Jared Wickerham - Getty Images
Don't worry, Ross. Heyward does that to a lot of pitchers.
Tim Hudson did what he does best today--get ground balls. He came into the game with a 64% groundball rate, best in the major leagues. And what did he do today? Only get 17 ground balls on 23 balls in play (good for 74%). What's more, almost none of them were hit very hard (I counted only 2 hard hit balls all night in 8 innings). It's no wonder that the Pirates couldn't muster much offense off of him. It's hard to put together big innings when you can't get the ball in the air (just ask the April 2010 Braves if you doubt that).
Tim struggled with his command a bit tonight, walking 4 guys (1 intentionally) in the second and third innings. However, he got the pitcher to ground out to end a bases-loaded threat in the 2nd and got a double play to end the 3rd. Which proves once again that if you're going to be walking guys, ground balls are your best friend. After the 3rd inning, Tim needed only 53 pitches to get 15 outs, walked nobody, and gave up just 2 weak hits to Bobby Crosby (1 bloop and 1 dribbler that barely made it out of the infield).
Hudson's final line: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB (1 IBB), 3 K, 109 pitches, and a 0.212 WPA. He also had an RBI single and a 0.028 WPA as a batter. A great night all around for Huddy.
On the other side of the ball, the Braves' bats greeted Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf rudely, and didn't let up until he was knocked out of the game. The first 3 batters reached--a Martin Prado double, a Jason Heyward walk, and a Chipper Jones RBI single. The Braves added 2 more in the third on a 2-run moon-shot of a homer by Heyward, driving in Prado (who had walked).
The nail in Ohlendorf's coffin came in the fourth, when the Braves added 3 more on Hudson's single, a Prado groundout, and a Heyward double. The double was a laser that nearly knocked down the right-field fence. Brian McCann completed the scoring with a solo homer in the 7th off of Jeff Karstens. Looks like Mac is seeing the ball just fine now.
Ohlendorf's final line: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 3 K, and a -0.299 WPA.
All in all, it was a pleasant, stress-free win. Since we can't win walk-offs when we're on the road, that's the best possible outcome. Awards after the jump.
Co-MVPs: Tim Hudson (stat line above) and Jason Heyward-- 3/4, 2B, HR, BB, R, 3 RBI, and a 0.211 WPA.
Honorable Mention: Martin Prado (3 runs scored, 0.105 WPA) and Brian McCann (2/5 with the homer)
LVP: Ohlendorf (stat line above)
MVPILEs: Bobby Crosby-- 2/3, BB, 0.024 WPA and Jeff Karstens-- 3.1 IP in relief, only 1 run allowed.
Clutch Play: Heyward's homer (0.151 WPA)
Unclutch Play: Garrett Jones grounding into a double play to end the 3rd (-0.091 WPA)
0 recs | 69 comments
the marlins lost
that means we’re alone in second place!
atl192485 - May 21, 2010
Hell yes! It’s amazing how quickly things are turning around.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
+22
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
HUZZAH!
Jacob Peterson - May 21, 2010
I wish I could've seen all of tonight's game....
At least I got to see Heyward’s HR, though.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
Craig Kimbrel down to AAA; Bobby wants him to get more work
Braves call Cristhian Martinez up from AAA
Scott Coleman - May 21, 2010 via mobile
For real?
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
The only good thing about that is that I’ll probably get to see him again in Norfolk next month.
Martinez? WTF?
Rhyno18 - May 21, 2010
Mvhs, i can never tell when you’re joking and when you’re serious.
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
Serious on this one.
Scott Coleman - May 21, 2010 via mobile
Thanks for clarifying
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
a day after his first major league win????
atl192485 - May 21, 2010
Buzzkill
GwinnettBraves - May 21, 2010
2ND PLACE BABY
YEA
Erihury - May 21, 2010
Not so bad, especially since the NL champs are in our division.
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
I remauin extremely happy that i drafted Hudson in my fantasy league.
