Braves.Today.Com

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.

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