Game 69 Recap: Cubs 0, Braves 2

by gondeee on Jun 22, 2009 10:30 PM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 23 comments

The Braves finally won a start for Javier Vazquez, his first win since May 20th. The Cubs had their seeing-eye-single bats working tonight, and ended the night with 10 hits, but not a one seemed to be hit too hard, just properly placed. Ten singles with no runs to show for it is something the Braves are very familiar with. Luckily this time it didn't happen to them.

The Braves offense took advantage of several run scoring opportunities with the new guy, Nate McLouth, in the middle of it all. A leadoff walk to Diory Hernandez in the third inning, and a perfect sac bunt by Vazquez, allowed McLouth to drive in Hernandez to give the Braves the lead. In the seventh, McLouth got the inning going with a one-out double, then moved to third on a Martin Prado single, and finally scored on a sac fly by Chipper Jones.

Vazquez worked his way in and out of trouble all night, but he used the strikeout to escape jams and didn't really give up any hard-hit balls, the hits just found holes. Peter Moylan bailed Vazquez out of a two-out, two-on situation in the seventh by getting Derek Lee to fly out. Mike Gonzalez looked sharp in the eighth, and Rafael Soriano, despite giving up a seeing-eye single and a walk, struck out the side to end the game.

It was a good win for the Braves, who needed a good start to this homestand. It only gets harder, but it should be a lot of fun.

Yunel Escobar sat out the game with a strained hip flexor, the same injury that limited him earlier in the season, and Kelly Johnson left the game with bilateral cramps.

Final - 6.22.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago Cubs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
Atlanta Braves	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	X	2	8	0
WP: Javier Vazquez (5 - 6) SV: Rafael Soriano (6) LP: Ryan Dempster (4 - 5)

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Go Bravos

Bump. The. Cubbies.

"The future is no place to place your better days." - Dave Matthews ~ RIP Roi
(self-appointed President of Yunel's Cartel~~~)

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Jun 22, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it's just not fair

The way Vazquez has pitched lately, for him to be 5-6 is a crime. Dude should be an all star. At least he got a win tonight.

by beeswax on Jun 22, 2009 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another reason why W-L should be irrelevant in a pitcher's statistics repertoire.

Oh, Bobby.

by sdp on Jun 22, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think thats becoming much more the case with FAs and in trades. How do Javy and KK have the same number of wins? Sure, KK has been pretty damn good as of late, but Javy has been dominate in 60% of his starts this year.

AB: Jeff Francoeur
Pitching: Any pitcher in MLB
Runners: Escobar at 3rd, Chipper at 2nd, McCann at 1st.

Pitch 1: In play, out(s)

by mvhsbball on Jun 22, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, KK has been pretty good lately.

3.94 ERA in his last five starts.

Just like GA has an .812 OPS in the last 28 days.

I’m not saying you are saying this obviously, but I’m tired of people ragging on GA and KK because they obviously haven’t been paying attention to what they have been doing lately and can only remember the bad from earlier in the season.

by bbxxj on Jun 23, 2009 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I havn’t heard as much GA bashing as of late, and the people who are still doing it simply don’t know what they’re talking about. He looks like a different person in the batter’s box.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 23, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The defense hasn’t changed, which probably is what gets to alot of people. But you’re right, he’s been great at the plate lately.

"Ohhhh Shit."-Bobby Cox, 3/28/09

by 10-4 on Jun 23, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2-2 on our stretch of hell

ill be happy with a 7-6 record. Pissed at anything worse than 6-7. and ecstatic with anything above 9-4.

AB: Jeff Francoeur
Pitching: Any pitcher in MLB
Runners: Escobar at 3rd, Chipper at 2nd, McCann at 1st.

Pitch 1: In play, out(s)

by mvhsbball on Jun 22, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It would be fine with me if the Braves took this opportunity to reel off 10 straight wins. They could just shoot into first place before the all-star break.

by Bronn on Jun 22, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

That’s optimism I can get behind.

http://hobnailboot.wordpress.com/

by AuditDawg on Jun 23, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank goodness we get to see the dregs of the Yankees rotation

Wang has turned into a meatball dispenser because his sinker stays about belt-high all the time, Chamberlain is just ehh and should at the very least get us into the Yankees’ miserable pen quickly, and Pettitte isn’t what he used to be. Now, if our pitchers can step up like they have all season, this should be a fun series to watch.

by was385 on Jun 23, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am really excited to see Hanson pitch again and have a good shot at the win.

by bbxxj on Jun 23, 2009 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Yankees Rotation

And yet…Sadly the only game I’m truly optimistic about is the one against Wang. Wang we should be able to tee off on a la Dice-K last weekend. Joba & Pettitte…I’m a little less open about. Joba will only go 5 innings, but likely they’ll be decent-to-good ones against the horribly inept offense we’re throwing out there right now. In regards to Pettitte, we really REALLY just never hit lefties. Ever. Period. Here’s to hopes of a 2-1 record against the Yanks.

by b1eedb1ack on Jun 23, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

.706 Team OPS vs righties

.738 Team OPS vs lefties

We actually hit lefties better.

by bbxxj on Jun 23, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

“Meatball dispenser” is classic.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 23, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Javy is REALLY impressive with the bat...

10 sacs already this year in 15 starts, and he’s only struck out 76 times in 461 career ABs…that’s mighty good for a guy who makes his living with his arm.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 23, 2009 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs