One of the best pitchers in baseball, you say? A pitcher who was truly All-Star worth? Yes. The ace of one of the strongest pitching staffs in baseball? Yep. But could he be beaten tonight in Atlanta? No. That's because I'm talking about Jair Jurrjens. The other guy, Tim Lincecum, was a mere human tonight thanks to the hottest offensive unit in the NL this month -- the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves' offense did some striking out tonight, but between those strikeouts -- expected against the major league leader in strikeouts -- they got more crucial two-out RBIs from two of their big guns. Brian McCann started the scoring in the first with a run scoring single after Chipper Jones had advanced into scoring position with a well-timed stolen base.
Yunel Escobar had the big two-out hit in the third inning -- a three-run homerun to right-center. Yunel enjoyed that homerun too, he rounded the bases mighty slowly, but the Giants didn't seem fazed by it.
The real story of the night was Jair Jurrjens. After a second inning single by the Giants' lead-off hitter, Jurrjens sat down 17 batters in a row, and was completely dominant until running out of gas (112 pitches) in the eighth inning. He matched Lincecum with 9 strikeouts, while only walking one and giving up 3 hits -- 3 HITS! He was nearly unhittable tonight, and he and McCann had a good plan for attacking the Giants' batters -- something the Braves have done well all series.
Mike Gonzalez came on to relieve Jurrjens and allowed one of his runners to score on an infield dribbler. Rafael Soriano gave up a rare hit in the ninth, but rallied to strikeout the last batter and record his 14th save of 2009, which ties the team-high for a single reliever (Gonzalez) from last season.
A business man's special tomorrow as the Braves go for the sweep.
0 recs | 54 comments
ska-doosh!!!
Go Bravos. Vote 10, baby. Let’s do this.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 22, 2009
nice, I like it
GoBravesNY - July 22, 2009
an idea for tomorrow
call up KJ and Barbaro, send down NOrton and Diory.
start KJ at 2nd, marteeen at 3rd and Barbaro at 1st. give mac some rest and play rossy. also give Mclouth the day off and put church in cf.
this could get our guys some rest. no one has had an off day since the ASG. plus its barry zito, so the righties would have a field day.
just saying…
if not, play the starters and get the sweep nice and easy.
Scott Coleman - July 22, 2009 via mobile
Agreed
nick9314 - July 22, 2009
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how well we’ve done with our “second string” players. Cox seems to give random position players the off when Mac sits, ever notice that?
rhinoskin - July 22, 2009
that’s good stuff. Tell Bobby. Our schedule is packed, with little
to nodays off.Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 22, 2009
Diorys not going anywhere until Infante is ready. Bowman says its probably going to be Norton, which makes sense to me.
garriscp - July 22, 2009
Norton hadn’t played in the field this year, and hadn’t done anything with the bat. Time to thank him for what he did last year and send him on his way.
Braves bench gets even better with Kelly coming back, if he brings the hot stick he had in Gwinnett.
Bronn - July 22, 2009
well DOB said
BMac is getting the day off tomorrow. we’ll see about the rest of the guys.
Scott Coleman - July 23, 2009
Diory
isnt going anywhere. He is our only back up SS
If they release Norton and call up KJ. Then Bobby will prob still play chipper. He doesnt usually like to take BOTH Chip and Mac out of the lineup in the same game.
However it would most likely be Conrad at 2nd with Prado at 3rd if he does. Simply to keep an abundance of RH batters in the line up. With the whole middle of our lineup (Chip, Mac, GA) on the bench you will likely see Escobar not start the first game of our next series because i dont think Bobby will take ALL of our players out of the game.
It would be nice to see a lineup of
Prado 3B
Conrad 2B
McLouth CF
Escobar SS
Diaz LF
Church RF
Ross C
Kotchman 1B
drumzalicious - July 23, 2009
Words?
I do not know how to express my excitement about how we are playing.
Someone spend the twenty seconds to run us some numbers about the last time the Braves were 6-1 or when we had a month like the current (13-6)? Seems like such an unusual feeling, but almost as if I’ve felt it before… long long ago.
rhinoskin - July 22, 2009
As long as we can dismantle the Phils, and rape the Nats, we’re gravy. We can beat any team right now. Can’t wait to play the Dodgers. Peeps will talk after that series.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 22, 2009
it was only a matter of time...
…before it all came together. And now, my friends, it’s coming together.
beeswax - July 22, 2009
You know i think i would enjoy hittin a 3 run bomb off of one of the best young pitchers in the game in Lincecum as well. I would be joggin mighty slowly myself.
rockybull - July 22, 2009
I was wondering
If I was the only one noticing how slowly Yunel took his round. He almost walked from 3rd to home. I was actually pretty confident he would get beaned in his next at bat.
ATLandUNC - July 22, 2009
lol, he was just enjoyin the moment, he might get beaned tomorrow. Maybe not but its possible. I know opposin teams dont like him cause of his attitude and stuff but i mean if they can put up with guys like Manny(although he quit on his own team in Boston) and then Bonds when he was playin then i think they can handle and get used to Esco which is not near as bad.
rockybull - July 22, 2009
Just watched the DVR and if anyone has access to the game, check it out. Lincecum clearly calls Escobar a bitch after his strikes him out in his 3rd AB. I guess he just takes to insults instead of beaning people. To each his own.
ATLandUNC - July 22, 2009
Bitch!
rhinoskin - July 22, 2009
How did he end up with a grass stain on his butt?
ATLandUNC - July 22, 2009
Uggh, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: that hair on Lincecum is by no means becoming.
soup du jour - July 22, 2009
I was wondering if anyone else caught that. I hit rewind a couple of times and couldn’t figure out if he called him a bitch or said something about the “pitch”. Good stuff, though. If they trade Escobar, I may really show up on Wren’s doorstep.
Bobby Cocks - July 22, 2009
He said bitch. I DVR-ed the game and replayed it 5 or 6 times. he said bitch, and we was looking towards home plate.
esco is about 6 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier. not to mention a lil crazy at times. i wouldnt call him a bitch.
Scott Coleman - July 22, 2009
lol
Well thats why Lince didn’t call him a bitch to his face, thats why he said it wayyyyy away from him.
rockybull - July 22, 2009
ya, with Esco’s back most likely turned towards him.
Scott Coleman - July 22, 2009
Only the Pirates or Mets would trade a guy like that right now. LOL
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 22, 2009
Can't help but like Yunel
With the way he’s playing. But if he didn’t play for the Braves, I’m sure I’d really dislike him.
I don’t want to get rid of him because his glove and his bat are both on fire, but it wouldn’t hurt if he’d work a bit on his attitude. I’m just not used to Braves players who admire their home runs and celebrate before reaching the dugout (with the exception of walk-offs). Showing a little emotion is okay, but doing it directly in front of the pitcher always gets you into trouble.
Perhaps he just is what he is, and I’ll take it-but aside from guys like Deion Sanders and Kelly Lofton, I’ve always been able to genuinely admire the men who play for the Braves, without reservations.
Bronn - July 22, 2009
yunel
you know, before the game don sutton was talking about how yunel and brooks conrad visited with some kids in a children’s hospital earlier today, and how yunel really went out of his way to be really sweet to the kids. i guess the guy has some heart after all.
Bravely going forward - July 22, 2009
the guy has alot of heart already, though. but yeah. those pics up on the official site are awesome. those guys made their young lives.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 22, 2009
yeah, i guess i just wouldn’t have expected him to be first in line for something like this, but it just goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover
Bravely going forward - July 22, 2009
The article was really good. I liked how he said he would be thinking of the kids when he plays now. And i didn’t notice if he did it on the homerun, but i have noticed that he’s not flipping his bat as much now.
10-4 - July 23, 2009
Tonight's game had a playoff vibe to it from the first pitch.
Loved JJ’s performance and the fact we rewarded him for it with a WIN.
I would love nothing better than to finish this home stand with not only the series, but a Sweep of the Giants before the sun goes down.
NCChopper - July 22, 2009
Final Score
should credit the Giants with another run.
