Braves Beat Pirates 5-2, Heyward is Unstoppable
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 5:10 PM EDT
in Braves Game Recaps
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PrintI love this team. I really do.
Quick! Let's go back to May 9th. The Braves were 6 games back in the NL East. They were fresh off of a 9-game losing streak. Jair Jurrjens was about to go on the DL. No one besides Heyward and Prado were hitting. Games were being lost in the late innings and early leads seemed impossible to achieve. A new "Fire Terry Pendleton" FanPost was up every day on Talking Chop. And worst of all, people were honestly starting to wonder if this team would play .500 baseball the rest of the season.
Now it's May 30th. The Braves are 1/2 a game behind the Phillies in the NL East with a 3-game series starting tomorrow. Martin Prado is on pace to win a batting title. Jason Heyward is out-of-this-world good and is an MVP candidate if he and the Braves keep this up. Chipper is heating up. BMac is heating up. Eric Hinske (and now Melky Cabrera) are just fine in LF. Kris Medlen has been great in JJ's spot in the rotation and Kenshin Kawakami is showing everyone that he really is a good pitcher. Everything is coming together.
The Braves, despite leaving a ridiculous 12 runners on base and going 3-for-12 with RISP, battled to score 5 runs on Sunday afternoon. Kenshin Kawakami was great. Besides a horrible foul-tip call and then a deep HR to right from Jeff Clement, he was on all afternoon. KK was keeping his pitches down and Pirates hitters failed to make solid contact all game long. The bullpen was just as impressive on Sunday. Eric O'Flaherty struck out the only batter he saw and Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner worked 1-2-3 innings. Wags picked up his 392nd career save and looked just as he did 10 years ago.
The Braves got on the board early for the 3rd straight game. Troy Glaus drove in Marteeeen Prado with a deep sac-fly to center field. Glaus then showed his POWAH and put the Braves up 2-0 with a line drive HR down the LF line.
As mentioned above, Kawakami dominated the Pirates hitters until the 7th. After it appeared KK struck out Garrett Jones, the 3rd base umpire (incorrectly) said the ball was foul-tipped into the dirt. Both Bobby Cox and David Ross had a fit and pleaded their case, but the umps ruled it a foul ball. KK then walked Jones and Jeff Clement drilled a 2-run HR to center field. The game was tied 2-2.
The Braves struck up a little magic in the 8th. Nate McLouth batted Joel Hanrahan and worked a walk on a 9-pitch AB. McLouth then stole 2nd and Brian McCann, playing for the first time since Wednesday, drew a walk in his only AB of the day. Martin Prado struck out for the 2nd out and Chipper was called to pinch hit. On a 0-1 pitch, Chipper "fisted" a "Ric Flair" to left field that was just out of the reach of the Pirates shortstop. McLouth scored easily from 2nd to put the Braves up 3-2. Then, it was Jason Heyward time.
The Pirates brought in lefty Javier Lopez to face Heyward. Heyward swung and missed on a filthy slider for strike one. He then fouled off the 2nd pitch for strike two. Lopez, who should've wasted at least a pitch or two, got greedy and tried another slider on the outside part of the plate. J-Hey was ready this time. He ripped a triple into the left-center field gap that scored McCann and Chipper without a throw. Turner Field erupted and the Braves led 5-2 going into the 9th.
With the wind and rain on the way, Billy Wagner worked a quick 9th. He struck out Delwyn Young and then made an impressive basket catch on a Garrett Jones bloop for out #2. Bobby Crosby ripped the ball to LF, but Melky Cabrera was able to make an over-the-head catch to end the game.
Braves win 5-2!
Game MVP(s):
Kenshin Kawakami - 6.2IP 4H 2ER 2BB/2K
Jason Heyward - 2-for-5, 2RBI triple in the 8th
Troy Glaus - 1-for-2, HR(7) 2RBI 2BB
Game LVP(s):
Joel Hanrahan - 1.2IP 1H 3ER 2BB/2K
Nate McLouth - 0-for-3, BB 6 LOB
Upcoming Game: Phillies at Braves, 1:05EST - Joe Blanton vs. Tommy Hanson
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1/2 a game back, and that’s as good as being tied for 1st.
KK was named player of the game by Braves fans on the postgame show
and i love Chipper Jones.
That is all.
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
by MBL1 on May 30, 2010 5:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
KK deserved it.
Of course, he deserved a fucking W even more….
"Never doubt Derek Lowe's ability to win despite himself."
by EricGreggWasPaidOff on May 30, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Have to give it to Tim Kurkjian
He felt that the Braves were going to turn around about the time they did, and play strong for the rest of the year. He still thinks that the Phillies will win the East, but I think the series will swing it our way.
