Live Blogging from the Bleachers: Astros at Braves

The Championship Bong!!

It's a split squad for both teams, so we might get to see the regulars play a little longer. I'm mildly excited to see Borchard play. A weird quirk of the lineup seems to be that Houston is using the DH, but Atlanta is not -- weird.

Houston lineup:

M. Bourne, CF
J. Cruz, DH
H. Pence, RF
M. Tejada, SS
T. Wigginton, 3B
L. Niekro, 1B
Y. Ramirez, LF
T. Perez, 2B
J.R. Towles, C

L. Rodriguez, P

Atlanta lineup:

K. Johnson, 2B
Y. Escobar, SS
C. Jones, 3B
M. Teixeira, 1B
J. Lopez, C
M. Kotsay, CF
J. Borchard, RF
B. Jones, LF
J. Reyes, P

Since Gondeee is going to run off and handle some minor league business, I have been suckered into giving updates until he returns.

One thing I want to note is that if you have never been to a Spring Training game at Champions Stadium, you are missing a special opportunity.  The people here are top notch and give you that old "Disney Love" that you expect from them.  They also do something special during the singing of the National Anthem.

When "the rockets red glare" is sung, they use fireworks to simulate.  When the "bombs are bursting in air", they again use fireworks.  The problem is that Walt and Company haven't figured out how to simulate night yet but when they do, you can count on seeing that first at WWOS.

I also have to give a shoutout to the Delta Air Lines plane that performed the flyover of Champions Stadium... I just don't know HOW they do it.

JoJo is having some problems finding the strikezone.  After starting with a leadoff walk to Michael "Jason" Bourne and his subsequent steal on a pickoff attempt, Going 3-2 on Cruz Jr., Going 3-2 on Pence, he finally began to show some control by striking out Anabolic Tejada and leading Wigginton to a F9.

More updates next half inning...

KJ grounded into a 4-3 for out one, Yunel cranked one to Center and  missed an HR by 4 feet of wall space so got the double.  Chipper reached out an lined one into right for a Base hit... Yunel scored.

Chipper was "caught" between 1st and 2nd and as we all do in that situation, we stop in the middle of the basepath and call a timeout... CLASSIC!

Tex walked and Javy shot one down the 3rd baseline but with that Sweet catchers speed was thrown out at first easily...
1-0 Braves End of One.

So how do you explain this inning...

BB, K, BB, BB, Falling down midway through a pitch where the catcher is called for Interference and they get to advance all runners a base, K, and K.

Houston Scores 1 on No hits...

Also, let me say that the true reason that Gondeee can't blog at the moment is the Horny Heifers located to his left.  They have commented on every Brave and the body part they most want to be a part of...

1-1 through 1 1/2.

Quick synopsis: Wandy wooked wonderful

Kotsay F8, Borchard K, B. Jones K

Reyes is gone...

Boyer looked pretty good this inning:

Pence went 3U, Anabolic Tejada shot one down the 1st base line, Wigginton F8, and Lil Niekro F9'ed to end the half.

1-1; 2 1/2

After Boyer struckout to begin the inning, Johnson singled, Escobar singled and Johnson moved to 2nd, Chipper K's, Texiera almost ended the inning but due to the stellar fielding of Wigginton at 3B by leaving the ball on the ground, bases were loaded on the E.  Javy ran the count to 3-2 and then just like in every other movie that shows the hero winning the game:

Mighty Javy has Struck Out...

1-1 Through 3.

Ramirez popper to Chipper, Perez K'ed, and Towles grounded out 6-3.  He threw majority of strikes and has looked sharp most of the Spring.  I just hope there is a spot for him in ATL and not having to travel to Richmond.

Kotsay 3U, Borchard 4-3, B. Jones, 4-3

That's a combined 0-6 today...

New pitcher comes in for us in the 5th...Royce Ring.

Oh Crap... Ring's pitching.  Now let me prelude this by saying that he met every right hander in the lineup so he got his workout.

Bourn to 1st, Cruz popped up to 2nd and it was MISSED!!!  1st and 2nd for Pence who tripled in two, Tejada walked, Wigginton dribbled to 3rd to get Pence who walked away too far, Niekro popped to Short and Ramirez finally finished off the inning for the 3rd out.

Middle of 5:  3-1 Stros.

Someone pinch hit for Ring (missed it... I was trying to recap that last half inning destruction.  Johnson Flied out and Escobar made the 3rd...

Now pitching for the Braves #40 Jeff Ridgway.

Ridgeway was able to get the righthanders out during his inning, thanks in part to a nice double play turned by the shortstop and Holt (who took over at second). There looks to be a new shortstop as well, but I can't tell who it is.

Chipper just doubled to open the bottom of the 6th and was replaced by a pinch runner.

After Chipper's double (he was replaced by Van Pope), Teixeira moved him to third, Javy broke his bat in half popping up on the infield, then Mark Kotsay drove him in with a seeing eye single between third and short. Borchard followed up with a single -- he only gets hits when people are on base. B. Jones struck out to end the inning.

Corky's taking over for Javy. Hicks was the shortstop replacement last inning. Looks like Flowers at first.

The pitcher replacement for the seventh inning was Francisley Bueno (or Frank Good to those who know him). The Braves seem to be trotting out all their lefties today. Bueno allowed a walk, but got the rest with no problem.

It's a minor league game from here on out.

The killer H's led of the inning with walks (Hicks and Holt), then T-Flow struck out and Van Pope flew out, before Greg White walked to load the bases. Corky went up to the plate hacking (after the pitcher had walked the bases full) and ended up striking out looking -- pitiful. He still doesn't have a hit this spring.

Frank Good back for another inning of work in the top of the eighth.

Another good inning from Frank Good. He gave up another walk, but worked through it. Good stuff from him today.

Josh Anderson leading off, he must have taken over for Kotsay several innings ago.

Jairo Cuevas pitching. He looks good -- a nice strong looking power pitcher with a fluid delivery, though he's just given up his third double -- oof!

The wave has broken out here at Disney with the half-crowd that's left.

The killer-H's strike again. Holt with a leadoff walk and then Hicks with a nice-looking homerun (aren't they all) to left field. T-Flow looked aweful in the next at-bat, striking out on three straight swings. Pope followed with a hit then Greg White grounded into an almost double-play. Corky then came up and did what he does -- look aweful, just aweful. Game over.

Sounds like Hicks did awfully well for himself today!