Medlen wins again as Braves roll Mets 11-3
NEW YORK — Kris Medlen’s streaks for innings without allowing a homer or an earned run ended Saturday, but not before the Braves were well on their way to another Medlen win.
Brian McCann had four hits and four RBIs, and Medlen pitched six strong innings before leaving after a rain delay in an 11-3 win against the Mets at Citi Field, the Braves’ fourth in a row and sixth win in seven games.
Long-slumping Dan Uggla, who proclaimed “I’m back” after hitting a double and home run in Friday’s 3-0 win, added three hits and two walks Saturday as the Braves won for the 19th consecutive time in games started by Medlen (8-1), extending a franchise record.
“It felt like it was the first time in a while that I actually made an impact on the game, so it felt good,” said McCann, who’d batted .155 with two RBIs in 24 games since July 31. “You get [Uggla] clicking and myself clicking, and we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
The Braves’ Medlen winning streak is the longest in one pitcher’s starts by any team since the 2001 Yankees won 20 consecutive starts by Roger Clemens. Medlen has won his past six starts and is 7-0 with a 0.81 ERA in eight starts since moving from the bullpen.
“I definitely wasn’t as crisp as I was in the past however many starts, but six innings and two runs, you can’t really argue with that,” said Medlen, who allowed four hits, two runs — the most he’s allowed as a starter this season — and two walks with three strikeouts. He didn’t return following a 75-minute rain delay before the seventh inning.
The National League’s Pitcher of the Month for August also chipped in with a two-out RBI double over the center fielder’s head during the Braves’ four-run third, which gave them a 5-0 lead. The inning started with a Jason Heyward double and featured a two-run double by McCann, his first extra-base hit in 85 at-bats the end of July.
McCann didn’t wait long for his next, a two-run homer in the fifth. The catcher had twice as many RBIs Saturday as in his previous 24 games combined. He’s played with a frayed labrum and cyst in his right shoulder.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told McCann earlier this week that he felt like the catcher was a lot closer to getting back in a groove than McCann himself believed. The catcher recently got a second cortisone shot in his shoulder.
“I keep telling you guys, I think sometimes you think I’m crazy, but I’ve been encouraged,” Gonzalez said. “We’re such a results-oriented society that if it’s not 2-for-4 or 3-for-4, people look at you like your crazy. But the at-bats have been good for Mac, and Danny’s at-bats have been better. Now they’re getting results.”
McCann said, “It’s just a fine line with me. Once I got the second shot, it calmed it down a lot more to where I feel like I can do more with the bat and hit the proper way and I’m hoping to continue and keep it going.”
He’s feeling better physically, and McCann said a game like Saturday was also good for his confidence.
“It’s huge,” he said. “It been a rough year for sure. I’m hoping to help this team down the stretch and into the postseason.”
Eric Hinske also had a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning for the Braves, who scored more than twice as many runs Saturday as they had in their previous four games combined (five), and reached double-digit runs for the first time since a 12-6 win at Philadelphia on Aug. 8.
Lucas Duda’s one-out RBI single in the fourth inning snapped Medlen’s streak of 40 1/3 innings without an earned run, and Atlanta’s overall pitching scoreless streak at 31 innings. His 53-inning homerless streak ended on Ronny Cedeno’s solo shot in the fifth, after the Braves led 7-1.
Medlen had a scoreless streak of 34-2/3 innings snapped when he gave up an unearned run in a five-hit, 12-strikeout complete game against Colorado on Monday in his last start. That was the longest scoreless streak by a Braves starter since Greg Maddux’s 39-1/3 innings in 2000.
Mets right-hander Jeremy Hefner was charged with eight hits and five runs in 2-2/3 innings, the briefest start for the Mets since Johan Santana went 1-1/3 against the Braves on Aug. 11. The Braves are 9-1 in their past 10 games against the Mets.
The Braves started the third inning with three singles, including a bunt by McCann to the left side to beat the defensive shift many teams use against the pull hitter. That snapped an 0-for-17 stretch for McCann, and Jose Constanza followed with a run-scoring single off Hefner’s glove, the Braves’ first RBI hit with a runner in scoring position since Monday.
