Braves.Today.Com

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—

Trackback URI | Comments RSS