Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
Matt Diaz was the hero tonight in Washington.
That was a pretty crazy game.
The Natinals got on the board first in the 1st inning on a sac fly from Ryan Zimmerman that scored Nyjer Morgan. Their lead didn't last long, as Omar Infante hit a 2-run HR in the top of the 2nd off former Brave Luis Atilano. Then it was the Nats turn to score and it came courtesy of an Ian Desmond HR. After the homer, Nyjer Morgan doubled in Roger Bermida making the score 3-2 after only 2 innings.
It was then the Braves turn to score and it came via a RBI single from Chipper Jones. After a scoreless 4th, Troy Glaus put the Braves on top 4-3 in the 5th with a RBI groundout to shortstop, scoring Martin Prado from 3rd.
The Nats battled back in the bottom half of the inning when Pudge Rodriguez drove in Adam Kenedy from 2nd. The Nats had runners on 1st and 2nd in the inning, but failed to score after the Rodriguez single.
Nate McLouth didn't waste any time in the 6th inning by driving in Matt Diaz with a RBI-double down the right field line. Martin Prado then grounded out weakly to the shortstop Desmond which scored Omar Infante from 3rd. The Braves led 6-4 after 6 innings.
The Natinals wouldn't go away without a fight. In the 8th inning, Takashi Saito struggled and gave up a 2-RBI single from pinch hitter Josh Willingham to tie the game at 6.
After a scoreless 9th inning, Troy Glaus showed off his singles POWAH and reached 1st to lead off the 10th inning for the Braves. Recently called up shortstop Brandon Hicks pinch-ran for Glaus and was moved over to 2nd on a beautiful sacrifice bunt from Melky Cabrera. The hittin' fool Matt Diaz drove in Hicks with a RBI-single to RF to put the Braves up 7-6.
Billy Wagner gave up a leadoff single in the 10th to Cristian Guzman, but then got Desmond to fly out to right, Nieves to strike out on a filthy slider and Willingham to pop out to LF to end the game.
Braves win 7-6!
The only bad news of the night came when Jason Heyward left the game in the 2nd inning. He ripped a ball up the middle that was caught by Ian Desmond, but didn't return after. Initial reports are he tweaked his groin and could miss a few days.
The Good, Bad and Ugly after the jump.
The Good:
1. Scoring 7 runs without Jason Heyward in the lineup - WOOOOOOO!
2. Matt Diaz - Is the hittin' fool back?! He went 2-for-4 and scored the go ahead run in the 6th and drove in the winning run in the 10th. Great to see MattyD swing the bat well tonight.
3. The Bullpen (minus Saito) - 3IP 1H 0ER 1BB/3K
4. Omar Infante - 2-for-4 w/ a BB, HR(1) 2RBI; Great night for Omar at the plate and an even better night in the field.
5. Chipper Jones - 2-for-3, 2BBs 1RBI; maybe Grandpa Jones is coming around.
6. Tommy Hanson - 6IP 9H 4ER 2BB/5K 1HR; this was a tough one. Tommy and KK both had similar starts and both pitched well enough to win. Neither one did, but they both kept the Braves in the game.
The Bad:
1. Jason Heyward's injury - It should only keep him out a day or two, but the Braves desperately need Jay Hey to be in the lineup. Get that groin feeling better soon you stud.
The Ugly:
1. Brian McCann - 0-for-4 1BB/3K - What in the world is going on with BMac?
2. Takashi Saito - 1IP 2H 2R, BS(1)
3. Tommy Hanson's swing/bunting - Hide the children!
Upcoming Game:
The Braves and Nats will conclude their 3-game series tomorrow night. Tim Hudson will be on the mound and lefty Scott Olsen will pitch for Washington. First pitch is at 7:05EST.
Open Thread Comment Count: 2,296 -- Holy Heyward. Nice work TC.
GO BRAVES.
0 recs | 97 comments
of the 2,296 comments
i’d bet a full 2,000 were “zomg, what happened to heyward?”
atl192485 - May 5, 2010
nah...
but i’d bet a good 100 of them were.
Scott Coleman - May 5, 2010
And there would've been 100 more comments...
But I resisted the urge to respond to each “zomg, what happened to heyward?” with a ridiculous story, similar to the JJ incident.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 5, 2010
Ha that’s so true. Next time someone gets hurt i’ll just post in the GT writeup in size 40 font “Yes, Heyward got injured and no, don’t ask about it in the gamethread.”
Scott Coleman - May 5, 2010 via mobile
..............WHERE'S JJ!?!?!?!??!
