McCarroll21
05-18-2007, 10:39 PM
Braves Drop Finale, Series to Nationals
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The Braves entered the series versus the Nationals at 24-13 and appeared to be embarking on a stretch of games that would only help their record. The Nationals thought otherwise. Having been winners of their previous three games, the Nationals came into the series with a wave of confidence and it showed when the final game of the series was played.
The Braves dropped Thursday's game to the Nationals 4-3 due to more sloppy play. The loss also handed the Braves just their second series loss of the season.
Chipper Jones summed up the series best when he said, "Whenever we've needed to up our play, we've been able to do that. Unfortunately, the fact that we lower our level of play against certain teams worries me."
The Braves took a 2-0 lead on a homer by Chipper Jones. The homerun was measured at 419 feet to straight away center field. Edgar Renteria reached on a walk to score ahead of Jones.
Chuck James then got himself into a bit of trouble in the fourth inning, after seemingly being on cruise control through the first three innings. After allowing a single and a ground rule double to start the inning, James struck out Austin Kearns. Tony Batista then singled to left field to get one run in and cut the lead in half at 2-1. James bounced back to strike out Jesus Flores and get Nook Logan to ground out to end the inning.
The Braves offense picked James up in the next frame when they gave him that run back. Scott Thorman, getting his first start of the season against a left handed pitcher, singled with one out in the inning. After a sacrifice by James, Matt Diaz singled up the middle to score Thorman and give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
James gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning, however. After getting the pitcher out to start the inning, James allowed a double to Felipe Lopez and walked Ronnie Belliard to put runners on first and second. A force out by Ryan Zimmerman left runners at first and third with two out in the inning ahead of a walk by Ryan Chuch to load the bases.
The game turned on the next play.
James got Kearns to ground softly down the third base line. As he went to field the ball, he tried to come up with the ball and tag Lopez trying to score. In his hurry, James failed to pick up the ball, allowing all runners to be safe and allow the Nationals to cut the lead to one run.
James left the game after allowing a lead off double and a ground out in the sixth inning. Chad Paronto came on to face Dmitri Young with a runner on third and one out and allowed hits to the two batters he faced. Young singled to left to drive in Flores and scored on the ensuing triple off the bat of Lopez. Tyler Yates then came on to get the Braves out of the inning without any other trouble.
Yates remained on the mound to pitch the seventh inning, before handing the ball to Peter Moylan for the eighth inning.
Yates allowed only one walk in his 1 1/3 innings pitched. Moylan allowed a hit and a walk in his inning of work.
Before the game, the Braves released first baseman Craig Wilson and activated catcher Brayan Pena from the disabled list. The Braves will be responsible to pay Wilson his entire salary. Pena's stay didn't last long as he was optioned to Triple-A Richmond after the game when the team activated Mark Redman from the disabled list. The Braves wanted to have an extra pitcher for the upcoming series versus the Red Sox. As a result of Wilson's release, the Braves will play Scott Thorman with regularity versus left handed pitching. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will receive some starts at first base, too.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
The Braves entered the series versus the Nationals at 24-13 and appeared to be embarking on a stretch of games that would only help their record. The Nationals thought otherwise. Having been winners of their previous three games, the Nationals came into the series with a wave of confidence and it showed when the final game of the series was played.
The Braves dropped Thursday's game to the Nationals 4-3 due to more sloppy play. The loss also handed the Braves just their second series loss of the season.
Chipper Jones summed up the series best when he said, "Whenever we've needed to up our play, we've been able to do that. Unfortunately, the fact that we lower our level of play against certain teams worries me."
The Braves took a 2-0 lead on a homer by Chipper Jones. The homerun was measured at 419 feet to straight away center field. Edgar Renteria reached on a walk to score ahead of Jones.
Chuck James then got himself into a bit of trouble in the fourth inning, after seemingly being on cruise control through the first three innings. After allowing a single and a ground rule double to start the inning, James struck out Austin Kearns. Tony Batista then singled to left field to get one run in and cut the lead in half at 2-1. James bounced back to strike out Jesus Flores and get Nook Logan to ground out to end the inning.
The Braves offense picked James up in the next frame when they gave him that run back. Scott Thorman, getting his first start of the season against a left handed pitcher, singled with one out in the inning. After a sacrifice by James, Matt Diaz singled up the middle to score Thorman and give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
James gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning, however. After getting the pitcher out to start the inning, James allowed a double to Felipe Lopez and walked Ronnie Belliard to put runners on first and second. A force out by Ryan Zimmerman left runners at first and third with two out in the inning ahead of a walk by Ryan Chuch to load the bases.
The game turned on the next play.
James got Kearns to ground softly down the third base line. As he went to field the ball, he tried to come up with the ball and tag Lopez trying to score. In his hurry, James failed to pick up the ball, allowing all runners to be safe and allow the Nationals to cut the lead to one run.
James left the game after allowing a lead off double and a ground out in the sixth inning. Chad Paronto came on to face Dmitri Young with a runner on third and one out and allowed hits to the two batters he faced. Young singled to left to drive in Flores and scored on the ensuing triple off the bat of Lopez. Tyler Yates then came on to get the Braves out of the inning without any other trouble.
Yates remained on the mound to pitch the seventh inning, before handing the ball to Peter Moylan for the eighth inning.
Yates allowed only one walk in his 1 1/3 innings pitched. Moylan allowed a hit and a walk in his inning of work.
Before the game, the Braves released first baseman Craig Wilson and activated catcher Brayan Pena from the disabled list. The Braves will be responsible to pay Wilson his entire salary. Pena's stay didn't last long as he was optioned to Triple-A Richmond after the game when the team activated Mark Redman from the disabled list. The Braves wanted to have an extra pitcher for the upcoming series versus the Red Sox. As a result of Wilson's release, the Braves will play Scott Thorman with regularity versus left handed pitching. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will receive some starts at first base, too.