We’ll shock the Phillies this upcoming series
i know we will
I FEEL IT
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
by MBL1 on May 30, 2010 5:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Phillies averaging 1.7 runs per game in the last 11 games
Including ONE RUN IN THEIR PAST 4 GAMES. We are seeing them at the perfect time.
Combine their anemic offense with our hot hitting and the fact that we wont see Halladay and I think we have a real chance at a sweep. That would be HUGE.
60% of the time, it works every time
woah now. They always hit Hanson well and DLowe can blow up at any time. There’s a chance of a sweep, but I just want a series win.
"Batting 4th and doing the catching, says here this guy weighs 210 pounds...I'm not buyin it! It's Brian McCann."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
We've got the edge in all 3 pitching matchups
And their offense lately = suck
Our offense lately = not suck
I will remain highly optimistic and expect the sweep.
60% of the time, it works every time
the Phillies are having a similar stretch to what we had during out 9 game losing streak. we all saw how quickly a team can come out of it. and there’s no reason to believe the Phillies won’t do it tomorrow.
now there’s also an equal chance that they keep playing like they have been and the Braves sweep them with three straight 8-0 wins, but who knows. like i said, I just want a series win, but i’d love a sweep.
"Batting 4th and doing the catching, says here this guy weighs 210 pounds...I'm not buyin it! It's Brian McCann."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
not to mention the fact that we have the ever inept Nate McLouth on our team...
…maybe he’ll read this and decide to pick up his play for this series
by SouthernPanther on May 30, 2010 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Hardly an Anemic Offense in Philly
They could explode at anytime and embarass the heck out of any pitcher or team. No doubt they are strugglin right now. JRoll on the DL is a good thing for the entire divison…he really is a big cog in getting that offense goin…
Kawakami is not absolute shit, but he isn’t any good either.
by Nova Scotia Steve on May 30, 2010 5:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Love me some Heywardo!!
It’s great that the commentators were talking about Heyward’s ability to adjust during an at-bat, and he ends up doing just that.
"If I had a little humility, I would be perfect" - Ted Turner
ah, forgot him in the MVP section. I added him.
"Batting 4th and doing the catching, says here this guy weighs 210 pounds...I'm not buyin it! It's Brian McCann."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
SHAME ON YOU FOR FORGETTING GLAUSOSAUR
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
RAWR!!!
"Never doubt Derek Lowe's ability to win despite himself."
by EricGreggWasPaidOff on May 30, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
great to see him go yard today
seems like when he is hitting well…we are playing well…coincidence? i think not
by SouthernPanther on May 30, 2010 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Prado and Heyward are the new dynamic duo for the Bravos! I felt KK was going to get a no decision somehow and deserved a hell of a lot better. Great Sweep. Let’s Go for the series win against the fools from up north.
by romone_braves91 on May 30, 2010 5:26 PM EDT reply actions
Playin Some Good Ball Now!
I’m also glad there is no “Poor KK” crap this afternoon. He’s a grown man pitching in the majors he knows how to win and definitely knows how to lose. And he sure as hell ain’t poor! Big series coming up…hope the good crowds continue at Turner Field! Go Braves! PS FIRE TP – lol
Kawakami is not absolute shit, but he isn’t any good either.
by Nova Scotia Steve on May 30, 2010 5:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Pssst... Hey phillies....
The foot steps you’ve been hearing for three weeks is going to turn into a foot in your ass tomorrow! Go Braves!!
Braves Win! Braves Win!
by Frozen Fan on May 30, 2010 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah baby!!!
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
Game MVP??????????????
No Chipper? Without his hit they are probably still playing right now.
Some Predictions...
1. The Braves will take 2 out of 3 against the Phills.
2. We will coast to the NL East title after the Phills series.
3. Jason Heyward will be named rookie of the year and MVP.
4. We sweep every playoff series on route to our first championship since ’95.
5. We will be the best team in baseball till the end of the 2012 season having won 3 consecutive championships.
6. Jason Heyward will be MVP for all of said seasons and will have broken every single hitting record in the history of baseball by the end of 2012.
7. December 21, 2012 the world ends as the Mayan Calender runs out.
8. Jason Heyward is the only survivor.
you know my steeze!
by ledge2 on May 30, 2010 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Lol. I think Heyward will travel back in time. Kick some Mayan ass till they agree to extend there calender another 25 years. So he can finish his career and make the HOF.
