McCarroll21
04-08-2007, 03:50 AM
Braves Bounce Back To Even Series
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The Mets left their offense at the ballpark on Friday night and the Braves took full advantage. A day after scoring 11 runs in an 11-1 rout, the Mets could deliver only three runs against the Braves on Saturday, and eventually losing by a 5-3 score.
The game was supposed to feature a pitching duel among former teammates, and the best of friends, as two pitchers with Hall of Fame credentials squared off. John Smoltz vs. Tom Glavine facing off in a early season NL East showdown, one that had a feel much bigger than April, and more like October.
The weather at the ballpark matched the October feel, as did the pitching of Smoltz. Battling the elements of 40-degree temperatures and stiff winds throughout the day, neither pitcher took their best stuff to the mound today, but it was Smoltz who made the best with what he had.
The two teams played the first inning to a 1-1 tie. The Mets scored off a home run from Paul Lo Duca, while the Braves made good on an error from Carlos Delgado to score their run. Kelly Johnson led off the game for the Braves by grounding to Jose Valentin, however, Mets' first baseman Carlos Delgado dropped the throw allowing Johnson to reach. After a walk to Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones, Johnson scored on a Jeff Francoeur ground out.
The Braves took an early lead in the second inning when left fielder Matt Diaz drove a ball into the left field seats, making the score 2-1 in the Braves favor.
Both offenses remained quiet until the Mets' half of the fifth inning. Jose Reyes worked a walk from Smoltz to lead off the inning. Reyes stole second base during Lo Duca's ensuing at bat, and then advanced to third on Lo Duca's ground out. He then scored on a single by Carlos Beltran to even the game at two.
After Smoltz retired the side in the sixth inning, the Braves offense shifted into high gear. Andruw Jones started the inning with a double down the left field line. He moved to third base on a bloop single to right field by Jeff Francoeur. After a line out from Brian McCann, Craig Wilson was walked to load the bases. Diaz then reached on an error by right fielder Shawn Green. Diaz was credited with an RBI as Jones scored on what was ruled a sacrifice fly and one base error. Immediately following the error, which should have been the second out of the inning, and a pitching change, ending Glavine's afternoon in favor of Pedro Feliciano, Chris Woodward lifted another fly ball to Green in right, this time scoring Francoeur. After Johnson was walked to reload the bases, the Braves scored their fifth and final run on a high chopper from Edgar Renteria. Renteria's chopper bounced high off the plate, allowing everyone to reach and Wilson to score.
Following the Braves new formula for success, in comes the three-headed monster from the bullpen. Mike Gonzalez, continuing his run of shaky outings in the early going, allowed a run on two hits. Rafael Soriano followed him with a scoreless eighth inning, setting up Bob Wickman for his second save of the season.
Holding a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Wickman made sure everyone in the ballpark was paying attention, as he recorded the save in a way only Wickman can do. He started the inning by striking out Carlos Beltran, then walking Delgado. Delgado went to second on a wild pitch, before heading to third on a single by David Wright. Wickman then allowed Wright to steal second to put both men in scoring position before getting Shawn Green to line out to Craig Wilson to end the game.
The pitching duel everyone expected did not show, but the game was as intense as expected. Both starters struggled due to the weather, Smoltz went as far as saying he felt like he pitched 10 innings during an in-game interview. Smoltz didn't have his usual great stuff today, and in effect became a right handed version of Tom Glavine as he relied on his defense to get him out of jams for most of the day. As Smoltz used his defense to his advantage, Glavine's defense let him down as the game went on, allowing three unearned runs to score. The unearned runs were the runs that allowed Smoltz and the Braves to eventually get the win.
The two teams are now tied at 4-1 on the young season and will face off again on Easter Sunday as Kyle Davies takes on Orlando Hernandez at 1:05 PM in the series third and deciding game. The game can be seen on TBS.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The Mets left their offense at the ballpark on Friday night and the Braves took full advantage. A day after scoring 11 runs in an 11-1 rout, the Mets could deliver only three runs against the Braves on Saturday, and eventually losing by a 5-3 score.
The game was supposed to feature a pitching duel among former teammates, and the best of friends, as two pitchers with Hall of Fame credentials squared off. John Smoltz vs. Tom Glavine facing off in a early season NL East showdown, one that had a feel much bigger than April, and more like October.
The weather at the ballpark matched the October feel, as did the pitching of Smoltz. Battling the elements of 40-degree temperatures and stiff winds throughout the day, neither pitcher took their best stuff to the mound today, but it was Smoltz who made the best with what he had.
The two teams played the first inning to a 1-1 tie. The Mets scored off a home run from Paul Lo Duca, while the Braves made good on an error from Carlos Delgado to score their run. Kelly Johnson led off the game for the Braves by grounding to Jose Valentin, however, Mets' first baseman Carlos Delgado dropped the throw allowing Johnson to reach. After a walk to Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones, Johnson scored on a Jeff Francoeur ground out.
The Braves took an early lead in the second inning when left fielder Matt Diaz drove a ball into the left field seats, making the score 2-1 in the Braves favor.
Both offenses remained quiet until the Mets' half of the fifth inning. Jose Reyes worked a walk from Smoltz to lead off the inning. Reyes stole second base during Lo Duca's ensuing at bat, and then advanced to third on Lo Duca's ground out. He then scored on a single by Carlos Beltran to even the game at two.
After Smoltz retired the side in the sixth inning, the Braves offense shifted into high gear. Andruw Jones started the inning with a double down the left field line. He moved to third base on a bloop single to right field by Jeff Francoeur. After a line out from Brian McCann, Craig Wilson was walked to load the bases. Diaz then reached on an error by right fielder Shawn Green. Diaz was credited with an RBI as Jones scored on what was ruled a sacrifice fly and one base error. Immediately following the error, which should have been the second out of the inning, and a pitching change, ending Glavine's afternoon in favor of Pedro Feliciano, Chris Woodward lifted another fly ball to Green in right, this time scoring Francoeur. After Johnson was walked to reload the bases, the Braves scored their fifth and final run on a high chopper from Edgar Renteria. Renteria's chopper bounced high off the plate, allowing everyone to reach and Wilson to score.
Following the Braves new formula for success, in comes the three-headed monster from the bullpen. Mike Gonzalez, continuing his run of shaky outings in the early going, allowed a run on two hits. Rafael Soriano followed him with a scoreless eighth inning, setting up Bob Wickman for his second save of the season.
Holding a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Wickman made sure everyone in the ballpark was paying attention, as he recorded the save in a way only Wickman can do. He started the inning by striking out Carlos Beltran, then walking Delgado. Delgado went to second on a wild pitch, before heading to third on a single by David Wright. Wickman then allowed Wright to steal second to put both men in scoring position before getting Shawn Green to line out to Craig Wilson to end the game.
The pitching duel everyone expected did not show, but the game was as intense as expected. Both starters struggled due to the weather, Smoltz went as far as saying he felt like he pitched 10 innings during an in-game interview. Smoltz didn't have his usual great stuff today, and in effect became a right handed version of Tom Glavine as he relied on his defense to get him out of jams for most of the day. As Smoltz used his defense to his advantage, Glavine's defense let him down as the game went on, allowing three unearned runs to score. The unearned runs were the runs that allowed Smoltz and the Braves to eventually get the win.
The two teams are now tied at 4-1 on the young season and will face off again on Easter Sunday as Kyle Davies takes on Orlando Hernandez at 1:05 PM in the series third and deciding game. The game can be seen on TBS.