The Braves got off to a good start to this game on the very first pitch, which leadoff hitter Nate McLouth drilled for a homerun. Atlanta won the battle of the Japanese starters as Kenshin Kawakami out-dueled Daisuke Matsuzaka. Kawakami racked up another quality start while holding the Red Sox to just two hits, only running into real trouble in the sixth. Matsuzaka continued his ineffectiveness by allowing 6 runs on 8 hits, including 5 extra base hits.
The Braves took no chances with their lead by turning to Peter Moylan, Rafael Soriano, and Mike Gonzalez, in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to finish out the game. Each of those pitchers racked up 2 strikeouts a piece, combined with Kawa's K's Atlanta pitching struck out 11 Red Sox on the night.
In addition to the great pitching, the offense also contributed with 8 runs. Garret Anderson was 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs, and the top-4 batters in front of him in the lineup combined for 7 hits, 6 runs, and 3 RBIs. If there was any bad news out of this game, it's that the bottom four guys in the order were 1-for-14, though they did manage 3 walks.
It was a good win for the Braves -- the offense clicked just as much as the pitching. Despite the lower half of the order taking the night off, the guys at the top, including the all-important McLouth, carried the load for Atlanta.
0 recs | 33 comments
Savvy?
Chief Noc-A-Homa - June 19, 2009
Can you say Martin Prado at 2nd base? I had no clue KJ’s average was like .225 and his obp is less than .300. Yikes
Scott Coleman - June 19, 2009
what he said
Zeus12888 - June 19, 2009
..........yeah.
Kelly still walked, though. I think he’s getting his “eye” back, on a hunch.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - June 19, 2009
well since he's busy getting his "eye" back
maybe he could work on getting his “swing” back too if it isn’t too much of a problem.
Scott Coleman - June 19, 2009
+1
In the past I’ve advocated for KJ full time but at this point, Prado needs to get more at-bats. The Braves should use KJ sparingly until he breaks out of this funk and at that point, look at getting him more at-bats.
was385 - June 19, 2009
You could say it, I suppose...
But you’d discount the fact that he’s a butcher there, much more so than Kelly, whose defense people are always complaining about.
MichaelProcton - June 20, 2009
I sear, the guy has a game where he draws 2 walks and sees 20 pitches in 4 PA, in a game where the team wins big, and he’s the first thing you complain about?
Lennox - June 20, 2009
I’m still facepalming at using Moylan, Soriano, and Gonzo on back to back days with leads of 7-0 and 8-2. Great job Bobby.
10-4 - June 19, 2009
amen
cant wait to blow a lead tomorrow night because Soriano and Gonzo cant go back-to-back-to-back nights. Jeff Bennet time baby! Get your wads of gum/dip/seeds/whatever the F is in his cheek every night
Scott Coleman - June 19, 2009
Yeah, I'm getting sick of that
Medlen and Acosta are plenty good enough to hold down 6 and 7 run leads. Gonzo and Soriano are going to be exhausted by the time they have to come in to save a 1-run lead and a slurve or a slider is gonna get left out over the plate due to how frequently they’re used, and bam, home run to tie the game.
BravesRaleigh - June 20, 2009
They'll be fine, guys...
Pitching in low-pressure situations is not as hard as high-pressure situations. It wouldn’t be any better if they had to try and mop up an EOF or Medlen disaster.
MichaelProcton - June 20, 2009
3 inning in 3 days….its gonna be OK
NYSaint - June 20, 2009
Has anyone else noticed...
That Kawakami steps up his pitching in big-time matchups? That’s really cool to see. Overall he’s been pretty good after his first few starts, but has had lousy run support.
I don’t remember any of KJ’s past slumps lasting this long or being this bad, I could be wrong though. He’ll get hot eventually, he always does. Maybe you guys are right though, Prado and Infante(when he’s back) would probably help the team more.
In a Flash - June 19, 2009
KK should be something like 7-5
The bullpen and offense must hate the guy, cause they always kill his chances at winning a game. Isnt this his 6th straight quality start?
Scott Coleman - June 20, 2009
No
He only lasted 5 innings his last start before today, at Baltimore. But if he has one streak going for him, it’s that he has not allowed more than 3 earned runs since April 26th (span of 9 starts!!!).
RaffyGonzo - June 20, 2009
3.35 ERA for Kawakami if you exclude April. And he’s been able to get the walks down a bit so his WHIP is falling too.
beeswax - June 20, 2009
He’s really settling in as a very solid mid to back end of the rotation pitcher.
was385 - June 20, 2009
I think he has the lowest run support on our team and i think leads the majors in lowest run support. i would have to double check tho
drumzalicious - June 20, 2009
KK and JJ
I bet our run support ends when JJ comes up, he gets NOTHING. We lose 1-0 and 2-1 with him pitching, we might as well let our position players pitch and go down 20-0.
BravesRaleigh - June 20, 2009
Yeah I did first
When he went up against Roy Hal in Toronto! He pitched in a pitcher’s dues (inotherwords he did not get much run support). I said then he should be facing everyone’s no.1……but he choked against the Big Unit….(that just don’t sound right!) Head line aside, He has started to adjust to the strike zone here…let us see if the team can get him more runs and if he can go deeper (7 or 8 innings) but I would agree with you “Flash” that he is our No.3 or 4….but we need him to pitch like our No.2!
bravestatoo - June 20, 2009
I know a lot are puzzled over the use of Moylan/Soriano/Gonzo
But what’s the deal with Bobby using Moylan SO much. After today’s game (noted it’s #66), he has racked up 35 total appearances. That is RIDICULOUS and if this pace continues (see no reason why not), he will have around 85-87 appearances under his belt.
If there is one guy the bullpen is missing, it’s Jorge Campillo.
RaffyGonzo - June 20, 2009
He's the closest thing to a DP option we've got...
And you know how much Bobby likes using a pitcher for one out to get a grounder and get out of the inning. Remember Chad Paronto? So while he’s made a lot of apps, yeah, he’s only on pace to throw 61 innings, which really isn’t a huge workload.
MichaelProcton - June 20, 2009
Yeah, but it’s not the innings, but the amount of pitches he throws. Not to mention all the warm-up tossing too. It all takes a toll on a pitcher’s arm during a very long season. Why couldn’t kawakami pitch into the 7th? He only threw 83 pitches last night before he took him out.
There is no reason to bring in Soriano and Gonzo when they pitched the day before. Bobby is ridiculous in how he handles the bullpen.
BravesFan - June 20, 2009
Because he was wearing down in the 6th.
MichaelProcton - June 20, 2009
I agree about Campillo.
Mainly because i would prefer Medlen be in AAA as a starter instead in the majors as a reliever
drumzalicious - June 20, 2009
When the fuck is Campillo going to be back? The WBC really fucked his ass.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - June 20, 2009
He’s on the 60 day DL apparently. Must be something big. Anyone know?
BravesFan - June 20, 2009
I take back all the evil things I have said about Anderson
for now….
gramsey712 - June 20, 2009
I loved that ump last night
He seems like one of THE FEW that has a consistent strike zone, and actually called balls and strikes.
It’s not that hard, you fucking CHumps.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - June 20, 2009
i thought the same thing actually
Bravely going forward - June 20, 2009
Beckett tonight
See if the Braves can shell Beckett. THAT would be a gooid indicator of where we are headed, although he was knocked around in his last start. GO Braves, would be a nice time to get on a roll.
chicken little - June 20, 2009
Thia was a great game. I was atop the green monster to see it!
BeantownVol - June 21, 2009
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