VivaLosBravos - July 22, 2009
yep noticed that too
dolphinsinbuffalo - July 22, 2009
meh. either way, we Won.
8 P
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 22, 2009
Waiting for that minor league thread
Don’t want to spoil it, but the top two Braves’ prospects both had good nights…
Bronn - July 22, 2009
its up now..
Scott Coleman - July 22, 2009
Cubbies tried to help
But decided that the Phillies relievers were amazing yesterday but not today.
cubsfaninatl - July 22, 2009
They obviously
thought it was 1997 the way they laid down for Chan-Ho Park. But hey, they really went nuts today with their offense.
The Braves finally gained a game on the Phillies, something they haven’t done since sweeping them, before the Phillies reeled off 14 out of 15.
Bronn - July 22, 2009
Not much to say...
…except that the Braves rule. Look out, NL.
Jareth Cutestory - July 22, 2009
if only the Phillies would lose more than 1 out of 10 games. If we won 6/7 a month or two ago, we would be in 1st place by 5 games.
Scott Coleman - July 22, 2009
that’s a good shot
the best
javy v……one of our many secret weapons
Let’s sweep these fools. Especially you, Winny.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 23, 2009
p.s.
I know Javy isn’t pitching tomorrow. Just a random shot. I’m in a good mood.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 23, 2009
A better mood than Pablo Sandoval
judging by that facial expression.
VivaLosBravos - July 23, 2009
Amazin' Avenue Failcoeur animation
Oh boy. FYF pulled up short on a liner and turtled and they’re none too pleased.
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2009/7/23/958855/failcoeur-nationals-3-mets-1
eglenn - July 23, 2009
still..
kk is pitching 2morro i wouldnt be too excited. im shocked we just dont trade him for a bat along with kj, and just let medlin come into a zone till hudson is ready.
ca$hmere36 - July 23, 2009
uh what?
Im trying to recall the last time he gave up more than 3 runs in a game . . .
drumzalicious - July 23, 2009
Yeah, what kk are you watching?
10-4 - July 23, 2009
ken kawakami is da man.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - July 23, 2009
Church should have had the final out though and he’s lucky it didn’t end up costing the Braves more than 1 run in the 9th.
The Braves scoring 4 run on Lincecum is amazing!! Yunel continues to amaze.
Sparhawk - July 23, 2009
Have yourself a homestand, Atlanta.
For pete’s sake don’t blow a great thing against fargin’ Zito.
kalesi - July 23, 2009
JJ rocks
Another gorgeous pitching performance, a pleasure to watch.
WienerDog - July 23, 2009
Biggest win of the season so far!
I think that this was the biggest win of the season so far for us. As well as we had been hitting, we had been hitting against some pretty low quality starting pitching. We hit well against all the Mets starters, minus Johan, and we had hit the Giants well so far, but hadn’t faced their big 2. Last night we got the chance and we came up with the big hits when we needed them and I think the players probably proved to themselves that they can get those hits. Yunel keeps ripping it up and I love it. I think he may end up being out team MVP this year despite all of his mental lapses. When he puts it all together he is really going to be something. Great confidence booster for JJ as well, beating the reigning Cy Young winner and probably the front runner for this year so far. As if JJ neded the confidence booster anyway, but awesome for him and great to see us score him some runs early. As long as we can keep the Phillies within our sights with 9 games left against them this year I’m really confident. Especially considering they have proved that even though they have the best offense in the game, they can’t hit our pitching.
michaelcooksey - July 23, 2009
this rotation > 95 rotation
No, we don’t have the 1-2-3 punch of GM, JS, TG, but one through five is straight quality. Jair looked filthy last night. That was the best I’ve seen him all year. Explosive fastball, wicked changeup.
Lowe was the best I’ve seen him all year last night.
Ditto for Hanson. Kawakami is a superb #5 and Vazquez has been an ace all seasaon long.
What a rotation.
nathan rothschild - July 23, 2009
Lowe was the best I’ve seen him all year last night.
> 2 nights ago
nathan rothschild - July 23, 2009
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