Chief Noc-A-Homa - May 5, 2010
He was shark wrestling as part of a pre-game promotional event. The shark trainers forgot to remove the frickin’ laser beams from the sharks’ heads, though.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 5, 2010
I seriously don’t get why people can’t skim the thread for the answer to questions like that. They can be found around every 5th post in the thread…
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 5, 2010
When I join a thread late, I am not skimming 700+ comments to look for something that I don’t know has happened.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
Then there was Kreese's offer
To “orally massage Heyward’s groin”
yeah… um… yeah
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
Don't lie...
You’re the one who said that!
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 5, 2010
Wow... Seriously?
Go back and read the thread…
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
Yes, seriously.
Stop trying to pass it off on kreese.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 5, 2010
Then seriously, go read the threads….
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
No need.
Everyone knows what was written. Now, go tend to Heyward…
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 5, 2010
Donkey
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
Both of you
Grow up.
royhobbs - May 6, 2010
Hahahahaha
Take THAT Vance!
kreese555 - May 6, 2010
Awww….ok, mom. You never let me do any fun stuff that other kids get to do! :(
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 6, 2010
just glad i'm not the only one with a man-crush ...
The Bad:
1. Jason Heyward’s injury – It should only keep him out a day or two, but the Braves desperately need Jay Hey to be in the lineup. Get that groin feeling better soon you stud.
ah baseball … hahahaha.
calucas78 - May 5, 2010
This Win makes me happy
It would have been a devastating loss.
Screw the Nats.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - May 5, 2010
Clearly, possessing the correct amount of superstition requires me to never again take a midterm during a game.
AllSaintsDay - May 5, 2010
….the Saints won the Super Bowl? lol. Well, damn.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - May 5, 2010
They did. And it was AWESOME.
AllSaintsDay - May 6, 2010
Needs no words...
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
Funny
FitzFan - May 6, 2010
Shouldn’t that be “Make LOB, not RBI”?
Sparhawk - May 6, 2010
Missed the joke much?
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 6, 2010
hahaha
love the joke.
The Devil Wears Prado - May 6, 2010
Oh god that's bad.... and nearly made me laugh out loud at work.
DeadlyWalrus - May 6, 2010
i watch the games on mlb.tv
i know there is a delay in the broadcast so i am hesitant to read the open game threads because i dont want to read what i am about to witness. is this the case that most people are watching live from a local broadcast and comment right away or do most commenters watch off the mlb.tv delay?
awix - May 5, 2010
I watch on MLB.TV
And occasionally there is a post or 2 before something happens, but never more than a second or 2 delay
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
Just as a test, I’ve put the game on my TV and MLB.tv at the same time and they synced up perfectly. Sounds like it might be your computer.
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
I watch it on MLB.com too, and I am usually the first to post something that happens. Then again, I did just upgrade my ISP.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
Don't know if this team is coming together or falling apart...
The “good” i take about some of the injuries is it’s getting different guys some more AB’s and opportunity. Cocks and his stubborn or patient ways can sometimes be the root of all that is evil. Infante looks real good. Medlen gets a start. I couldn’t ask for more…except root for Meds to shut down the Phillies and put “the best 5th starter in baseball” to the bullpen where he belongs. He’ll have lots of time to let his “blister” heal in the bull-pen (puked when i read that sorry excuse for a story)
Nova Scotia Steve - May 5, 2010 via mobile
Are you crazy? Or just plain stupid
So apparently Kenshin was pitching in pain last night, and yet he only gave up 3 runs in 5 innings. In contrast, Tommy Hanson gave up 3 runs in 2 innings tonight. You think you might be a little over the top? Possibly?
If, say, Medlen and Kawakami were to swtich roles, would you support Kawakami, or would you just continue to bitch? Yeah, he’s 0-5 this year, but it’s not like he’s the only reason they’ve lost those games. In his 5 starts, the Braves have scored a total of 8 runs in support. In other words, he could have pitched 5 complete games, have an ERA of 2.00, and still be 0-5 thanks to his 1.6 runs of support per game.
Just hush, for sanity’s sake.
BraveSaluki - May 6, 2010
Besides, Kawakami can throw a perfect game any day now
BraveSaluki - May 6, 2010
Wait
I thought he used Hanson??
McGriff the Crime Dog - May 6, 2010
nope
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
ERA is still 5.47
Coulda…woulda…shoulda….the fact is Kris Medlen is a better option right now…throws harder/is more aggressive/and has better stuff and is pitching great in bigger spots this year. Yes i would quit bitching if their roles were reversed. Medlen as a mop up guy?? He’s really matured from last year it seems. I read KK’s blister story again….might as well start making excuses in advance of his Sunday start….heck….why don’t we all start tipping our cap while we’re at it….anyway i’m going to watch a certain Braves/Blue Jays game from 09 just to make sure it really happened and proof miracles do actually happen
Nova Scotia Steve - May 6, 2010 via mobile
His ERA was worse last April and he ended up doing pretty well the rest of the reason. Settle down.
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
Just how is Medlen a better option?
Did Kawakami screw your sister or does he owe you money?
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
He stole my Masurati
Nova Scotia Steve - May 6, 2010
I think we should have a moratorium on name calling...
Differing opinions are OKAY!
Differing opinions stir up debate and the use of facts to support opinions!
Differing opinions DO NOT REQUIRE CALLING PEOPLE NAMES or getting personal…
Argggghhhh!!!
Vance in Sacramento - May 6, 2010
how was the massage?
Scott Coleman - May 6, 2010
I was going more for the Forrest Gump quote than the insult
BraveSaluki - May 6, 2010
I puke when I read your comments. Do you even know what a baseball is?
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
Awweee
Are you upset cause people don’t like wittle Kenny…I’m not the only one dude…and won’t let up over a little pressure on here from some bloggers.
I’m supporting Kris Medlen for that 5th spot…and it won’t change.
I hope Kawakami and his $6 million dollar salary rot out in the bull-pen…Let him mop up the floor out there and let a guy who’s actually shown some promise in big situation and important innings this year have a chance.
Nova Scotia Steve - May 6, 2010
Sweet post.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
From the story
TWSS
Vance in Sacramento - May 5, 2010
you're on fire tonight
Also enjoyed Melky t-shirt
Nova Scotia Steve - May 5, 2010 via mobile
Good to see the Braves able to keep standing, come from behind, tie it up, get behind, get ahead, get tied and win in extra innings. That might not be exactly what happened, but it was good to see anyway.
bighop - May 5, 2010
If I was on the thread, I would have boost the number up by 200. The Heyward therapy comments on the thread were hilarious. One of my fav part of the game was when Melky laid down that awesome bunt. The ABC baseball was great to see. Good win by the Bravos. Get well Heyward. Watching baseball isn’t the same without ya.
romone_braves91 - May 6, 2010
I know Melky had kind of a crappy game, and I also don’t generally like position players bunting, but damn that was a great bunt in a clutch spot. If he doesn’t lay that puppy down, we might still be playing. Props to the offense (except McCann) for putting on their game face and scoring 7. We needed all of those tonight.
Oh, and I don’t think you can say Infante had a great night defensively. He booted a ball that led to a run in the 8th. If he makes that play, we almost certainly don’t need extras to win this game. The HR was pretty sweet, though. He’s a great guy to have around when your SS is on the DL (and all the other times too).
Jacob Peterson - May 6, 2010
He did play some pretty good defense
outside the error…
But that is kind of like saying “He had a horrible day at the plate outside that one 3-run HR” when a player goes 1-5 with 4 K’s and the HR…
Vance in Sacramento - May 6, 2010
He was all over the infield though. And that was a do-or-die play in the 8th. Even Esco would’ve had a problem with that ball.
Agree 100% though…Omar is a great utility guy and we’d be lost without him.
Scott Coleman - May 6, 2010
Pretty good
For a guy who basically never played the first 3 weeks of the season. Anyway we’re lucky to be winning anything with the likes of Heap’ Chipper, Melky, Nate, Matt and company…just brutal….can’t believe these averages….what’s the end result here .250 or .260 BA’s at season’s end????
Nova Scotia Steve - May 6, 2010 via mobile
Chipper was 2-for-3 w/ 2BBs tonight, MattyD was the hero and Nate McLouth has been hitting better as of late. BMac is in a slump but he’s a near-.300 career hitter and won’t continue this. Melky is a joke, but come on man… you gotta be positive whenever the Braves win. You won’t make it through a season if you just sour on every little thing.
Scott Coleman - May 6, 2010
Amen.
Chipper is the new Glaus, it seems. People will keep bitching about him being in a horrible slump until he hits 8 HRs in a row.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 6, 2010
Fuhgetaboutit
This guy only comes around to complain about everything. Not even a win is good enough.
UMDBHIK - May 6, 2010
Our team OBP is pretty high though.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
walks don’t help you score runs
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
I disagree
Ask Billy Beane and Theo Epstein if walks don’t help you score runs
The Devil Wears Prado - May 6, 2010
/facepalm
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
Classic.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
and those Theo teams had a Manny and Ortiz to slug in the runners on base.
And when the A’s were really tough to beat, they had Giambi (MVP player quality…not the current version), Tejada, Chavez.
So OBP is great, but you still need power.
dunnytwogloves - May 6, 2010
nah, you just need POWAH
kreese555 - May 6, 2010
Glausosaur would be leading the league in doubles and triples if he weren’t slower than molasses in winter. That man doesn’t know how to hit weak singles. That’s probably a good thing – he’d never make it to first base on what’s normally a weak single.
EricGreggWasPaidOff - May 6, 2010
He would also be in the league leading discussion if it weren’t for a few fantastic defensive plays that robbed him.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
coulda, woulda, shoulda...
but didn’ta.
