Game 118 Recap: Braves 9, Diamondbacks 4

by royhobbs on Aug 17, 2009 8:08 PM EDT Comment 28 comments

What an awesome picture of Tommy Hanson.

Despite the claims and threats of rain, Mother Nature kept to herself to allow in this long-overdue makeup game with with Diamondbacks. In a way, the long delay prior to finishing out this series might not have been such a bad thing - back in May, the Diamondbacks with Scherzer on the mound stomped a mudhole in the Braves, winning 12-0. That was a time in which the Braves still had Casey Kotchman, Jeff Francoeur and Jordan Schafer in the bottom of the order, and Buddy Carlyle didn't realize that he was Diabetic. Well, a lot has changed since May, and a different looking Braves team finished out the series with a nice win, which is what the team needed.

The Braves struck first early, with a Garret Anderson solo shot in the bottom of the second inning, and never really had to look back. From there, the Braves continued to capitalize on Scherzer's wildness; after some painful-sounding HBPs to Matt Diaz and Yunel Escobar, Adam LaRoche nursed out a bases-loaded walk, and Ryan Church cleared the bases to break the game wide open.

The Dbacks did not go quietly, however, as Tommy Hanson thrust with a 7-0 lead, struggled to get out of the 5th inning, allowing two earned runs. The good news was the Braves responded quickly, with LaRoche's 17th total home run of the season, with Escobar on base. A two-run home run by Mark Reynolds was the last of the game's offense, and the 9th inning saw some (deliberate?) wildness from Mike Gonzalez before the game's end.

Two quick things to note:
1. Blaine Boyer made his first appearance against Atlanta since being traded in early April. He pitched one inning of scoreless relief, only allowing a walk, and striking out Chipper Jones.
2. Reid Gorecki made his major league debut today, coming in the 8th inning, as a defensive substitution for Garret Anderson. He recorded one putout, and got no at-bat.

A good win to cap off a 4-2 homestand. Tomorrow, the Braves start a three-game series with the New York Mets. First on the agenda, is Derek Lowe versus the "effectively wild" Oliver Perez, who has had a history of good performances against the Braves. Regardless, they're now without David Wright - so it goes without saying that now is certainly an opportunity to capitalize upon.

Final - 8.17.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arizona Diamondbacks	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	0	4	6	1
Atlanta Braves	0	1	6	0	2	0	0	0	X	9	6	2
WP: Tommy Hanson (8 - 2) LP: Max Scherzer (7 - 7)

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Hey! No Josh Johnson this weekend!

That’s gonna help.

And…

“That was a time in which the Braves still had Casey Kotchman, Jeff Francoeur and Jordan Schafer in the bottom of the order, and Buddy Carlyle didn’t realize that he was Diabetic. Well, a lot has changed since May…”

What an understatement. I still cant believe we had that shitty lineup just 2 months ago. Frank Wren is THE MAN.

7/24/2009 - "The Phillies are too far ahead in the NL East for the Braves to make a run." - Buster Olney

REMEMBER THAT BOYS.

by mvhsbball on Aug 17, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pick it up, Chipper. Yeah, you. Quit swinging at shite. What the hell happened to your plate discipline?

If anybody finds a gif of “the late dive,” lol, post away. Loves it.

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

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 17, 2009 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

Maybe he’d be OPSing 1500 in the last two weeks instead of 1000 if his approach wasn’t so terrible.

My first argument against socialized healthcare? Yunel Escobar's grill.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 17, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol. Striking out at Boyer’s gutterball negates all.

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

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 17, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice recap

I’d like to add, when was the last time we scored 9 runs on only 6 hits? I’m sure Elias will tell us tomorrow.

by gondeee on Aug 17, 2009 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting to see Boyer throwing well.

He’s actually been pretty good with the D-Backs.

My first argument against socialized healthcare? Yunel Escobar's grill.

by MichaelProcton on Aug 17, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

probably cause theres absolutely NO pressure.

7/24/2009 - "The Phillies are too far ahead in the NL East for the Braves to make a run." - Buster Olney

REMEMBER THAT BOYS.

by mvhsbball on Aug 17, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of pressure, they had best sweep the “Phillies” at home. lol

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

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 17, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

errr…..in the “City of Phags,” rather.

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

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 17, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha they could do it…Garland and Pedro is a wash. Haren is better than Lee. And Davis and Blanton are pretty equal as well. Hopefully Mark Reynolds and Steven Drew hit like 10 HRs the next 3 days.

