Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images
Tommy Hanson had another rough outing, but I have confidence that he will bounce back soon since most of the hits against him lately have been weak singles.
Tommy Hanson had another rough start, his second in as many outings. He lasted only 3.2 innings, the same amount as his last game, and allowed 5 earned runs despite allowing no extra base hits. The Tigers opened up the scoring in the first, but due to a Hanson error the run was unearned. Justin Verlander didn't have his best stuff either, but managed to throw 7 innings with 117 pitches. In what was expected to be the best pitching match-up of the series, both pitchers struggled and were very hittable this afternoon.
Not many balls were hard-hit off of Hanson, and he seemed to be on pace for a respectable outing until the top of the fourth inning. Hanson allowed five singles and two walks in the inning and was charged with five earned runs. The Braves were able to put some runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, but each time the Braves scored the Tigers countered.
Christhian Martinez was pretty awful in relief, throwing two innings and allowing four runs, including Brennan Boesch's 12th home run which was the only extra base hit for the Tigers. Jesse Chavez and Eric O'Flaherty combined to throw 3.1 scoreless innings, which is good to see, but the damage had already been done.
Every Tiger's position player had a hit while the Braves were only able to muster up seven of their own. Martin Prado stayed hot and had two hits, including his 23rd double. Potential All-Stars Troy Glaus and Brian McCann added RBI doubles.
The Mets and Phillies both won, shrinking the Braves lead to only 0.5 ahead of the Mets and 2.5 over the Phillies.
Up next is a three-game set against the Washington Nationals, featuring a tremendous pitching match-up of Tim Hudson (7-3, 2.54 ERA, 4.37 xFIP) and Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 1.78 ERA, 1.35 xFIP) to open up the series.
0 recs | 24 comments
Sweep would have been nice, but still got the W and managed to have a good 9-6 interleague record this year. I’ll take it.
Bring on the Expos.
Strasburg is a great big sieve
Doo dah
Doo dah
UMDBHIK - June 27, 2010
so i hear this strasburg kid
might be good someday
CoxXx - June 27, 2010
I'll take 2 outta 3 every time
The start of a new series win streak! Go Braves!!!!
nagyMatt - June 27, 2010
We still won the series and it was hilarious watching Leyland argue. Best moment of the game
MBL1 - June 27, 2010 via mobile
what the fuck is happening with Hanson, if we are going to the playoffs we will need three good pitchers to go to the WS
Kobe:The Legend - June 27, 2010
It’s funny cause coming into this game Tommy was actually pitching slightly better than he was last season, at least going by his peripherals.
The problem, as BenDuronio noted below, is that his BABIP has kind of gone through the roof. That’s likely to regress, and when it does I think he’ll be fine.
get swoll yunel - June 27, 2010
really? I didn't know that
Kobe:The Legend - June 27, 2010
It is a little scary
Hopefully its just the usual sophomore slump, and not an injury or anything else. The kid is obviously talented, but sometimes he lets things get to him too much.
sag969 - June 27, 2010
23 hits allowed in past 2 starts
21 singles, they’re just falling against him unfortunately. Not that many have been hard hit. It may sound insane defending him, but it’s the truth.
BenDuronio - June 27, 2010
Good argument for him. The bad argument is that he is leaving alot of pitches up and not getting the slider over, so hitters are able to sit dead, flat red and makes it much easier to hit the ball hard and raise chances for getting a hit.
CharlotteChop - June 27, 2010
Yeah, it seems like he’s missing McCann’s glove by a good 18 inches a lot.
dunnytwogloves - June 28, 2010
Mike Dunn > Christhian Martinez.
Get him up here… LHP overload be damned.
get swoll yunel - June 27, 2010
Agreed
What is Wren thinking?
MBL1 - June 27, 2010 via mobile
Dunn’s ERA is now 0.72, he obviously has nothing left to prove. I can’t help but wonder if the “rot in AAA” comment isn’t true. With several bullpen arms struggling or at least swooning, Dunn should be with the big club. If not, Wren needs to trade him. With a half game lead in the division, now is not the time for personal crap to undermine the team.
bighop - June 27, 2010
I’m going with the “avoiding super 2 status” theory.
Pavy848 - June 28, 2010
Relievers don’t get paid so much that Super 2 would matter? Maybe a closer or 8th inning type guy. All Super 2 does is start arbitration early, we still get the same number of years of service. If they are holding him down while the bullpen is experiencing a few slumps to save a couple hundred thousand tops, that’s nuts.
bighop - June 28, 2010
Martinez only pitches when run differential is +/- 4 or 5 runs. They aren’t going to waste a call up on Dunn for that sort of appearance frequency.
CharlotteChop - June 27, 2010
What a ridiculous argument. So teams need to leave crap pitchers on their rosters to pitch in the +5 run differential games at the expense of another pitcher who clearly has nothing left to prove in AAA and is 25 years old?
That argument might fly with Kimbrel somewhat because he actually needs to get his command straightened out, but this doesn’t really apply to Dunn at all.
I want the best players we have on the big league club. Bobby will find the guy some work if he can continue his success at the big league level. With the way he’s owned AAA, it’s likely that he can.
get swoll yunel - June 27, 2010
Hey, I agree with ya, I’m just saying I think that is their thought pattern. Why else wouldnt they bring him up If it’s b/c of too many LHP then trade him for an OF bat.
CharlotteChop - June 27, 2010
This loss
Hurt a lot more – at least to me – just because of Hanson’s struggles and the fact that the Mets and Phillies are so hot right now. Still, we got the series win and face the Nats. Hopefully we can get another series win and keep trucking.
sag969 - June 27, 2010
What a clusterfuck of a game
Something is wrong with Hanson.
Scott Coleman - June 28, 2010 via mobile
Just from watchin on gameday
it seemed like Hanson had no faith in his fastball. Every pitched seemed to be a changeup or slider. Maybe 33% of the pitches were fastball but not much more.
AvoidTheDolphin - June 28, 2010
Check out this sweet post:
Damn…it must suck only making the playoffs once in a 22 year span.
Scott Coleman - June 28, 2010
He’s so hyped up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that momentum building. It’s absurd, but so was Hanson’s finish in last year’s race.
Sam Jethroe - June 28, 2010
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