Mar 27 2009
Lowe sharp, bully dull as Braves blow big lead to Jays
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
Toronto 7, Atlanta 5 (exhibition)
Top of the Order: Derek Lowe sparkled through six strong innings, but the Atlanta bullpen fell apart (again) in the final two innings as the Braves blew a four-run lead.
The Good: Gonna start with Lowe, who was plenty good: The Braves’ No. 1 starter gave up five hits and one run in six strong innings, walking no one while striking out seven. Blaine Boyer is ready for the season, folks: the Atlanta native allowing nothing in a perfect seventh with a strikeout, his ERA still at 0.00. Kelly Johnson broke out of a mini-slump with a three-hit day, scoring twice. Yunel Escobar went 2-for-3 with a run scored and stole his first base of the spring. Chipper Jones drove in two runs, one on a sac fly to deep center; one on an infield single. Lowe helped himself with a two-run single. Jordan Schafer went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and threw out a runner at home plate. Off the field, the Braves cut eight players from the major-league spring roster, including super-phenom Tommy Hanson, Jo-Jo Reyes (who may have been the best pitcher in all of camp), and youngsters Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.
The Bad: Doesn’t anybody want to be the left-handed set-up guy in the bullpen? You wouldn’t know it from the way Boone Logan and Eric O’Flaherty have pitched lately. Thursday, it was Logan’s turn to make a mess of things, allowing four hits and three runs with a walk in 2/3 of an inning. Prospect Kris Medlen endured his roughest outing of the spring, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 inning. Escobar and Matt Diaz committed fielding errors. The Braves had plenty of chances to blow this one open, leaving eight runners on base.
View from the Sports Garage: Nine days to go until this thing starts for real … you guys ready? I think the Braves are, for the most part. I know I am. Writing about spring training games is fun in late February. By the last week of March, you’re looking to get into covering the real deal. But it’s safe to say the Braves still don’t have much guidance on the left-handed set-up spot. I mean, I thought Logan was a lock before last weekend, and I could have seen where both Logan and O’Flaherty made the opening-day roster – Atlanta doesn’t need Tom Glavine until April 19, so he’ll probably go on the disabled list while he gets ready and that opens up another spot on the pitching staff. But right now, I’m about ready to find Will Ohman’s cell phone number and give him a call. Certainly, Terry McGuirk has a million or so somewhere that can go toward bringing Ohman back, no? Anyway, hate to see the game get away like yesterday’s did, but Lowe pitched well, Chipper hit the ball well, KJ had a great game at the top of the order … wish it was this time next weekend, honestly.
On deck
Braves vs. Tigers
1:05 p.m. today, Lake Buena Vista
The Skinny: It’s Glavine’s turn to climb the bump, and everybody will be watching to see how the only active 300-game winner in the bigs responds to his second-consecutive start. Glavine shut out the Mets during three shutout innings on Saturday.
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