From Braves-Phils: Can the Bradley live-blog streak continue?
This young fellow always seems to hit when MB's here. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
Strange homestand. The Braves have been shut out twice and no-hit once over these five games. On Sunday they were an out away from losing 3-2, and two nights ago they were an out away from losing 3-0. And yet they’ve won three times in five.
They’ve done it with two bursts of late-inning lightning, sure, but they’ve also done it with pitching. The Braves’ starting pitchers have managed only one win this homestand — that by Derek Lowe against Colorado on Friday in a game he led 7-0 after two innings — but they’ve kept their team close in every game except Saturday’s, which was the night Kenshin Kawakami worked against no-hit Ubaldo Jimenez.
Throw out that game and the Braves’ starting pitchers have yielded 10 earned runs in four starts against two good-hitting teams this homestand. And that is, I submit, what will have to keep the Braves close if they’re going to make a race of it — pitching.
The Braves are hitting .227 as a team. That’s second-worst in the National League. That will improve over time — it has to improve, does it not? — but this lineup isn’t apt to hit .270 all summer. Too many holes, as we’ve noted a time or two before.
But the lesson of three wins in five games is that pitching is the great equalizer. The Braves haven’t hit much this homestand — 33 hits and 17 runs in five games — but they haven’t let the other guys hit much, either. (The Rockies and Phillies have mustered 35 hits and 17 runs between them.) Tonight Lowe starts against Jamie Moyer, and Lowe is 3-0.
And I’ll be here all night, watching and reporting and typing and chattering away. I’d be obliged if you’d join me, and I should note that the four previous games we’ve done this the home team has prevailed. With two walk-off wins. With three wins in the final at-bat. With Jason Heyward having an RBI in all four games. As Kate Smith was to the Philly Flyers, I am to the 2010 Bravos.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
481 comments Add your comment
Tdawg
April 22nd, 2010
8:36 pm
Lowe ain’t 3 and 0 no more. Being shut out again are they. By a powder- puff pitcher yet. Hum, why am I not shocked? Cox, got them bags packed yet. Your team has no heart. I’d git while I was still above .500 if I were you. No one would blame ya.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:36 pm
your’re right Rob. 2 runs is almost insrumountable for these Braves.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:37 pm
Mark, what was it you said about the Braves plating a few against Moyer?
The Real UT
April 22nd, 2010
8:38 pm
Mark, what are the chances of seeing either Schafer or Freeman with the Braves this year?
MitchC
April 22nd, 2010
8:38 pm
Mark, I just came home, and saw it’s 5-0, and then turned it off.
I know it’s early, but.if we lose tonight, even if it’s only April,. Philly has sent us a message. Halliday shuts us out last night, and then they slug us tonight.
I just think that over the course of 162 games, Philly has more talent than us. They have won three straight divisions, and are the team to beat. My call: The Braves have the potential to have a good season, but the wild card would be a more realistic scenario.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:38 pm
Define “a few,” Coach Grantham.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:38 pm
moyer: 117-0 when given a 5+ run lead…
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
There’s a chance on both, Real UT. Especially Schafer. I wouldn’t expect Freeman before September.
worst to first
April 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
well as you said momentum is only as good as the next day’s starter and Lowe is the only braves starter that swings the momentum into the opponents favor. Ive yet to see an out pitch of any kind from Lowe this season. His sinker is no longer working as that pitch.He is just not finishing batter’s he gets ahead of and more often than not he is behind after the first pitch. First pitch strikes are the key to a good start and im sure statistics support that
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
aint no sunshine when braves dont hit
this aint no high school skit
caint score no runs
bullpen dont get no fun
when the braves get lit
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:40 pm
Braves pinch-hit for Lowe.
Lowe: 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Threw 96 pitches.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:40 pm
Mark, few was your choice of words, not mine.
jmarable
April 22nd, 2010
8:40 pm
i ‘ve said it b4 no runs with no speed, no lead off man, no hitters just a bunch of long swingers,except prado and heywood and mccain.they hit it where its pitched.cant win if u dont score, no matter how good your pitching is.and the braves front office just dont get that.they didnt get it then.[one world series] and they dont get it now.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:41 pm
Two on, top of the order up. Here’s your breakout.
OzzieVirgilsBeard
April 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
Nice one Grantham.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
Let’s see. Lowe’s 2010 salary is $15 million. sure is earning that so far this year.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
Now the Phillies mess up a DP.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
That’s an error on Utley for dropping the throw.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
first homerless run of the series.
Bravissimo
April 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
tit for a tat…lol
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
takes a boot to score a run. unearned, right?
Vino Fino
April 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
Wow- what are the odds! Two botched double plays in one game. Let’s hope this one costs the Phils as much as it cost us!!!
The Real UT
April 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
How excited are all you Dawgs that Eric Berry won’t be putting on that Orange and White 14 anymore. I’m going to miss watching him play. That’s for sure.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
as will be the rest of the runs this inning. assuming there are more runs this inning.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
another boot
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
Another Utley miscue. Another run.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
well…they aren’t pretty, but…
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Utley has the reputation of being a good fielder, but he sure makes a lot of errors.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
2 runs. none earned.
Bravissimo
April 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Nice job by Diaz!
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Well. Does that qualify as manufacturing runs? Scoring when the other team fouls up?
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Braves bullpen is superior to their starters.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
One run earned for the Braves. Because you can’t assume a double play.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
i’ve noticed that about utley too, mark. maybe it’s his athleticism in getting to some of the balls he gets to?
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
no it doesnt qualify.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:47 pm
You’re right. I heard Ernie say the “cant assume” line a million times.
Bravissimo
April 22nd, 2010
8:47 pm
Think Derrick Morgan will still be around for the Falcons?
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:47 pm
I guess, kurula.
Scoring correction: No earned runs that inning.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
If Derrick Morgan is around for the Falcons, Thomas Dimitroff is luckier than D. Lowe.
Bravissimo
April 22nd, 2010
8:49 pm
only 5 more picks to go MB
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:50 pm
do you trade up 5 spots to get morgan?
The Real UT
April 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
It could happen with Morgan. Watch out for the Broncos now that Rolando’s a Raider.
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
Hey, what did i say about no earned runs? have to point that out cause i’m so rarely correct.
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
I would, kurula.
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:52 pm
as would i….
Vino Fino
April 22nd, 2010
8:52 pm
I haven’t read the whole string, so I’m not sure if this has been discussed, but why is TP not being held responsible for this wretched offense? I know he can’t take the AB’s for the players, but surely there must be something fundamentally wrong with the coaching when a team consistently can not hit like a major league team should for over a full season now!
kurula
April 22nd, 2010
8:52 pm
philly traded up…maybe morgan falls again?
todd grantham
April 22nd, 2010
8:53 pm
who would have guessed Moyer is batting now?
Mark Bradley
April 22nd, 2010
8:53 pm
Organist plays “When I’m 64,” for Moyer.
gayle
April 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
For the trivia buffs here since this game is moving slowly – last night, the Mariners beat the Orioles 4-1, no great surprise. But both starting pitchers threw complete games – Hernandez for the M’s and old Brave Millwood for the O’s.
When is the last time there were only two pitchers used in a 9-inning game?