Sep 18 2008
0-8 ain’t great: Braves lose again to Phils at home
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Phillies 6, Braves 1
Top of the Order: A miserable first inning doomed Jair Jurrjens and the Braves, Atlanta dropping to 0-8 this season against the NL-East leaders at Turner Field.
The Good: Well, when Greg Norton has been one of your better performers in the second half of the season, that says a lot, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t bash on Norton, who definitely should be brought back as a pinch-hitter next season. Norton hit a pinch-hit single in the ninth, scoring Jeff Francoeur with Atlanta’s lone run. Frenchy went 2-for-4 on the night. Casey Kotchman is finding his stroke, going 2-for-4 with a double. Chipper Jones went 1-for-3 with a walk, his major-league leading average staying at .365. Albert Pujols went 0-for-3 in the Cards’ loss to the Reds, dropping his average to .354. Kelly Johnson extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single. The Braves did turn three double plays, including Hoss making the turn at second on a ball hit by Ryan Howard … didn’t know the former shortstop could still get in the air like that.
The Bad: Jurrjens looked like he’d found his second wind during his past two starts, but he was brutally off in the first inning, a 43-pitch frame that ended with the Phillies putting four runs on the board and Jurrjens issuing three of his five walks. In five innings, JJJ walked five, struck out two, and allowed the four runs on five hits. Vladimir Nunez and Blaine Boyer each gave up a run in relief work. Johnson appeared to lose all sense of where he was and what he’s supposed to do on what should’ve been an inning-ending double play in the eighth. Instead, he only got the out at first and a run scored.
View from the Sports Garage: So the Phillies remain in first place and sit one game away from a season sweep of Atlanta at Turner Field. Yikes! Jurrjens has put together one of the better rookie seasons by a pitcher in franchise history, but he never gave his team a chance in this one. I don’t care if you’re facing J.A. Happ, who was plenty good for what it’s worth. You can’t fall four runs behind Philly and expect to come back. The Braves finished with just seven hits and never looked comfortable at the plate against Happ or the three Philly relievers who came on and finished out the Phils’ eighth victory in eight tries at 755 Hank Aaron Blvd. this season. Sad, sad. Ten games to go until this sorry season is over. Bravos gotta go 6-4 to avoid 90 losses. With four more with Philly, three with the Mets and three with Houston, winning six of the final 10 might be a tall order.
On deck
Braves vs. Phillies
7:10 p.m. today, Turner Field
The Skinny: OK, I’m looking forward to tonight’s game. Not because Jo-Jo Reyes (3-11, 5.50 ERA) is toeing the slab for the Braves. It’s because I’m going to the yard for the first time in several weeks. It’s been busy around here, and I haven’t had the chance to get to the ballpark (plan on going Saturday, too; hey, the season’s almost over, so gotta get my baseball on while I can). Anyway, here’s hoping Jo-Jo can figure it out and actually act like he has a clue out there. So frustrating to watch a guy who has the stuff – who’s demonstrated he can pitch up here – go out there and act like he doesn’t know what in the heck he’s doing. For the Phillies, Cole Hamels (13-9, 3.11 ERA) comes in having won four of his past six starts with a 2.21 ERA in that span. And as we all know, dude usually is pretty tough on the Bravos. At least I’ll see one hurler who knows what to do when he climbs the bump. And, it’s $1 hot-dog night. Clear me a path to the concession stand!
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Bud, I will just be glad when it is all over.
hey guys! live from turner field, down the line and behind the left field foul pole. sparce crowd on hand for the series finale. let’s see if this will post and if so, i’ll try to drop in during the game.
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Well, it could’ve been worse. Howard nearly made it up to us in the left field bleachers, but Prado, starting in left for the second night in a row, hauled it in. Still, 1-0 Phils going to bottom of the first.
Oops, meant to say 2-0 Phils. Braves got one back in the home half of the first. Chipper walked and scored on McCann’s double to right center with two outs.
Infante in again for Escobar at short.
Man, Ruiz just wears put the Braves. There’s a double down the line in right.
Oh, three dogs for me on $1 hot dog night. man, nothing beats a cheap hpt dog at the ballpark.
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Casey Kotchman’a first homer as a Brave tied the score at 2-2 in the second. In the fourth now and Hampton has settled down aftet his early troubles. Hamels is pitching well for the Phils.
May not be posting much longer. my two little ones and their cousin are getting tired.
Few more folks here now than at first pitch.
Good snag by Infante on Burrell’s ball.
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