Mr. Sanchez - May 6, 2010
I heard you the first 10 times you said that.
The point is that Glaus is stroking the ball. It isn’t like he is struggling at the plate. The only thing that is struggling is his luck…unless of course, he can somehow control exactly where he hits the ball – which would mean that his ball-off-the-bat control is bad right now.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
I disagree also
They only help you score runs if the person is Podsednik or Reyes who can “put pressure on the defense” with their speed.
We all know guys like Glaus, Dunn, etc. just clog the bases.
;)
UMDBHIK - May 6, 2010
I concede my argument and humbly basks in your glory.
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
That’ll last all of about 6 seconds. What are you doing to do with the rest of your day?
UMDBHIK - May 6, 2010
That “error” in the 8th was almost impossible to make a play on. If he sits back and waits for the hop chances are the runner gets to first in time.
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
Agreed
It’s incredibly difficult to come up cleanly with the ball when’s it’s bouncing up off the ground like that and there was no way Omar was getting the runner if he waited out the hop.
DeadlyWalrus - May 6, 2010
yeah, it baffles me how people get on him about that, or that they scored it an error.
“But Esco woulda made the play!” You don’t know that, it’s a do or die play that sometimes you make, sometimes you don’t. Not his fault in the least.
kreese555 - May 6, 2010
Not sure
i would say hanson’s start was good. We have criticized Derek Lowe for pitching similar lines and just because he is Hanson doesnt mean he should be given the benefit of the doubt.
And I am really concerned about B-Mac
drumzalicious - May 6, 2010
Not sure either
I wouldn’t say Hanson’s start was “good” but it was “good enough”. The game was a lot of fun to watch, because of how hard both sides were fighting (of course, I only say it was fun because we won) I’m really looking forward to tonights game. Hudson is one great pitcher. And Atlanta has done pretty well against Olsen in the past.
Joseph_C - May 6, 2010
I'm glad you guys were all well informed in-game.
I was forced to watch the Nats’ broadcast where, in between such nuggets of misinformation as Wagner being from West Virginia (Dibble) and Jurrjens being demoted to the minors Wednesday (Carpenter) and their continued verbal fellating of every single member of their roster, it took them about half an hour or so to bother to report on why JHey had left the game.
Sam Jethroe - May 6, 2010
perhaps worse than that was attending the game in a near empty stadium and finding myself seated directly in front of a Yankees fan. what are the odds?
and while I’m at it, kudos to the National’s usher in section 203. he saw my 3 year old coming down the steps and gave him a ball from batting practice. classy act.
hollerin' brave - May 6, 2010
And they wouldn’t let you move? Bleh.
Lizziebeth - May 6, 2010
my brother had to listen to Dibble as well and texted me
“I should not have to listen to Rob Dibble say ‘Get out’ on a fucking double”.
kreese555 - May 6, 2010
Ha, I remember that. The funniest was definitely how upset he was getting after the Infante bomb.
Smoltz's Beard - May 6, 2010
Carpenter was just as funny
Omar’s not exactly Harmon Killebrew but Bob acted like Raffy Belliard had hit that one out.
Sam Jethroe - May 6, 2010
you ever played the drinking game "Harmon Killebrew"? Quite fun
kreese555 - May 6, 2010
lol
Only 45 comments after a win. Thank goodness. I’d like to actually accomplish some work this morning after all.
royhobbs - May 6, 2010
no you wouldn't
Mr. Sanchez - May 6, 2010
I don’t think you need to use the words Heyward, ripped, and groin in the same paragraph.
Bmacbandwagon - May 6, 2010
This win is especially good
when considering how it transpired offensively for the Bravos. I’m sure this gives the entire lienup confidence in their ability.
WarEagle86 - May 6, 2010
Medlen on Saturday?
Since he came in the game last night, is he still expected to pitch on Saturday? Anyone know?
B_Mac - May 6, 2010
Yeah. From what I hear, it was just taking the place of a bullpen session and stretching him out a bit.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
maybe we will win while j hey is out due to the “Ewing effect”
GameCockBrave - May 6, 2010
maybe, but more likely I fear that our outfield will be exposed for it's lack of production without him... :-(
kreese555 - May 6, 2010
When Chipper was slumping
I was willing to bet that the Braves would’ve been better off with Chipper sitting, making the Ewing Effect
royhobbs - May 6, 2010
I heard that Heyward is only supposed to miss a few games, and it’s just soreness that requires rest. At least we won, we showed that we don’t need Heyward to win.
HereComesBream - May 6, 2010
Nice to win, but we have some unfinished business. Let's complete it on Thurs.
NCChopper - May 6, 2010
Freaking this.
justincredubil02 - May 6, 2010
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