The Braves did all of their damage in the seventh inning, scoring six runs and batting around. Up to that point the bats were flat as Florida starter Nate Robertson limited the Braves to just one run on two hits, and one of those hits was a Brian McCann bunt to the left side of the infield when the Marlins had the over-shift on. But in the sixth inning the Braves victimized the Florida bullpen. It took the Fish three relievers to make it through the inning. The Braves used their patience and a little luck. They got three walks that inning -- all of which scored -- and five singles. The first single came off the bat of Yunel Escobar, and was a ball that the opposing shortstop had a hard time getting out of his glove.
Escobar came up to bat a second time in that inning and came through with his second hit. Yunel had collected just two hits in his previous eight games (spanning 28 at-bats), and he serves up two hits in one inning tonight. Troy Glaus also broke an 0-for-14 slump in the seventh inning with a key two-run single.
As good as the Marlins starting pitcher threw on the night, Braves starter Tommy Hanson struggled, and for a moment in the first inning it looked like he might have a repeat of that disaster in the first inning. Again with two outs Hanson gave up an opposite field line drive solo homerun to Hanley Ramirez, then allowed three straight walks. He looked completely spooked after that homerun. His pitches were all over the place, but he finally pulled it together and struck out the final man in the inning.
Hanson settled down some, but ran into a few more rough spots. He did manage to go six innings, which is another testament to the way he battles through games. He ended up only giving up four hits in his six innings of work, though he did issue five walks. Hanson might be overthrowing in those tight situations. He seems to be more effective when he backs off his fastball just a bit.
Overall it was a good night for the Braves. Thank goodness for the seventh inning rally, otherwise it would have been another rough night. Escobar made it on base three times, and Melky Cabrera and Brian McCann also contributed two hits apiece. Chipper Jones, though, continues to struggle, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a walk. He looked quite fooled on those two strikeouts, and rather unsettled all night at the plate. He needs to get it going. I'll once again call for him to be moved down a bit in the lineup. Maybe not bottom third, but fifth or sixth.
Braves go for the series win tomorrow night with Tim Hudson on the mound.
0 recs | 53 comments
Chipper/Heyward Swap
Chipper seems to be swinging at balls and looking at strikes a lot right now, so a move is probably necessary but why not bat Chipper second for awhile, hopefully get him some more fastballs in front of J-Hey and see what happens. I just don’t see 5th or 6th working because he’ll be in the same run producing situations he is struggling in right now. Get him on-base for Heyward instead of the other way around.
McLouth Maniac - May 26, 2010
Only if Chipper agrees to it
Good idea switching Chipper and J-Hey. But I doubt this will happen unless Chipper agrees to it. Bobby Cox has shuffled the line up when the Braves were not hitting but never touched Chipper at the 3rd spot though he too was struggling.
rubbles88 - May 26, 2010
It's overdue
We are not going to win anything this year with Chipper Jones batting third the way he is.
Richie Grogan - May 26, 2010
He’s already given his say-so. It was Bobby who said there’s really no difference between the 2 and 3 hitters and refused to make the swap.
J-Freak - May 26, 2010 via mobile
Yeah, they reported on one of the TV games that Chipper actually suggested this.
McGriff the Crime Dog - May 27, 2010
Bobby's interview
Said Glaus has a problem foot, McCann has a quad bothering him. Hope neither turns serious.
bighop - May 26, 2010
That foot looked ok going second to home in the 7th.
10-4 - May 27, 2010
Good
hope it isnt a lingering thing otherwise we will see Lance Berkman threads popping up
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
yeah
It was weird, because when he drew the BB, he was basically hobbling over to first. But he was hauling down the 3rd base line towards home. Must not be that bad.
Fatvirus - May 27, 2010
Not Surprised
Especially by the Glaus problem. He’s such a big man. And he’s really had a history of injury problems. I’m really surprised he started and appeared in as many games as he has already this season. He was hurt a lot in Toronto – though I though he had knee problems there. And of course the shoulder last year etc. Hope he’ll be alright. Really don’t expect McCann to be in the line-up tonight…its unfortunate cause Mac was finally starting to turn the corner.
Nova Scotia Steve - May 27, 2010
I wonder if there is a stat for?
Number of times reached base due to fielders error. Heyward would have to be high on the list. Great win! Tommy scared me a little tonight. Suck it Florida!!
Frozen Fan - May 26, 2010
Viva los Bravos
I want Phillie.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - May 26, 2010
I dunno
they seem due to bust out the big bats
TradeAndruw - May 26, 2010
Let 'em phucking bring it.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - May 27, 2010
Phuckin A right
The road to the division title goes through Philly. Can’t be scared. Take the Marlins tomorrow, take the pirates series, then show the phils what the other side of the wood shed looks like. If this team wants to be champions, this week would be a perfect opportunity to send the message.
Frozen Fan - May 27, 2010
I am not an expert by any means but it seems like Hanson has better control when his fastball is around 91-93 mph compared to 94-97 mph. His slider was not good at all for majority of the night. Having said all of this, Hanson was still good enough for the win. That’s all that really matters, the Win.
romone_braves91 - May 26, 2010
nice to see esco melky and heap with multi-hit games. we need these guys to get it going
Slee - May 26, 2010
Melky
has been really good on the road trip. It was good to see him get another start in place of McLouth, who has really been fighting it lately and is also apparently nursing an injury.
Jacob Peterson - May 26, 2010
He's looked really good lately.
We got good contributions from most of the recent whipping boys in this game.
Sam Jethroe - May 27, 2010
Didn’t McClouth start and play the whole game in center? I didn’t see the game, just looked at the box score. I assumed Melky started in left b/c of the lefty Robertson,
CharlotteChop - May 27, 2010
Yes, Melky started in place of Hinske.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
Chip
Never thought this would happen — The Melk Man with a better avg than Chipper at this point…WOW! Bobby please please please drop him in the lineup.
BBLoyolaMD - May 26, 2010
I’m glad the Braves won the game tonight to make me feel a little better about my tv.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 26, 2010
I wasn't expecting that come back
It looked like another long-night was in store for fans in Braves land – Good game to win.
Nova Scotia Steve - May 27, 2010
Good win tonight— now let’s win tomorrow and take our first intra-division series of the year. Only 2.5 games out of first place!
Jacob Peterson - May 26, 2010
Very fortunate the phils have lost four straight. The division is tight. No team in the east has a losing record
Frozen Fan - May 27, 2010
I would like to let everyone know
that right now Chipper Jones has a .250 BAbip his career BAbip is .316
That is all.
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
That might the due to bad luck a little bit, but it won’t go up much until he starts hitting the ball hard.
Southern IN Chopper - May 27, 2010
wait...
if SLG is a measure of power, and Chip’s SLG is down, (.336, career .537)……
and his Babip follows the same trend……..
could it be possible that BAbip is not a measure of luck?
could it be that merely putting the ball in play doesn’t guarantee a 3/10 chance of a base hit?
Sorry for being a complete ass, but I really hate BABIP, and I think it should leave because I was here first.
someguy1 - May 27, 2010
Chipper’s ISO is a whopping .117.
For contrast sake: McLouth’s ISO is .124 and he is having arguably a worse offensive season.
Pavy848 - May 27, 2010
Heres my problem with the babip argument with chipper. Someone said he has like 13 warning track flyouts this year. Two years ago those balls probably leave the park or hit the wall. Basically he’s added 13 balls in play that he normally wouldnt have and he’s 0-13 on them. So that isn’t luck, thats him not hitting the ball as far as he used to be able to.
bpk228480 - May 27, 2010
Awesome
scored some RUNZ for Tommy. If only KK knew how to get RUNZ
Erihury - May 27, 2010
kk
should dye his hair red and change jersey’s with hanson for his next start
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
he's already working on more blisters like Lowe
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
Also
Heyward needs to start hitting DINGERZ
Erihury - May 27, 2010
Troy Glaus was like:
And Talking Chop was like:
Scott Coleman - May 27, 2010
MLB news saying McCann probably won't start tomorrow.
I can only hope the line-up is:
Prado, M.
Heyward, J./Jones, C.
Jones, C./Heyward, C.
Glaus, T.
Hinske, E.
Escobar, Y.
McLouth, N.
Ross, D.
I imagine McCann would be available to pinch-hit in a dire situation.
Wren_and_Stimpy - May 27, 2010
is Heyward, C. the brother of Jason Heyward? is he as good as Heyward, J.? ;)
atl192485 - May 27, 2010
"C" stands for
“Cosmic Overlord”
Get used to it, puny humans!
Sam Jethroe - May 27, 2010
GeneParmesan - May 27, 2010
Where's Melky?
He’s hot, Hinske and McLouth are not….sit one of them and ride the hot bad while you can.
Southern IN Chopper - May 27, 2010
bat
Hot bat while you can. Stupid morning typo.
Southern IN Chopper - May 27, 2010
If you’d gotten it right the first time, it was perfectly teed up for a TWSS.
Bronn - May 27, 2010
Chipper oughtta be hitting in the #2 spot with Heyward at #3, at least until Chipper shows he can back up that monster OBP with some SLG%. He gets on base like it’s going outta style, but I’m really tired of watching him roll into easy outs. Get on, let Heyward, McCann, and Glaus knock you in, old man.
FineHamAbounds - May 27, 2010
Never too late for:
I thought Yunel looked good at the plate, he had some good line drives that just went foul in addition to the good hit he had in the 7th. When he gets that line drive swing back, look out!
10-4 - May 27, 2010
Melk Man
Has a cannon.
Fatvirus - May 27, 2010
who knew?
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
Braves
Gave me a win for my B-day. Thank you Bravos!
dragonhawk26 - May 27, 2010
Me too! Big 4-0 here.....
skymuse - May 27, 2010
Wow. Everyone in the NL East is within three games of first. Tightest division in either league so far.
TonyAlmeyda - May 27, 2010
yea
we’re in second place today, but if we lose and the mets and nats win, we could go from second to last in one day!
atl192485 - May 27, 2010
Soft-tossing lefty. Always gives us fits.
Glad to see the Braves get a dubya like I knew they would.
UMDBHIK - May 27, 2010
In games where the Braves score 5 or more runs, they always win. That’s 17 games so far. No other MLB team has a record like that.
Joseph_C - May 27, 2010
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