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
*Remain
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
I second that. He’s rackin’ up points today!
djvog - May 21, 2010
this^
PhillyBrave - May 22, 2010
the chutes and ladders division
according to smoltzee
lingsched - May 21, 2010
Lol
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
hahahha
nice one, smoltzie. let’s get to the pet show first
atl192485 - May 21, 2010
Heyward stats in the game after he went 0-5 in previous game
6/7 2 HR 2B 3 BB… Sick
GwinnettBraves - May 21, 2010
Stat of the Day
The Braves are now 11-1 against NL Central teams other than the Cardinals. 2-1 against Chicago, 3-0 against Houston, 3-0 against Milwaukee, 2-0 against Cincinnati, and and 1-0 against Pittsburgh so far.
I can’t wait for the other 5 games against the Pirates coming up.
Jacob Peterson - May 21, 2010
everyone knew the NL central minus the cards were pretty bad
now, if we could only take care of business in our own division. next week in florida would be a good start.
atl192485 - May 21, 2010
The NL central stinks…
Except for the Cardinals. And with Pujols, holliday, wainwright and carpenter, people forget how good some of their other players are – Ludwick, Freese, Rasmus. The cards are really good…
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
Mr. Freeze fucking killed us in that last series….
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
He’ll give Heyward a run for his money as ROTY
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
Hahaha
Scott Coleman - May 21, 2010 via mobile
what?
did stephen strasburg change his name to stephen freeze?
atl192485 - May 21, 2010
Still
11-1 against any competition is pretty rad.
Agreed on the Cardinals. They’re the best team in the NL in my opinion.
Jacob Peterson - May 21, 2010
GASP!
Don’t let the Phillies’ fans hear you say that!
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
Phillies
are up there, don’t get me wrong. But the Cards’ pitching is much better and there is only 1 Pujols. The only way the Phils are better is if Holliday doesn’t come out of his slump.
Jacob Peterson - May 21, 2010
My above reply was a bit sarcastic....
I agree with you that the Cardinals are better than the Phillies. I think the Braves are better than the Phillies if they keep playing the way they have been in May. The rest of the world seems to think the Phillies are the greatest, though.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
It’s annoying for sure, but Philly has earned that right in the NL the last few seasons. To me, they are the best until proven otherwise.
Pavy848 - May 22, 2010
Carpenter+Wainwright+Pujols+? = World Series for the Redbirds this year.
I don’t think any other team in the NL can hang with them, despite what happened in the NLDS last year.
And it’s going to be a LOOOONG time before one of the Central Pretenders knocks them off their perch. Even if they got brass in pocket.
UMDBHIK - May 21, 2010
Nice to see how this team is turning around. Its awesome…
MBL1 - May 21, 2010
twins up on the brewers 15-3
and mauer has NO hits
atl192485 - May 21, 2010
Pretty impressive to have a little less than a quarter of your season eaten away by a losing streak and to still be 2 games over .500.
Nice job on the rebound, Braves.
get swoll yunel - May 21, 2010
If you take away the 9 game losing streak from the Braves, they would be 22-11, on pace to win 108 games.
elevenforbraves - May 22, 2010
Man
If only we could do that! Let’s institute a “mulligan rule”, in which each team can drop 1 losing streak from their record at the end of the season.
Jacob Peterson - May 22, 2010
We thought 26-24 after May would be very acceptable.
Right now, I think we can do better than that.
UMDBHIK - May 21, 2010
Shhhhhhhhh.....
Don’t jinx it!
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 21, 2010
9 games left...
and we’re 22-20 now.
2 @ Pitt
off day
3 @ Fla
3 vs Pirates
1 vs Phillies (2 more in June)
Realistically, we should go 4-1 in the games against Pittsburg, and then probably go 2-2 against Florida and the Phillies. That’d make us 28-23, which is fine with me.
Scott Coleman - May 21, 2010 via mobile
Lowe should take notes from Hudson. Great game all around by the Bravos. The lineup change is probably the best thing to happen to the team in a while.
romone_braves91 - May 21, 2010
Huddy's problem
Was less “control” and more “Bob Davidson should be umping home plate in a slo pitch softball league in Sheboygan.” He never lets stuff like that affect him for long, so I wasn’t worried but it was a little annoying for a while there.
Of the many recent good developments we’ve seen, I think BMac getting his mojo working is the best of the bunch.
Sam Jethroe - May 21, 2010
Agreed on Bmac
It was only a matter of time once he got his glasses. He seems back to normal now.
Jacob Peterson - May 21, 2010
My fantasy squad approves. I felt awful starting Pudge over BMac.
Scott Coleman - May 21, 2010 via mobile
Just got home from the game...
Will post some pics later, prolly. Loved Heyward’s homer and almost homer #2!!
Richard R - May 21, 2010
Just look at this big beautiful man;
as he trots around 2nd:
Richard R - May 22, 2010
Love, Love your pics
Love seeing your pics…keep it up.
jaleemom - May 22, 2010
Game Thread tomorrow?
Is there going to be one up although no showing of the game on TV?
romone_braves91 - May 22, 2010 via mobile
I would sure think so
Scott Coleman - May 22, 2010 via mobile
Sooo….what are our options for keeping track of the game?
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 22, 2010
MLB At Bat app, gameday, espn tracker and the radio
Scott Coleman - May 22, 2010 via mobile
Oh hell yes.
We’ve got to do something
Jacob Peterson - May 22, 2010
If Roberto had worn #19
Jason would’ve had two homers.
I didn’t know that little detail about the park. Very cool gesture to one of the greats of the game.
Sam Jethroe - May 22, 2010
nah, still just one
The porch is short to make it 321 I think—-a normal park, he still hits one, it is just the other one. That might still be in the air now….
cavebird - May 22, 2010
Looks like the mets and nationals trip to fantasy land is over
Turning into the three team race it was meant to be. Phils are trying to run away with the division. So far were not letting them. I know the phils are the team to beat, but damn, the fish have always bothered me. They’ve allways seemed to have our number. There fans don’t care, there owner won’t pay a player more then minimum wage. Yet they allways have a fresh, young crop of superstars that make them good year after year. Maybe we could work out a trade. Melky for their entire scouting department? Whatever they pay them, it’s not enough
Frozen Fan - May 22, 2010
What up with those Marlins
The Marlins have always made me wonder. How can they always beat the braves? Don’t forget the Nats…they can sometimes be a problems for the braves too.
jaleemom - May 22, 2010
BBs?
Is anybody else concerned by the fact that Hudson is walking so many people? Other than that, he’s looked crazy good, but he’s been missing the corners pretty bad.
elevenforbraves - May 22, 2010
Well, his pitches have great movement on them which is good. Plus the Umpiring this year has been, lets say inconsistent at minimum.
Pavy848 - May 22, 2010
Agreed that the umps have been incosistent so far. But if he is inducing grounders instead of fly balls, he’ll be ok. Also, 4 walks in 8 innings is not terrible. Not great either.
DawgB - May 22, 2010
Well, if you don’t count the IBB, then 3 walks is pretty good.
Pavy848 - May 22, 2010
Yeah, forgot about that one.
DawgB - May 22, 2010
I am concerned with you. Last night the backfield helped him out of a lot of bases loaded situation. We know that is a dam just waiting to break.
jaleemom - May 22, 2010
Um. So he had exactly 1 bases loaded situation. And that was only because Bobby intentionally walked the #8 hitter to get to the pitcher. So it wasn’t really that dangerous, given that the pitcher was 4 for 70 in his career coming in. The “backfield” made some plays for him, sure, but that is what they are supposed to do. Tim didn’t really get lucky in his two rough innings—he made good pitches that got ground balls.
Jacob Peterson - May 22, 2010
Heyward's Big Head Sign at the Game
If any of you saw this on TV – pop over to this thread and let the guy know.
==> http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/5/20/1480309/heyward-big-head
NCChopper - May 22, 2010
Anyone ever noticed.....
that Fred Hickman pronounces the word “mustache” weird?
Shoert - May 22, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.