manny Acosta was activated from the disabled list; Matt DeSalvo, who gave up eight hits and six runs in one inning Friday, was sent to Triple-A Richmond.

The Bad: Kelly Johnson was the only starter not to get a hit, his average dropping to .264. The Braves left 10 runners on base. Will Ohman gave up two hits and one run in 1/3 inning. But are we really gonna try and hunt too hard for negatives after the Braves won for just the second time in 13 games? Nope.

View from the Sports Garage: Say it with me – Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! OK, so it doesn’t change the fact this team is mired in its worst season since 1990. But you play the game to win, and on this day, that’s what the Braves did. Smile. Laugh. Hug your neighbor (especially if she’s cute, and single, and rich). Plant some flowers. Enjoy this. Relish it. As you well know, today is a new day, and one that probably will bring another one-run road loss and another injury. Sorry. Watching this team has totally warped my normally positive outlook. But Saturday, the Braves actually resembled a major-league baseball team. Norton came through in the clutch, Francoeur got a hit with the bases loaded, the bullpen for the most part held serve, Campillo grinded through five gritty innings, and the Braves made the plays they needed to make. Doesn’t change the fact this team is going nowhere but the golf course come Sept. 29, but it makes things just a bit easier to take this morning.

On deck
Braves at Cardinals
2:15 p.m. today, Busch Stadium

The Skinny: In his return to the majors Tuesday against the Mets, Jo-Jo Reyes (3-9, 5.18 ERA) looked solid, allowing just two earned runs in six innings while walking only three. Following Charlie Morton’s short outing Friday and just five innings from Campillo Saturday, the Braves need Reyes to pitch well and pitch deep. For the Cardinals, right-hander Braden Looper (11-10, 3.94 ERA) has been stellar of late, posting a 2.03 ERA in his last six starts. But the Redbirds haven’t scored him many runs, and Looper is 2-3 in that span. Wow, the Braves could win a series with a W today.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Cardinals 18, Braves 3

Top of the Order: The Braves lost for the 11th time in the past 12 games by continuing to embarrass the uniform and the fan base they represent, being outmatched, out-hustled and out classed in a pathetic showing.

The Good: You’re kidding, right? OK, let’s dig really, really deep into this. Omar Infante, Martin Prado and Kelly Johnson each had two hits. Jeff Bennett was the only Atlanta pitcher not to give up a run. Honestly, it was worse than the final score indicated — the Braves scored twice in the ninth.

The Bad: Charlie Morton, five hits, four runs, five walks, 1 1/3 innings. Vladimir Nunez, five hits, two runs, two walks in 2 2/3 innings. Matt DeSalvo, eight hits, six runs, one walk in one inning … yep, all of that carnage in one freaking inning. Blaine Boyer, three hits, three runs, one walk in one inning. Julian Tavarez, five hits, three runs, one inning. You get the idea. A horrific night for the guys who climbed the bump for the Bravos on this night. St. Louis finished with 26 hits. TWENTY-FREAKING-SIX!!

View from the Sports Garage: I’ll be completely honest with you – the ONLY reason I kept watching this debacle was I know the guy who toed the slab for the other team, and it made it just a little easier to watch. St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainwright, making his first start in two months, really pitched well. The St. Simons Island native, who I got to know during my newspaper days in that corner of the world, is the reason I finally was able to see South Beach. My wife wouldn’t allow me to go to South Beach with a buddy of mine a few years ago, but lo and behold, when Adam made the Cardinals roster in 2006, I got to go to Miami one weekend and catch up with him as the Cards were playing the Marlins. Of course, during my trip, I checked out South Beach. Nice place, to say the least. Actually got a call from Adam on my cell while eating lunch along South Beach, wanting to know what time I’d be at Dolphin Stadium that day so we could chat for a variety of stories I was working on … OK, so what the hell does this have to do with the Braves, you ask? Not a darn thing, but do you really wanna talk about what happened Friday? Not only did Wainwright get the victory, he had three hits … my goodness, the Cards had EIGHTEEN hits through five innings. Wow. Good job, AW. Now keep it up, and get your club into the playoffs because, as we all know, the team I cover on this here corner of the blogosphere ain’t going anywhere.

