McCarroll21
07-02-2007, 04:04 PM
<font size="3"><strong>Sixth Straight Win Slips Away</strong></font>
By: <a href="http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1" target="_blank">Josh McCarroll</a> | Braves-Nation.com
In a game of ups and downs, the Marlins had the final say. A game that started as a great pitchers' duel turned into a slugfest in the late innings with the Marlins prying a win away from the tight grip of the Atlanta bullpen.
Through 3 1/2 innings, the starting pitchers had combined to allow just three hits and no runs. After a rain delay that lasted an hour and a half, the starters were washed from the game and the slugfest began.
Oscar Villarreal took over for Buddy Carlyle in the fourth inning and proceeded to allow four runs in 2.2 innings.
It took the Braves a little longer to get their offense going, but after trailing 4-0, the Braves scored five runs between the seventh and ninth inning to take a 5-4 lead.
Andruw Jones lead off the seventh inning with a homer to begin the Braves comeback trail. The Braves scored two more runs in the eighth inning off Benitez before he was able to record an out. Kelly Johnson singled to start the inning and moved to third on Yunel Escobar's double. Edgar Renteria singled to right field to drive in both runners and cut the lead to 4-3.
The Marlins turned to their closer to gt out of the eighth without any more damage, but the Braves got to him in the ninth inning.
After starting the inning with two ground outs, the Braves put together a rally that had seemingly won the game. Scott Thorman drew a walk and was pinch ran for by Willie Harris. Harris moved to to second on a wild pitch ahead of a Brian McCann intentional walk. Another wild pitch moved both runners into scoring postion before Escobar put the Braves on top with a single.
Bob Wickman allowed a homer to Miguel Olivo to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Olivo homered off Wickman just a day before, as well.
Rafael Soriano came on to pitch the tenth inning and gave up the game winning hit before recording an out.
The loss snapped the Braves five game win streak and prevented the Braves from moving one game closer to the Mets, who had lost earlier in the day.
The team will now travel to the West Coast to close out the first half of the season. John Smoltz will take the mound against Derek Lowe of the Dodgers Monday night.
<table class="tborder" border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="1" width="574"><tbody><tr><td colspan="14" class="tcat"><span class="smallfont"><strong>» Line Score</strong></span></td></tr><tr><td class="thead" align="center">Team</td><td class="thead" align="center">1</td><td class="thead" align="center">2</td><td class="thead" align="center">3</td><td class="thead" align="center">4</td><td class="thead" align="center">5</td><td class="thead" align="center">6</td><td class="thead" align="center">7</td><td class="thead" align="center">8</td><td class="thead" align="center">9</td> <td class="thead" align="center">10</td> <td class="thead" align="center">R</td><td class="thead" align="center">H</td><td class="thead" align="center">E</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont">Atlanta (43-39)</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">2</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">2</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont">0</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont"><strong>5</strong></td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">11</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont"><strong>Florida (38-44) «</strong></td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">3</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont">1</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont"><strong>6</strong></td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">13</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td></tr><tr><td colspan="14" class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3"><strong>W:</strong> Gardner (2-2) <strong>L:</strong> Soriano (2-1)</td></tr></tbody></table>
By: <a href="http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1" target="_blank">Josh McCarroll</a> | Braves-Nation.com
In a game of ups and downs, the Marlins had the final say. A game that started as a great pitchers' duel turned into a slugfest in the late innings with the Marlins prying a win away from the tight grip of the Atlanta bullpen.
Through 3 1/2 innings, the starting pitchers had combined to allow just three hits and no runs. After a rain delay that lasted an hour and a half, the starters were washed from the game and the slugfest began.
Oscar Villarreal took over for Buddy Carlyle in the fourth inning and proceeded to allow four runs in 2.2 innings.
It took the Braves a little longer to get their offense going, but after trailing 4-0, the Braves scored five runs between the seventh and ninth inning to take a 5-4 lead.
Andruw Jones lead off the seventh inning with a homer to begin the Braves comeback trail. The Braves scored two more runs in the eighth inning off Benitez before he was able to record an out. Kelly Johnson singled to start the inning and moved to third on Yunel Escobar's double. Edgar Renteria singled to right field to drive in both runners and cut the lead to 4-3.
The Marlins turned to their closer to gt out of the eighth without any more damage, but the Braves got to him in the ninth inning.
After starting the inning with two ground outs, the Braves put together a rally that had seemingly won the game. Scott Thorman drew a walk and was pinch ran for by Willie Harris. Harris moved to to second on a wild pitch ahead of a Brian McCann intentional walk. Another wild pitch moved both runners into scoring postion before Escobar put the Braves on top with a single.
Bob Wickman allowed a homer to Miguel Olivo to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Olivo homered off Wickman just a day before, as well.
Rafael Soriano came on to pitch the tenth inning and gave up the game winning hit before recording an out.
The loss snapped the Braves five game win streak and prevented the Braves from moving one game closer to the Mets, who had lost earlier in the day.
The team will now travel to the West Coast to close out the first half of the season. John Smoltz will take the mound against Derek Lowe of the Dodgers Monday night.
<table class="tborder" border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="1" width="574"><tbody><tr><td colspan="14" class="tcat"><span class="smallfont"><strong>» Line Score</strong></span></td></tr><tr><td class="thead" align="center">Team</td><td class="thead" align="center">1</td><td class="thead" align="center">2</td><td class="thead" align="center">3</td><td class="thead" align="center">4</td><td class="thead" align="center">5</td><td class="thead" align="center">6</td><td class="thead" align="center">7</td><td class="thead" align="center">8</td><td class="thead" align="center">9</td> <td class="thead" align="center">10</td> <td class="thead" align="center">R</td><td class="thead" align="center">H</td><td class="thead" align="center">E</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont">Atlanta (43-39)</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">2</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">2</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont">0</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont"><strong>5</strong></td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">11</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont"><strong>Florida (38-44) «</strong></td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">3</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">1</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont">1</td><td align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3" class="smallfont"><strong>6</strong></td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">13</td><td class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3">0</td></tr><tr><td colspan="14" class="smallfont" align="center" bgcolor="#e3e3e3"><strong>W:</strong> Gardner (2-2) <strong>L:</strong> Soriano (2-1)</td></tr></tbody></table>