After going 4-for-38 with runners in scoring position in their previous five games, then 1-for-7 in the first two innings Saturday, the Braves went 5-for-14 in those situations the rest of the game.
After hitting .145 with five homers in a 69-game stretch through Aug. 27, Uggla is 10-for-31 with three homers in his past 10 games.
“[McCann and Uggla] are two huge guys in our lineup, and we need them,” Medlen said. “We need them to win. So it’s definitely awesome to see.”
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67 comments Add your comment
Runner-
September 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
Sweet
Ken Stallings
September 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
Nice having a comfortable blow out, isn’t it David? You can have your game column mostly written and add in the final sections for the last inning since you aren’t concerned about a sudden turn of events.
Braves seem to regard the Mets as tonic to the bat rack! Uggla is sure enjoying it — might have a hard time getting him on the plane to Milwaukee. Speaking of the Brewers, they beat the Cards last night and are leading going to the top of the fifth tonight.
Great game for the Braves today — wish I could have watched it on TV! Fox divides the nation in half from their telecasts and so I got to watch the Dodgers at Giants today.
Amber Girl
September 8th, 2012
8:46 pm
Where are you at Mr Ken Stallings. I saw the game.
RJB in DC
September 8th, 2012
8:50 pm
Ken- don’t feel too bad. So do did the rest of us on the East Coast (at least outside Atlanta) once the rain started in NY. What was worse, after nearly a two hour rain delay in Washington, the Nats came back in the bottom of the ninth against the Fish, and then won their game in tn the tenth… Lost a change to gain a game (gain).
RJB in DC
September 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Lost a chance to gain a game too. Time to lay off the bourbon for the evening…lol
Mets R Best
September 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
Okay, okay, Braves fans. Have your fun. Yuk it up. No way around it, your team gave my team a real butt kicking today. But you better have your fun now Atlanta, because in 2013, the Mighty New York Metropolitans and the great R.A. Dickey will be back, and on top, and looking for some pay back!!
Amber Girl
September 8th, 2012
9:00 pm
@Mets R Best. Get off the dope. Put the bottle down and comeback to reality.
commander bloop
September 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
Chipper’s memory of the first game played in New York following 9/11:
“My father was a Marine, so I was exposed to the military a lot. I had heard about 21-gun salutes, but I’d never experienced one until that night at Shea. They had those ceremonies; very touching. Then they had the 21-gun salute. Pretty impressive.
“When I went out to left field and we got out there, I found the cartridges in the grass. So I picked them up — I don’t known, 12 or 15 — and I kept them. Yeah, I brought them home. They weren’t on display or anything. And I didn’t consider them souvenirs because of why they were there. But they were like my physical connection to 9/11 and those ceremonies.
“I gave one or two away to people I thought would appreciate them. And I started carrying one in my bag as a reminder. I carried it until two or three years ago when I got pulled out of line at security at an airport. I’d never been stopped before. But I was flying commercial. I told them where I got them, I told them the whole story. They told me, ‘You really can’t travel with them.’”
The TSA denies a future Hall of Famer from carrying a shell casing!? Yet another absurdity from wanna-be law enforcement who pretend to protect us from terrorists.
dilly
September 8th, 2012
9:04 pm
You got it Amber Girl.
Amber Girl
September 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
@Mr dilly Everyone is telling me to be sweet Amber. It is people like Mr Mets u best that want me to be DUMB Amber again. He can not admit that he got beat by a better.team
Largo
September 8th, 2012
9:19 pm
Mets R Best. . .You haven’t had much fun lately have you partner? Not when your Mets play the Braves anyway. It sure seems to happen that way, when somebody starts blowin’.
Rocko
September 8th, 2012
9:20 pm
Amber Girl is not a girl, what a f-ing joke. Get a life. I am sure he will try to convince otherwise but the fact is he is just some loser desperate for male attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POPS
September 8th, 2012
9:28 pm
Sounds like to me that Mr Rocko(Samantha) has got a personal problem. Too chicken to use real name. Why don’t you leave this girl alone? She is not hurtintg you.
DaveinNEPA
September 8th, 2012
9:30 pm
Hey, Mets R Pest………….once again your team showed just how irrelevent they are.