On deck
Braves at Cardinals
3:55 p.m. today, Busch Stadium

The Skinny: As has been the case during the Braves’ two-week plunge, Jorge Campillo (7-6, 3.29 ERA) has fell behind early in his past two starts. He gave up four runs against the Cubs in the first inning and three vs. the Giants in his last two outings. As good as the right-hander has been since moving into the rotation in late May, Campillo has struggled of late, giving up 15 earned runs in his past 18 innings. For the Cardinals, right-hander Kyle Lohse (13-6, 3.94 ERA) is tied for fifth in victories and leads the injury-battered St. Louis rotation in innings pitched.

—30—

By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com

Mets 5, Braves 4

Top of the Order: The Braves keep inventing new and excruciating ways to extend their major-league record for consecutive one-run losses on the road, this one coming after Omar Infante lost a ball in the lights to allow the Mets to plate the game winner in the bottom of the ninth.

The Good: Yunel Escobar hit his first homer since June 5, blasting Pedro Martinez’s first pitch of the game. Escobar finished with three hits and two runs scored, his first three-hit game since July 6. Snicker about his injury history all you want, but Mike Hampton still can pitch, the left-hander allowing eight hits and three earned runs in six strong innings. Dude so deserved the win. Brian McCann went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, doubled home two runs in the sixth, giving the Braves a short-lived lead. Julian Tavarez gave up a hit in 1 1/3 innings. Off the field, Tom Glavine’s elbow surgery went well, and the doctors also cleaned up his shoulder (might as well while they were in there).

The Bad: Wow, where to begin. How about the defense? With Casey Kotchman on the bereavement list and Greg Norton a late scratch, Martin Prado made his second career appearance at first base. He couldn’t connect with Will Ohman at first base in the seventh, allowing the tying run to score (Mark Teixeira, where are you? Oh yeah, with the Angels). Then in the ninth, Carlos Delgado’s low liner hit off Infante’s glove, Infante losing the ball in the lights, driving home the winning run. Jeff Bennett allowed a hit and a run in the seventh. Vladimir Nunez took the loss, giving up two hits and walking one in the ninth as the Braves extended their big-league record of consecutive one-run road losses to – say it with me – TWENTY-SEVEN. 27!! I said 27!!! That’s 1/6th of a full season. Wow.

View from the Sports Garage: I spent part of Thursday trying to remember the enthusiasm, the optimism, the feeling surrounding this team coming out of spring training. You remember those days, right, when the dogwoods were in bloom and the temperatures were pleasant and the Braves looked liked honest-to-goodness contenders? Well, wake up and smell the stench of another game that slipped away, like that bass you have on the hook all the way to the edge of the bank, only to see it spit out the hook, give you the finger (OK, so bass don’t have fingers, but work with me here) and swim away smirking. Ever seen a bass smirk? I’ve got a better question: ever seen a season totally implode like this? I mean, we’re talking about a campaign of historic proportions here. It just keeps getting worse. How can it get any lower? Just keep watching; this team aims to keep plunging. Prado at first base? Nunez pitching the ninth? I mean, come on. At some point in time, all of this has to stop, right? It will folks, sometime around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, when this season mercifully comes to its long-awaited and much-needed conclusion. Infante squinting into the lights, sliding and sticking his glove into the air in vain, might as well be the picture of the season. This once-proud franchise, reduced to a bumbling bunch playing out the string. And playing it out quite poorly, I might add. Ten losses in the past 11 games, 16 games under .500, 15 games out of first place. If this team was lying in the hospital, the doctor would’ve pulled the plug by now and put the Braves – and all of us – out of our misery.

On deck
Braves at Cardinals
8:15 p.m., Busch Stadium

The Skinny: Two tall, lanky right-handers who look alike and who throw a nasty 12-to-6 bender toe the slab in the opener of a three-game set in the Lou. For the Braves, it’s Charlie Morton (3-7, 5.95 ERA), who’s pitched well in three of his past four starts. Unfortunately for young Charlie, his first appearance against St. Louis was dreadful: eight earned runs and four walks in 3 2/3 innings July 28. For the Cardinals, former Braves prospect and the pride of St. Simons Island, Adam Wainwright (6-3, 3.14 ERA), makes his return after two months on the disabled list. Having gotten to know Adam and his family during my newspaper days in Southeast Georgia, I can tell you he indeed is one of the nicest people on the face of the Earth. He’s also a heck of a pitcher, one who the Cards desperately need to pitch well now that he’s back from a sprain of his right middle finger. Here’s hoping AW throws it well in his return, and that Young Charlie – who looks a heck of a lot like Wainwright – can pitch well, too.

—30—