Braves Get Slapped Like a Horacio

Atlanta starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez gave up seven runs on seven hits and one walk, and couldn't get an out in the second inning, allowing six runners to reach before he was yanked by Cox. HoRam put it best when he said after the game, "I wasn't too good tonight."

There may have been another reason for this uncharacteristic outing from Horacio Ramirez. "The last hitter of the first inning [Horacio] felt something that was his hamstring, and he said it didn't bother him to throw, but I think it bothered his location," said Bobby Cox after the game. "I think he's going to be 100% fine, but it had to bother the location some." Both Cox and Ramirez think he will be able to make his next start after the All-Star break.

For his part Horacio said that he "really wanted to put a streak together, and hopefully today didn't put a total halt to it." He had hopes that the team would "be able to bounce back tomorrow," and that tonight was "just a little bump in the road." He also didn't want to make any injury related excuses for his rough start, but he did allude to the fact that it was bothering him. "Whenever I would try to get over my front side a little bit, [my hamstring] would grab me every once in a while."

The Reds starter, Eric Milton, pitched ably enough to take the win despite giving up five runs in six plus innings. After having given up two runs the inning before and having already thrown 82 pitches, Milton was sent back out to pitch the seventh. The Braves threatened and did push across a run, but the Reds bullpen came in and ended the bleeding with some help from Andruw Jones' assumption that a ball he hit would be caught. The screaming liner from Jones was dropped by third baseman Ryan Freel, but while Andruw had turned into a spectator at home plate and began his sprint to first a few seconds too late, Freel had recovered and threw on to first in time to get Jones. It was an unfortunate lack of effort for the All-Star centerfielder.

In contrast, Jeff Francoeur lead off the next inning with an infield chopper that he hustled out for an infield single to get the eighth inning started for Atlanta. Unfortunately, Adam LaRoche grounded into an inning ending double play an out later that was started by a no-look mid-air backhanded toss from Brandon Phillips to Juan Castro. It was easily the play of the night. Wut!

The Braves bullpen bounced back from their collapse a night ago. After a two inning stint from Oscar Villarreal in which he gave up two runs on five hits and a walk, Kevin Barry came out of the bullpen and threw four nearly perfect innings of relief, allowing only one walk. He pitched like a kid who deserves a shot at the starting rotation over anyone named Thomson or Cormier. Barry did make 12 starts in 15 appearances for Richmond, compiling some impressive numbers overall; in 77.1 innings he gave up 73 hits and issued just 27 walks while striking out 63 batters and allowing just three homeruns - good control and he kept it in the park.

Two errors by Todd Pratt on the night made no one forget that Brian McCann was not in the lineup, especially McCann's Cans, who had no one to cheer for. The first error from Pratt came in the first inning and did not result in a run, but the eighth inning throwing error on a stolen base attempt did result in the only run the bullpen allowed after the second inning. Pratt also went 0-4 at the plate, and is proving to be nothing more than dead weight on this team. As a catcher he has only thrown out 5 of 23 base runners attempting to steal. By contrast, McCann has thrown out 12 of 33 runners attempting to steal. Ironically, it was Todd Pratt who worked with McCann this winter on his footwork behind the plate in a successful effort to try and improve his caught stealing percentage.

Unlike the Braves closer last night, the Reds new closer, "Everyday" Eddie Guardado, was able to hold a five run lead in the ninth; denying even one runner to reach base.

John Smoltz will try to win back to back starts for only the second time this year as he faces one of the good Cincinnati pitchers in Aaron Harang tomorrow night at the Ted.

Cincinnati 10, Atlanta 5 at Turner Field
Cincinnati Record: (45-42)
Atlanta Record: (38-49)

Winning pitcher - Eric Milton (5-4)
Losing pitcher - Horacio Ramirez (4-3)