The Braves finally won a start for Javier Vazquez, his first win since May 20th. The Cubs had their seeing-eye-single bats working tonight, and ended the night with 10 hits, but not a one seemed to be hit too hard, just properly placed. Ten singles with no runs to show for it is something the Braves are very familiar with. Luckily this time it didn't happen to them.
The Braves offense took advantage of several run scoring opportunities with the new guy, Nate McLouth, in the middle of it all. A leadoff walk to Diory Hernandez in the third inning, and a perfect sac bunt by Vazquez, allowed McLouth to drive in Hernandez to give the Braves the lead. In the seventh, McLouth got the inning going with a one-out double, then moved to third on a Martin Prado single, and finally scored on a sac fly by Chipper Jones.
Vazquez worked his way in and out of trouble all night, but he used the strikeout to escape jams and didn't really give up any hard-hit balls, the hits just found holes. Peter Moylan bailed Vazquez out of a two-out, two-on situation in the seventh by getting Derek Lee to fly out. Mike Gonzalez looked sharp in the eighth, and Rafael Soriano, despite giving up a seeing-eye single and a walk, struck out the side to end the game.
It was a good win for the Braves, who needed a good start to this homestand. It only gets harder, but it should be a lot of fun.
Yunel Escobar sat out the game with a strained hip flexor, the same injury that limited him earlier in the season, and Kelly Johnson left the game with bilateral cramps.
0 recs | 23 comments
Go Bravos
Bump. The. Cubbies.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - June 22, 2009
it's just not fair
The way Vazquez has pitched lately, for him to be 5-6 is a crime. Dude should be an all star. At least he got a win tonight.
beeswax - June 22, 2009
Another reason why W-L should be irrelevant in a pitcher's statistics repertoire.
sdp - June 22, 2009
i think thats becoming much more the case with FAs and in trades. How do Javy and KK have the same number of wins? Sure, KK has been pretty damn good as of late, but Javy has been dominate in 60% of his starts this year.
Scott Coleman - June 22, 2009
Yeah, KK has been pretty good lately.
3.94 ERA in his last five starts.
Just like GA has an .812 OPS in the last 28 days.
I’m not saying you are saying this obviously, but I’m tired of people ragging on GA and KK because they obviously haven’t been paying attention to what they have been doing lately and can only remember the bad from earlier in the season.
bbxxj - June 23, 2009
I havn’t heard as much GA bashing as of late, and the people who are still doing it simply don’t know what they’re talking about. He looks like a different person in the batter’s box.
Smoltz's Beard - June 23, 2009
The defense hasn’t changed, which probably is what gets to alot of people. But you’re right, he’s been great at the plate lately.
10-4 - June 23, 2009
2-2 on our stretch of hell
ill be happy with a 7-6 record. Pissed at anything worse than 6-7. and ecstatic with anything above 9-4.
Scott Coleman - June 22, 2009
It would be fine with me if the Braves took this opportunity to reel off 10 straight wins. They could just shoot into first place before the all-star break.
Bronn - June 22, 2009
That’s optimism I can get behind.
AuditDawg - June 23, 2009
Thank goodness we get to see the dregs of the Yankees rotation
Wang has turned into a meatball dispenser because his sinker stays about belt-high all the time, Chamberlain is just ehh and should at the very least get us into the Yankees’ miserable pen quickly, and Pettitte isn’t what he used to be. Now, if our pitchers can step up like they have all season, this should be a fun series to watch.
was385 - June 23, 2009
I am really excited to see Hanson pitch again and have a good shot at the win.
bbxxj - June 23, 2009
Re: Yankees Rotation
And yet…Sadly the only game I’m truly optimistic about is the one against Wang. Wang we should be able to tee off on a la Dice-K last weekend. Joba & Pettitte…I’m a little less open about. Joba will only go 5 innings, but likely they’ll be decent-to-good ones against the horribly inept offense we’re throwing out there right now. In regards to Pettitte, we really REALLY just never hit lefties. Ever. Period. Here’s to hopes of a 2-1 record against the Yanks.
b1eedb1ack - June 23, 2009
.706 Team OPS vs righties
.738 Team OPS vs lefties
We actually hit lefties better.
bbxxj - June 23, 2009
+1
“Meatball dispenser” is classic.
Smoltz's Beard - June 23, 2009
Javy is REALLY impressive with the bat...
10 sacs already this year in 15 starts, and he’s only struck out 76 times in 461 career ABs…that’s mighty good for a guy who makes his living with his arm.
MichaelProcton - June 23, 2009
maybe he should give KJ some hitting lessons.
Scott Coleman - June 23, 2009
or any of the regulars that don’t understand how to sacrifice bunt
AuditDawg - June 23, 2009
Agreed…I’ve been very impressed with his ability to lay down the sacrifice.
Smoltz's Beard - June 23, 2009
McLouth is a disappointment, and Vazquez should be traded.
Smoltz's Beard - June 23, 2009
and...
Give Francoeur an extension today!
BahamaBrave - June 23, 2009
Someone should give Kelly a Midol for his bilateral cramps.
Tim Goad - June 23, 2009
Or Francoeur one for his sore vagina.
(insert Glavine or Smoltz as desired)
MichaelProcton - June 23, 2009
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