7/24/2009 - "The Phillies are too far ahead in the NL East for the Braves to make a run." - Buster Olney

REMEMBER THAT BOYS.

by mvhsbball on Aug 17, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reynolds

could hit 10 by himself.

Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.

by VivaLosBravos on Aug 17, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha and they say we're classless.

Pschaw.

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Aug 18, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jason Heyward

was really bad tonight. 0-4 including a strikeout on 3 pitches with the bases loaded in the 8th. He’s officially in a bad slump.

7/24/2009 - "The Phillies are too far ahead in the NL East for the Braves to make a run." - Buster Olney

REMEMBER THAT BOYS.

by mvhsbball on Aug 17, 2009 11:37 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

He'll snap out of it next week....

when he realizes I’m there scouting him.

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Aug 18, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anybody else just realize our last two wins were greatly aided by the inability of the other team to make a simple out when we sacrificed? Lidge and Scherzer both threw the ball away and cost their team in each of the games, just goes to show you that it all comes back to the simple fundamentals

by McCann's the Man on Aug 18, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The importance of bunting

I think it’s going overlooked and underpracticed all year, considering how many times we as Braves fans have seen pitchers (and other position players) fail miserably at dropping down bunts in high-pressure situations. Fielding them on the other hand, hasn’t been so bad; with the exception of a greedy play by Vazquez out in SF, the Braves have done well fielding opposing bunts.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 18, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For supposedly having a tired arm...

Hanson looked pretty solid yesterday…with the only blemish being the Reynold’s home run but then again he hits homers off of everyone.

Hopefully he can store some of his energy in his photgenic tongue for the stretch run here!

btw…Yunel’s way-off-the-mark dive was absolutely hilarious…maybe it will help him brush off some of the swagger Bobby doesn’t like!

by THan$ons_Tongue on Aug 18, 2009 7:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for reminding me of that horrible, horrible game. I had mentally blocked that i was paid money to see that one.

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

by 10-4 on Aug 18, 2009 8:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

*paid money, not was paid money. That would have made it more bearable.

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

by 10-4 on Aug 18, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice win for Hanson and we took advantage of hit batters and men on base. Just what the doctor ordered after losing the series to the Phils. This make up game win means we won the series against the Diamondbacks even if delayed.

Ross was 1-3 (a double) and had 1 BB. IMO, he needs to catch for one of our starters once a week and give BMac a day of rest.

We need to Mop the Mets now – wouldn’t a sweep be sweet?!

by NCChopper on Aug 18, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mets series starts tonight....

NYM: LHP Oliver Perez (2-3, 5.97 ERA)
Perez fared well his last time out, allowed one earned run on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision, but he’s still plagued by command issues. He walked six batters in Arizona and has allowed fewer than three free passes just once in his past 10 starts. He took a no-decision in his most recent start against Atlanta, yielding three runs on five hits over six innings and is 6-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 15 outings against the Braves for his career.

Can we PLEASE be patient with this guy tonight. He is capable of giving you the game if you make him pitch and not give him gifts of short innings.

by NCChopper on Aug 18, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boone Logan sighting!

Nice work finding an inning for Boone Logan Bobby — his first action since AUG 4th! I always like having relievers in my bullpen that appear once every two weeks. Maybe David Ross should be Boone’s private catcher. Instead of starting Ross once every 5 days we can only put him in when Logan pitches. That way two roster spots will waste away while the other bullpen arms get totally worn out and our starting catcher starts slumping due to fatigue.

by fphjr01 on Aug 18, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, the Logan issue completely baffles me.

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

by 10-4 on Aug 18, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great win to pickup here. Hanson has been pretty solid, and could be the best pitcher in the majors within the next 2-3 years. Really great to see him doing well.

Despite the lost series to the Phils, we are currently 10-5 in August, and 19-11 since the break. We need to sweep the Mets, and take 2 0f 3 from the Marlins. Hopefully we will get some help against the other wild card leaders, which (IMO) is what the goal should be. But the Bravos are playing great baseball.

BTW, anyone else wish the Fish would just go away already? Damn sick of seeing them above us in the standings.

I thought hurricane season was over........

by bravesguy311 on Aug 18, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The six-year rule

The Marlins will win it all every six years, and then trade away the farm. It’s been six years since the last Marlins crown, so it’s due. They’ll get the wild card, and then storm their way through the playoffs with their good pitching, and Hanley Ramirez going nuts. And Cody Ross will quietly hit a homer in every game.

At 23-1 to win it all, I couldn’t not put a little bit of money on the Marlins to win it all when I was out in Vegas two weekends ago.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Aug 18, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs