McCarroll21
05-13-2007, 03:47 AM
James Flirts With No-No
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The Braves started their road trip knowing they would need good outings from their young pitchers to get the ten game trip started off on the right foot. Kyle Davies did his job Friday as the Braves won the first game of the trip and Chuck James one upped Davies with his start on Saturday.
James took a perfect game into the sixth inning, but lost it when he walked the lead off batter. He walked two batters in the inning but used a double play and a strike out to get out of the inning with nothing happening.
He then lost the no hitter in the next inning. After getting Freddy Sanchez to ground out to start the inning, Jason Bay lined a single into left center field to get the Pirates in the hit column.
James used only five more pitches to get through seven innings on Saturday than he used to go only 3.2 innings earlier in the week. The outing was the longest of the year for James. He allowed only one hit, while walking and striking out three batters.
The Braves played the game without Chipper Jones, who sat to rest his ailing quad and a thumb injury he suffered in Friday night's game. As a result of Chipper not being in the lineup, Willie Harris moved into the two spot in the order and responded with a big game. Harris was 4-for-5 with two doubles in the game.
The Braves continued their recent power surge en route to scoring nine runs. Scott Thorman hit a three run homer in the second inning and a two run homer in the ninth inning to provide the Braves will all the offense they would need.
Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur reached before Thorman's first homerun, while Francoeur scored ahead of his second homerun.
Between the Thorman homeruns, the Braves scored two runs in the third and single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.
Willie Harris led off the third inning with his first double and moved to third on a single from Edgar Renteria. Harris scored on a fielder's choice and an error by Sanchez. Renteria then scored on a single from Brian McCann.
In the fourth inning, Kelly Johnson singled and moved to second on an error by Jason Bay. Willie Harris hit a double on the next pitch to score Johnson.
The Braves took a 7-0 lead in the seventh inning as Andruw Jones scored on an infield hit from Jeff Francoeur. Jones doubled and moved to third on a ground out from McCann to set up Francoeur with an RBI opportunity.
The Pirates scored their two runs in the eighth inning off Chad Paronto. Paronto entered the game and gave up a single to Jose Bautista. Bautista scored on a double from Jack Wilson. After a single from Nate McClouth moved runners to first and third, Chris Duffy hit a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates their second run. Peter Moylan was then brought in to the game in relief of Paronto and induced an inning ending double play. Moylan stayed in to pitch the ninth inning for the Braves.
The win, paired with a Mets loss, gives the Braves a 1.5 game lead on the National League East and moved Bobby Cox into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time managerial wins list.
Anthony Lerew will pitch for the Braves in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. Lerew will take on Ian Snell at 1:35 as the Braves go for their sixth straight victory and second sweep of the season.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The Braves started their road trip knowing they would need good outings from their young pitchers to get the ten game trip started off on the right foot. Kyle Davies did his job Friday as the Braves won the first game of the trip and Chuck James one upped Davies with his start on Saturday.
James took a perfect game into the sixth inning, but lost it when he walked the lead off batter. He walked two batters in the inning but used a double play and a strike out to get out of the inning with nothing happening.
He then lost the no hitter in the next inning. After getting Freddy Sanchez to ground out to start the inning, Jason Bay lined a single into left center field to get the Pirates in the hit column.
James used only five more pitches to get through seven innings on Saturday than he used to go only 3.2 innings earlier in the week. The outing was the longest of the year for James. He allowed only one hit, while walking and striking out three batters.
The Braves played the game without Chipper Jones, who sat to rest his ailing quad and a thumb injury he suffered in Friday night's game. As a result of Chipper not being in the lineup, Willie Harris moved into the two spot in the order and responded with a big game. Harris was 4-for-5 with two doubles in the game.
The Braves continued their recent power surge en route to scoring nine runs. Scott Thorman hit a three run homer in the second inning and a two run homer in the ninth inning to provide the Braves will all the offense they would need.
Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur reached before Thorman's first homerun, while Francoeur scored ahead of his second homerun.
Between the Thorman homeruns, the Braves scored two runs in the third and single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.
Willie Harris led off the third inning with his first double and moved to third on a single from Edgar Renteria. Harris scored on a fielder's choice and an error by Sanchez. Renteria then scored on a single from Brian McCann.
In the fourth inning, Kelly Johnson singled and moved to second on an error by Jason Bay. Willie Harris hit a double on the next pitch to score Johnson.
The Braves took a 7-0 lead in the seventh inning as Andruw Jones scored on an infield hit from Jeff Francoeur. Jones doubled and moved to third on a ground out from McCann to set up Francoeur with an RBI opportunity.
The Pirates scored their two runs in the eighth inning off Chad Paronto. Paronto entered the game and gave up a single to Jose Bautista. Bautista scored on a double from Jack Wilson. After a single from Nate McClouth moved runners to first and third, Chris Duffy hit a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates their second run. Peter Moylan was then brought in to the game in relief of Paronto and induced an inning ending double play. Moylan stayed in to pitch the ninth inning for the Braves.
The win, paired with a Mets loss, gives the Braves a 1.5 game lead on the National League East and moved Bobby Cox into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time managerial wins list.
Anthony Lerew will pitch for the Braves in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. Lerew will take on Ian Snell at 1:35 as the Braves go for their sixth straight victory and second sweep of the season.