Aug 06 2008
Hampton wins first in nearly three years as Braves top Giants
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Braves 11, Giants 4
Top of the Order: For the first time in 1,087 days, Mike Hampton won a baseball game, the oft-injured left-hander firing seven crisp innings as the Braves pulled away.
The Good: Hampton turned back to the clock to 2005, when he was considered one of the better left-handers in the National League before the run of famous injuries made his name a running joke among baseball fans. Hampton pounded the strike zone with his sinker and curve ball, and effectively mixed in his fastball, giving up just four hits and two runs over seven innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Hampton also doubled home a run in the fifth, giving him his third RBI of the season (tying Corky Miller’s season total in 48 fewer at-bats … love ya Corkster … not). And for good measure, Hampton picked off a runner. Kelly Johnson remains smoking hot: 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. That’s 9-for-15 for KJ during his past four games. Martin Prado and Jeff Francoeur each had two hits and scored a run. Omar Infante drove in two runs, as did Yunel Escobar. Mark Kotsay and Casey Kotchman drove in one run each, and Greg Norton added a pinch-hit single in the ninth. Will Ohman and Blaine Boyer each struck out the only hitter they faced, and Mike Gonzalez finished things off with a scoreless ninth. Off the field, Tom Glavine reported no problems from Monday’s rehab start for Class A Myrtle Beach. The 305-game winner will pitch Saturday for Class AA Mississippi and, if all goes well, will rejoin the Braves’ rotation next week.
The Bad: Jeff Bennett nearly let Hampton’s feel-good story wiggle away, getting into a mess in the eighth: three hits, two runs and one walk in 1/3 inning. Ohman and Boyer bailed him out of the jam, though. Otherwise, no complaints on this night, as the Braves move to nine games under .500 and stay within 9 ½ games of first-place Philly (not that it matters anymore; just reporting it to report it).
View from the Sports Garage: In this twisted and warped season, Hampton provided a momentary respite from the sadness and grief that’s gripped this franchise and its fan base in the two days since broadcaster Skip Caray’s death. Remember, Hampton has been crucified by fans from the moment he walked off the mound feeling pain on Aug. 19, 2005, his last major-league appearance before two major elbow surgeries and a litany of minor injuries suffered on his long road back to the majors. But as I’ve told people all season, it’s been my hope Hampton could get back on the slab in the majors because, frankly, the guy could have retired a million times, taken his money and went home to Florida. Instead, Hampton continued working, continued rehabbing, continued battling the frustration he felt while hearing people whine and laugh and moan and groan. And lest we forget, he was at one time a darn fine pitcher. Thirty-two wins from 2003-2005 with the Braves, 138 career victories before he got hurt. That last victory: Aug. 14, 2005. At least for one night, he showed he still can pitch effectively in the bigs. It’s been a long time coming for Hampton. If he can pitch the way he threw it last night, he’ll give all of us a reason to watch every fifth day for the rest of the season.
On deck
Braves at Giants
3 p.m. today, AT&T Park
The Skinny: The good news today is AT&T Park is one of the harder yards in all of ball in which to hit a home run. The bad news: Chuck James (2-4, 9.47 ERA) toes the slab for the Braves, and whenever Chuckie pitches, home runs tend to follow. In his return to the bigs Friday against Milwaukee, James gave up two gopher balls – one hit by Prince Fielder was just spotted on the other side of Asheville – and walked four hitters en route to allowing six runs in 2 2/3 innings. James has given up 24 homers in his past 15 games. For the Giants, All-Star hurler Tim Lincecum (11-3, 2.71 ERA) does his thing from the hill. If you’ve got a chance to watch this afternoon tilt, do so if only to see the little righty fling it. He’s only 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, but he’s struck out 163 hitters this season, including 84 in his last 10 starts (66 innings). He leads the majors in strikeouts and is fourth in ERA. A big, big challenge for the Bravos today in the finale of this three-game set.
—30—
Bud, this is actually more than a feel good story. Mike Hampton has endured so much since that fatal day cursed him in 2005. I am truly amazed at his road to recovery.