Braves Win! Braves Win!
I've noticed...
Everytime Glaus almost catches Heywards RBI total, he goes into a little slump. NOBODY but Jason Heyward will lead this team In RBis, NOBODY!! I’m surprised he’s allowed Prado to lead the team in hits, AVG and runs for as long as he has. And those pitchers, with there fancy ERAs, Ks, wins and WHIP better watch their ass too. Heyward is no longer amused. And who’s this Hank Aaron guy?
Braves Win! Braves Win!
When Prado wins his batting title at the end of the season, he’ll pull his mask off and reveal himself as Jason Heyward. Funny thing is that there are always 3 JayHeys in existence at any time, so the third one must still be in hiding. I bet he’s Pujols.
Morton hit Heyward with an offspeed pitch. Early indication is that the baseball survived the impact.
GREAT SCOTT!
HOW COULD YOU FORGET THAT HEYWARD CAN TIME TRAVEL!? THAT DOES CHANGE EVERYTHING!
"Never doubt Derek Lowe's ability to win despite himself."
by EricGreggWasPaidOff on May 30, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I know I’m great. Thanks man.
"Batting 4th and doing the catching, says here this guy weighs 210 pounds...I'm not buyin it! It's Brian McCann."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 6:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
3 consecutive champz? French fry that! How about 15 consecutive division titles?
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
by MBL1 on May 30, 2010 6:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
From SF:
Kelly Johnson just hit a single and tried for second. He was out by a country mile. Giants fans laugh ruefully.
I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing Matt Cain.
Did I hear it right, our bullpen is perfect in the last 5.2 innings yesterday and today? No hits no Walks
Heyward is pretty good
This is starting to get interesting
I would still flip Heyward and Chipper but that’s a quibble at this point.
The bottom line is, this is a pretty good team when everyone (or at least 75% of everyone) is playing well.
"Yeah, and if your Aunt Minnie had a moustache she'd be your Uncle Fred.." - Ernie Johnson
Pete Said It Best
While in the booth with Joe and Chip on Saturday: With Jurrens on the DL and the team get basically little to no offense from 3 players there’s reason to be excited with where the team stands. And you know he was talking about Yunel, Nate, and Melky. Although Melky has put a few solid games together…Yunel hit today but has still looked terrible and lost at the plate…
Kawakami is not absolute shit, but he isn’t any good either.
by Nova Scotia Steve on May 30, 2010 6:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Pete is awesomeee
It's deja vu all over again.
You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
It ain't over til it's over
-Yogi Berra
by MBL1 on May 30, 2010 7:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yunel has had multi hit games 3/5 games
with two 0-fers in between. I think we are seeing Yunel come around…he still isn’t striking out which is always good…sooner or later he’ll stop rolling every ball to short as well.
by SouthernPanther on May 30, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Happily
In MLB, you get to keep the hits you earn, even if the judges think you look lost at the plate.
"Yeah, and if your Aunt Minnie had a moustache she'd be your Uncle Fred.." - Ernie Johnson
by Sam Jethroe on May 31, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
i love this team
cant wait to beat those phillies
I remember last time...
before our last series with the phillies, we were all kind of scared and nervous, hoping to get 2 of 3. Now most of us are expecting a sweep. my how things have changed.
Braves 28-22 and .5 back. Hanson and Hudson on the hill for the first two games against the NL champs. Enough said. Let’s Go Bravos!
by romone_braves91 on May 30, 2010 7:13 PM EDT reply actions
Hudson
wins most ballsy pitching performance of the season for pitching himself out of that jam in the monsoon the other day
by SouthernPanther on May 30, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
and slow and weak version
and less clutch…and old
just all around worse
by SouthernPanther on May 30, 2010 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions
And with less class
and style
"Yeah, and if your Aunt Minnie had a moustache she'd be your Uncle Fred.." - Ernie Johnson
by Sam Jethroe on May 31, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
A "Ric Flair"
I’ve never heard this until the last few games by Joe. Is he saying Ric Flair or Rip?
In order to be the man ya gotta beat the man!
Whoooooo!
by Chesterhighwater on May 30, 2010 7:27 PM EDT reply actions
He's saying "Ric"
He started calling flares that a few years ago. It’s one of the many times I really miss Sciambi because Boog would always let a soft little “Whooo!” when Joe said that. It was a wonderful touch.
"Yeah, and if your Aunt Minnie had a moustache she'd be your Uncle Fred.." - Ernie Johnson
by Sam Jethroe on May 31, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
OT: Chris Berman
sounds like a fucking moron on BBTN. Go do football and quit making my ears hurt. The whole “back,back,back,back!!!!!” thing was cute in 1998, but stop doing it. Thanks.