Ken Stallings
September 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
I live in eastern New Mexico.
Amber Girl
September 8th, 2012
9:35 pm
@Mr Ken Stallings I live in Dallas. I got. What is the difference?
Ken Stallings
September 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
TSA are walking billboards for bureaucratic ineptness! As stupid as flagging empty shell brass (which is completely harmless) TSA has done many other stupid things. For example, how about an entire formation of active duty military personnel on deployment orders getting searched just as intrusively as regular Joe passengers?
I mean, you’re deploying to go fight the war against the terrorists, and here is TSA who regards you as the same potential threat as everyday civilians? Why cannot TSA craft some special line for a unit of military personnel on orders? You would simply need to check the troop commander and then he vouches for the identity of everyone else.
I guess it makes too much sense, which is why it never happened!
But, even uniformed active military personnel on orders cannot take the top prize for stupidity. Nope, that goes to TSA for the stupidity in refusing for years to craft a system whereby the pilots and flight attendents flying the jet could have a separate security line! Yep, gotta check those pilots just as in depth — they might be a threat to carry a gun onboard to threaten the passengers! I mean it’s not like the pilots could just pile drive the jet into the ground!
TSA — walking monuments to folly!
Ken Stallings
September 8th, 2012
9:42 pm
I live further west! Texas is the dividing line. If I had my way, living in Portales, NM, I would re-draw the Texas boundary further west as it was originally so I’d be back in Texas!
Amber Girl
September 8th, 2012
9:44 pm
@Mr Ken Stallings. Don’t understand LOL. Guess I am DUMB Amber again.
Amber Girl
September 8th, 2012
9:56 pm
OK Now I understand. Got to go see you tomorrow.Go Braves!
Ken Stallings
September 8th, 2012
10:00 pm
Yep, you got it now. Your Dallas affiliate chose to take the Braves game. The Amarillo affiliate chose to take the Dodgers game. You lucked out and I did not.
bostonbravo
September 8th, 2012
10:20 pm
thank you “Rocko”…as Mr. Monk might say…”there are weirdos out there!”
So?
September 8th, 2012
10:21 pm
Hooray for the much maligned uggla and mccann. All the haters need to acknowledge this game. And braves fans will hope the turnaround for those two has arrived. The team needs them
POPS
September 8th, 2012
10:34 pm
Well said So?
Bronke
September 8th, 2012
10:34 pm
Amber girl Jane live in jungle with tarzan
Norcal Brave
September 8th, 2012
10:35 pm
@ So?- I do acknowledge this game for illustrating the kind of offense we’ve been missing for weeks. It also deepens my appreciation for the job our pitchers have done to keep us in the race. We need every single facet of the team playing well to advance in the post season. Now, let’s keep this train rolling.
POPS
September 8th, 2012
10:39 pm
@Norcal Brave I think I saw somewhere that the Brave pitchers had best ERA in majors since All-star break.
POPS
September 8th, 2012
10:42 pm
@Bronke What is it with you guys on this young girl. I think she is kind of a breath of fresh air. I hope she stays around. I don’t know ,but sounds like she is quite young.
Ken Stallings
September 8th, 2012
10:48 pm
Another very productive day for the Braves’ post-season chances! The Cardinals and Pirates both lost tonight. The Dodgers did win.
So, that puts the Braves up four games ahead of the Cards, five on the Pirates and six on the Dodgers for the Wild Cards.
Bronke
September 8th, 2012
10:57 pm
Do you guys really think Amber girl is a thirteen year old and sometimes fourteen year old? Really ? Sometimes she speaks with perfect clarity and sometimes like a five year old. I had my fifteen year old read her quotes and he says she is a definite troll. I trust him on this one. Sorry guys! Amber girl is not a little girl but some dude using our excellent site to pull in some lonely dudes who give her attention!
POPS
September 8th, 2012
11:03 pm
OK Bronke, Well said. That is your opinion and I respect that. Tell her how you feel and maybe you can get her to expose herself. I like her but I am just one person..
the truth...
September 8th, 2012
11:21 pm
Watching Uggla’s resurgence for two nights now, I think that Fredi sitting him down IS THE REASON he’s” back”as he says he is…..