"Batting 4th and doing the catching, says here this guy weighs 210 pounds...I'm not buyin it! It's Brian McCann."
oh cool, and we got a 15 second highlight. that’s about right. I love when they say “Oh wow, the Braves came out of nowhere!” No we didn’t. It just seems that way because you Yankee and Phillies loving fucktards don’t ever talk about teams outside of the northeast.
"Batting 4th and doing the catching, says here this guy weighs 210 pounds...I'm not buyin it! It's Brian McCann."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
20 minutes about how the cubs still suck
and fifteen seconds for the braves. Sounds about right. And the Phillies can win, but they’ll never. never change
15 seconds
Which did NOT include Heyward’s triple.
We also got to hear Valentine smart off about Cox being ejected so much. I thought that guy was a twat before but he’s digging new mineshafts of twattitude in this job.
Every time he takes a shot at the Braves or Cox, ESPN should run the clip of him screaming and pounding the railing as Kenny Rogers throws ball four to Andruw.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you have a choice, watch MLB Network. Hazel always treats us right.
"Yeah, and if your Aunt Minnie had a moustache she'd be your Uncle Fred.." - Ernie Johnson
by Sam Jethroe on May 31, 2010 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Berman is an idiot. The “back back back!” thing and the retarded nicknames, too. And ESPN is awful except for Erin Andrews.
They're good at baseball
and that’s about it- they’re college coverage is abominable. What the hell happened to Gammons, btw? I always loved some Braves love from him. We can’t buy coverage nowadays.
I know I'm being lazy but...
How often does he write for them? Appear regularly on any shows? It sounds like he is in semi-retirement
Gammons pretty much does whatever he wants. He’ll do a story on each team every couple of months and makes an appearance on BBTN or MLBN whenever he’s available. The dude has been writing for like 40 years. I’m thinking that gives him the right to write about whatever he wants
"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- You know he's gonna get you, you just never know when or where."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
RE: Gammons does whatever he wants
includes sucking off Theo Epstien and Terry Francona and the rest of the Boston Red Sox. His bias toward the Sox makes me want to vomit…along with the other images i now have in my head as a direct result of the beginning of this comment!
Kawakami is not absolute shit, but he isn’t any good either.
by Nova Scotia Steve on May 30, 2010 9:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Dude, if anyone should be cut some slack about that it should be Gammons.
1) He was born in MA… naturally he’s a Sox fan.
2) he’s a fantastic reporter. There’s no denying that
That one I’m willing to overlook. Cut the dude some slack. If you suddenly found yourself working at BBTN or MLBN wouldn’t you gush over the Braves all day?
"Batting second and playing shortstop-he's Cuban. Yeah, his name's Pablo...no, eh, Yunel Escobar, sorry"
Jason heyward is sexy as fuck the way he hits the ball.
And thats not gay cuz its Jaaaaaaa-son hey-ward.
4/4/10
The Braves will win 90 games this year.
BEEMER BENZ OR BENTLY
mvp
Love Heyward as much as the next guy but I got to give the MVP nod to Prado. The guy is on fire.
The thing that got me about the foul tip call wasn’t that it was incorrect (I couldn’t really tell if it was) but that the 3B ump overruled the HP ump even though the HP ump was in a better position to see / hear the play. I don’t understand what the crap was going on there.
Great game, despite the fact that KK didn’t get the W. Our plan is really coming together now.
Stay tuned for the series preview tomorrow morning—lots of good stuff in there about the Braves in April vs. the Braves in May.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
You tease! Don’t make us wait!
"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- You know he's gonna get you, you just never know when or where."
by Scott Coleman on May 30, 2010 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions
9 AM, Eastern
or 6 Pacific. Set your alarm!
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on May 31, 2010 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Lopez was not trying to get greedy...
…in that third pitch to Heyward in the 8th. He just missed his location by 18 inches—-the way the catcher reacted showed that. It was supposed to be a foot off the plate. Making mistakes to Jason—-not good for a pitcher.
Credit Heyward
for being ready for that mistake. I would think it might be easy to relax a bit on 0-2 because it’s likely to be a garbage pitch.
Also, I’ve never seen anyone else hit a clean triple to left center at Turner Field. Couldn’t have been fielded any better and wasn’t even close at third.
"I have a dream that one day our twelve pitchers will one day play in a city where they will not be judged by arbitrary stats and peripherals but by the quality of their pitches." - MLK, Jr.
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