It seems to me that the reality is that he is not bigger than the team and that he needs to get back to the fundamentals of hitting…..if he wants to play daily. Maybe he had to have a wake up call like Frenchy needed but refused to receive…..
P B Orr
September 8th, 2012
11:51 pm
McCann bunting out of that shift changed his whole attitude. I’ve always said it was pure stubbornness that gets him into these slumps. Let’s hope that’s over for a while.
Medlen goes onto the all-time leaderboard over at Baseball Almanac. He passed three at 40, but one of them was Luis Tiant, who also had a 41 stretch. He went ahead of Gaylord Perry, who was tied with Tiant and Walter Johnson at 40. That puts him at 20th all time. Johnson also had a streak of 55.2. This was an impressive achievement!
P B Orr
September 8th, 2012
11:52 pm
In all the seasons of all the pitchers in history, only 19 have bettered Medlen’s scoreless streak. That’s one of the most impressive Braves records of recent times.
P B Orr
September 9th, 2012
12:01 am
To give some idea of how impressive was Medlen’s run – Bob Gibson, who had a season with 28 complete games and 13 shutouts, had a personal record of 47 scoreless innings.
the truth...
September 9th, 2012
12:03 am
No doubt on the McCann bunt shaking everything up for Mac and the team. How many of us have been saying he has got to do that to neutralize the shift…..it did !
I saw the same thing in Uggla as he obviously wasn’t swinging for the fence today and not last night either before he hit the late home run…………
Hensley
September 9th, 2012
12:04 am
Keep playing hard and have a great Sept.& Oct. Columbia TN will always support you. GO BRAVES!!!
P B Orr
September 9th, 2012
12:32 am
Another indication of Medlen’s achievement – he’s only the 9th person in the modern era (since 1950) to exceed 40 scoreless innings. The others are Orel Hersheiser, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson, Sal Maglie, R.A. Dickey, Brandon Webb, Luis Tiant, and Gaylord Perry.
gotigers72
September 9th, 2012
12:35 am
It’s gonna be Medlen against Lohse [if it's St. Louis] or Kershaw [if it's Los Angeles], in Atlanta [due to the Braves having a better record] for that one game crapshoot playoff game.
I don’t think I like having the extra WC, because this year, the Braves would more than likely win the WC being that they’re 5 1/2 ahead of the Cards and 6 ahead of the Dodgers to play in the Division series. Now they have to play a game in order to play Cincinnati in the Division Series. Well, at least they have a shot, which they didn’t last year.
Ken Stallings
September 9th, 2012
12:53 am
PB Orr, a most impressive fact you provided! Nice reearch there!
Ken Stallings
September 9th, 2012
12:55 am
McCann has pulled off that bunt twice in the last few weeks and both times it got him on base. I’d love to see him do it a few more times and end this shift nonsense.
Speedy Gonezalez
September 9th, 2012
1:03 am
Doesn’t matter about Nats, Braves will be in a 1 game sudden death wild card game with the whole season on the line which sucks & makes the wild card lead meaningless, most likely vs the dreaded Cards, who we can’t seem to beat. Cinch & Nats are in, West winner is in, & Cards will win the last wild card spot & come to Atl for 1 game season, Go Bravos!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Stallings
September 9th, 2012
1:17 am
You know, I don’t agree with that view of it. Winning the Wild Card is much like winning the division. It just validates that you played better than most in the regular season. I don’t care what way you reach post-season, the truth is that it becomes the crap shoot it always has been. The closest the post-season in baseball ever was to matching the integrity of the regular season was when the teams who won the two leagues met in a nine-game World Series.
That was a fair contest because it meant that you went through your pitching rotation at least twice.
But baseball needed a more expansive post-season to retain interest since the other sports had a much larger playoff format. So, the divisions were created and the contests reduced to a best of five followed by a best of seven.
I like the Wild Card format now because it does reward the division champions but also rewards excellence in the regular season. Every team takes it chances in post-season. When the Braves won it all in 1995, the Indians were considered the best team in baseball. It’s kind of ironic that many lament the crap shoot working against Atlanta, but few note that fact from 1995.
For me, it’s the appeal of the sport incarnate! You just never know!
IdahoBravesFan
September 9th, 2012
3:02 am
The thing that gets me with Uggla is that he can’t figure how to get himself out of the slumps. Every hitter will have slumps and hot spots but this guy seems to have them for months at a time. That to me seems like the danger sign. It just goes on and on and it seems like he just has luck go his way when he finally comes out of one. He is hot for a few days and there is no telling how long it will last. That tells me that he just does not know what he is doing or either he is just not willing to listen to his batting coaches. Seems like that was the problem with Frenchy. Head to big syndrome or something. Maybe from now on when he goes into these slumps Fredi needs to park his fanny on the bench for a while.
DoninAcworth
September 9th, 2012
7:25 am
Okay, okay, let’s go with the team I saw yesterday. Pitching AND hitting and by all the right guys too. See how easy that was and what a great time we can have…wow! SO, let’s do it again soon. Remember…. win each series and we’ll be there at the end.
longtimefan
September 9th, 2012
7:35 am
It looks like Uggla is starting to heat up. I credit FG with his resurgence. Maybe that short benching is what he needed. If McCann and Uggla can get hot at the end of the season and our pitching keeps dealing, we are going to be a force in the playoffs.
Rufio
September 9th, 2012
8:41 am
The question to ponder………assuming the Braves hold on and win a wild card spot. Who is the starting pitcher for the Wild Card Playoff Game??? Do you go with Medlen the hot pitcher or Tim Hudson with his experience and ability?
Who would have thought Medlen and Hudson would be the best on the staff with them recovering from TJ and back surgery. I had the same surgery as huddy. He is my hero!
Rufio
Mike Lewis
September 9th, 2012
8:55 am
Great game Braves…keep it up!
For the bozos who are knocking TSA, stay off of my planes then because I want them to be diligent and I want to be safe on the plane and come home to my family…try the trains or buses, morons! No one is perfect.
man and dog
September 9th, 2012
9:03 am
It only took McCann the whole season to figure out how to beat the shift – BUNT down the third base line. And then there is the other stubborn one – Uggla, who finally seems to have figured out you don’t try swingging for the fence every time up. Quit being stupid guys. We need your bats now more than ever.
Mikey
September 9th, 2012
10:16 am
m.a.d: It’s funny they asked Ted Williams that same question regarding the shift and his answer was. “They pay me to knock in runs batting 3/4 and hit home runs not bunt” The fact that McCann won 5 Silver slugger awards (only Brave ever to win 5) is the reason he was not bunting. With that being said and his recent slump(injury), I would take HBP or a bunt just to help the team.
Brown Shorts Boy
September 9th, 2012
10:25 am
Like the Braves won an’ stuff. Does anyone want to be friends? I need a few of you to help me determine my emotions and no more naughty men. XXOOXX
Carl Farvman
September 9th, 2012
10:36 am
Uggla: “I’m back”
Really. This guy and his perpetual slumps are exhausting. Looks like he’ll lure the club to sleep again only to have to tolerate his being on fire 2 months of 7 next season. What a drag. Guys making this kind of money don’t have epic slumps every season.
Carl Farvman
September 9th, 2012
10:37 am
“The question to ponder………assuming the Braves hold on and win a wild card spot. Who is the starting pitcher for the Wild Card Playoff Game??? ”
Easy answer: GyEar Gergins.
the truth...
September 9th, 2012
11:04 am
@Mikey
Ted Williams eh?
Last time I checked there is no one on our roster with that name, so the quote is irrelevant to any past or present Brave with the possible exception of Hank when he was in his prime….
I don’t care what level you play at, it all begins with the team being more important than you are….. and walking, bunting, or what ever it takes to contribute to the team is your job………….period
When Uggla and Mac get it thru their thick skulls and remember that we will be ok…….
Brave New World
September 9th, 2012
11:18 am
Mets R Beat: Your inane posts ironically serve to do the impossible: All the other bloggers have finally found something they all agree with – you’re not to be taken seriously.
reckingball
September 9th, 2012
11:39 am
Ken Stallings @ 1:17am……..When was the last time that MLB had a 9-game world series?
Had you even been born when they had 9-game WSs?
Double Zero Eight
September 9th, 2012
11:41 am
Medlen is the ace on this staff. He should be number
one in the rotation for the playoffs.
AdirondackDave
September 9th, 2012
11:55 am
Commander Bloop — You got that wrong. Chipper’s desire to keep and even travel with the shell casing is very understandable. But that doesn’t override the time spent by authorities to check it out and deal with Chipper. My favorite ball player in the last 30 years should and very likely does understand why the shell casings should be left at home. Unfortunate, but these are the times we live in.
Mikey
September 9th, 2012
12:04 pm
Truth: When is the last time you have seen Howard or Fielder bunt into the same shift? As I said in my last sentence, when in a slump you do anything possible to get on base, but when you are the best hitting catcher in the league with power and RBI potential you swing the bat and win games.
Ps. Hank Aaron was not a pull hitter, thereby no reason to use shift
the truth...
September 9th, 2012
1:35 pm
I made no reference to Hank needing to beat the shift….my reference to Aaron was in comparing a Braves ballplayer to Ted Williams and Ted’s statement about the shift.
McCann WAS the best hitting catcher in baseball………..he IS NOT now anymore than Uggla is the best hitting 2nd baseman in baseball. Whether Mac gets back to that level of play behind the plate is questionable at his age and with the shoulder injurty………..
Mac did what he needed to do and the results speak for themselve..perhaps you should argue with yourself…surely you aren’t saying that TODAY Mac is the best hitting catcher in baseball are you?
I’m sure Mac would tell you he isn’t even close……….
the truth...
September 9th, 2012
1:35 pm
I made no reference to Hank needing to beat the shift….my reference to Aaron was in comparing a Braves ballplayer to Ted Williams and Ted’s statement about the shift.
McCann WAS the best hitting catcher in baseball………..he IS NOT now anymore than Uggla is the best hitting 2nd baseman in baseball. Whether Mac gets back to that level of play behind the plate is questionable at his age and with the shoulder injurty………..
Mac did what he needed to do and the results speak for themselve..perhaps you should argue with yourself…surely you aren’t saying that TODAY Mac is the best hitting catcher in baseball are you?
I’m sure Mac would tell you he isn’t even close……….
the truth...
September 9th, 2012
1:35 pm
I made no reference to Hank needing to beat the shift….my reference to Aaron was in comparing a Braves ballplayer to Ted Williams and Ted’s statement about the shift.
McCann WAS the best hitting catcher in baseball………..he IS NOT now anymore than Uggla is the best hitting 2nd baseman in baseball. Whether Mac gets back to that level of play behind the plate is questionable at his age and with the shoulder injurty………..
Mac did what he needed to do and the results speak for themselve..perhaps you should argue with yourself…surely you aren’t saying that TODAY Mac is the best hitting catcher in baseball are you?
I’m sure Mac would tell you he isn’t even close……….
the truth...
September 9th, 2012
1:38 pm
“sticky keys” was on ??????
74bravesjersey
September 9th, 2012
1:47 pm
Possibly after the way things hit last september woke up a sleeping giant for this team, & using last september swoon as a reminder & motivator to attack this thing keep’n their gaurd up. Hope so, anything to inspire.
DawgNole
September 9th, 2012
2:06 pm
Bronke
September 8th, 2012
10:57 pm
Do you guys really think Amber girl is a thirteen year old and sometimes fourteen year old? Really ? Sometimes she speaks with perfect clarity and sometimes like a five year old. I had my fifteen year old read her quotes and he says she is a definite troll. I trust him on this one. Sorry guys! Amber girl is not a little girl but some dude using our excellent site to pull in some lonely dudes who give her attention!
POPS
September 8th, 2012
11:03 pm
OK Bronke, Well said. That is your opinion and I respect that. Tell her how you feel and maybe you can get her to expose herself. I like her but I am just one person..
_____________________
“I’m Cris Hanson with MSNBC, and we’re doing a documentary on . . . .”
Mikey
September 9th, 2012
3:33 pm
The results speak for themselves! They certainly do. Home run, double …..4 rbi’s. That’s what we want McCann doing.
Mikey
September 9th, 2012
4:17 pm
Mac is back!