Braves Fall to Cubs 6-5 as Uggla's Streak Comes to an End

by moorebraves on Aug 14, 2011 6:24 PM EDT

The only thing Darwin Barney didn't do today was tag out Braves base stealers

The Braves started the scoring in the bottom of the first behind the speed of Michael Bourn. A Dan Uggla broken bat fly ball to shallow left field was just deep enough to allow the speedster to tag and score. The run was facilitated by a Matt Garza throwing error into right centerfield when trying to turn a double play. The Braves then added to the lead in the second, when back-to-back infield hits by Gonzalez and Constanza led to runs.

Constanza then scored again in the fourth inning when he stole second and third and was driven in by a Michael Bourn broken bat flair. This stretched the lead to 4-0 Braves before the Cubs got their rally going. The Cubs were able to tie the game up in the top of the sixth with a four-run inning. Beachy gave up two singles and was pulled for Scott Linebrink. Just back from the disabled list, Linebrink showed some rust, giving up three straight singles of his own without getting an out. Arodys Vizcaino came in to strike out three batters, one of which reached first on a wild pitch. He was credited with two wild pitches during his two thirds of an inning, though one that allowed Alfonso Soriano to score probably should have been a passed ball on McCann.

Heyward in conjunction with poor Cubs fielding provided the Braves with the lead again in the bottom of the sixth. Heyward slapped a base knock into right field and stole second base. Alex Gonzalez hit an effective swinging bunt that Cubs’ pitcher, John Grabow, threw away allowing Heyward to come across. O’Flaherty gave up a big two run shot in the seventh to Carlos Pena to surrender the aforementioned lead and give the Cubs a 6-5 advantage that they would ultimately hold.

This Darwin Barney cat not only end Uggla’s hitting streak at 33 games with the most spectacular play of the weekend, but also went three for five and scored two of the Cubs’ runs today. Brandon Beachy looked good today, striking out eight in five and one third innings. O’Flaherty, Venters, and Kimbrel at one point struck out six straight batters to bring the Braves’ total to eighteen on the day.

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New rule: four errors = automatic loss

No way they could play that badly and still win.

F— the Cubs. We should beat them to pulp next week to return the favor.

Twitter: @TAlmeyda

by TonyAlmeyda on Aug 14, 2011 6:39 PM EDT reply actions

I'd rather win ugly than lose in any more sightly manner

But this was just an ugly loss.

My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.

by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT

by Bronn on Aug 14, 2011 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve never shaken my head so much at game managing. Just can’t understand pulling Beachy there for Linebrink, just doesn’t make sense at all to me. Can’t understand the Chipper pinch-hit, save him for the 9th inning pinch-hit. Don’t understand Fredi’s hatred toward Heyward, just don’t get it. I’m at a loss, all I can do is shake my head and wonder.

"I heard that Tits was "well rounded" and his brother Cans was a "stand out." :D"
by Old Braves' Fan on Aug 18, 2010 3:05 PM PDT

by BravesRaleigh on Aug 14, 2011 6:41 PM EDT reply actions

Not to mention...

…leaving Linebrink in for the lefty when he was getting hit hard and Sherrill was ready.

by BahamaBrave on Aug 14, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

That was the big mistake.

A completely inexcusable one.

by Sam Jethroe on Aug 14, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Disbelief. Should have left Linestink on the DL apparently.

"You owe it to yourself to be successful. After that you'll owe it to the IRS."

by WienerDog on Aug 15, 2011 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

The Darwin Barney show killed us

And our bullpen has to shape up

by crsosa on Aug 14, 2011 6:45 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

mccann and linebrink were so good today

by Followed_By_Helly_Sf_Gnat_Bikers on Aug 14, 2011 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Bullpen Roles.

by Ultada on Aug 14, 2011 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

now to face the best offense in baseball

by Followed_By_Helly_Sf_Gnat_Bikers on Aug 14, 2011 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

ajcbraves David O’Brien
Yes, losing after leading 4-0 thru 5 innings, to a #Cubs team that struck out 18 times, drew 0 walks and made 4 errors, is not not good.

by joshant on Aug 14, 2011 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

that was in response to his previous statement in saying there was no shame in losing to a team who had won 9 of 11.. regardless.. losing 2 of 3 to the scrubs is terrible

by Followed_By_Helly_Sf_Gnat_Bikers on Aug 14, 2011 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention

Out base stealing the opponent by 5.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 14, 2011 7:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Can we just move on past this day and skip ahead to tomorrow?

Also I’m still trying to figure out the Pena-off-EOF bomb…the numbers against were just plain staggering going into the ab.

K/W Effect: any current lead is equal to or less than the amount of runs surrendered by your closer when effect is active. The way in which these runs are surrendered is the variable and is everchanging.

by Kolb-Wickman Effect on Aug 14, 2011 6:54 PM EDT reply actions

In response to the question

of whether the Braves are looking to add another reliever, FW answered

we just did (Arrodys Vizcaino) – struck out the side today.

Right on. Kid looks good.

"Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated."

by Grantdawg on Aug 14, 2011 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I think he’s settled in.

Twitter: @TAlmeyda

by TonyAlmeyda on Aug 14, 2011 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Call up Gearrin and replace Linebrink and I think that works fine. Sadly, Linebrink probably makes the post season roster. Otherwise EOF would be the “veteran” and that wouldn’t make sense at all.

by pbrfan on Aug 14, 2011 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's a little short-sighted...

Linebrink didn’t start off the year too well, but only gave up runs in 3 of his last 33 appearances after his horrid showing against the Nats on May 11. He comes back from the DL and gives it up today, but he’s been pretty solid on the whole.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Aug 14, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

His career and 2011 numbers are absolutely pedestrian. He has 0.1 fWAR over the last 6 season (probably close to 0 after tonight). He has 12 shutdowns and 9 meltdowns. He’s actually gotten lucky with an unsustainable strand rate. Gearrin and Varvaro at least offer high K rates and ground balls against RHBs. As long as he never sees high leverage, he’s fine as a mop up reliever. The problem is Fredi doesn’t use him that way if there is high leverage in the 6th inning, because of EOF, Venters and Kimbrel’s pre-defined “roles.”

by pbrfan on Aug 14, 2011 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s a champ. But as the 7th man in the bullpen, he’s not bad. Probably better than the vast majority of team’s seventh bullpen option.

Pitchers have bad outings.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Aug 14, 2011 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s being used as the 4th man unfortunately. Linebrink has had 9 bad outings (meltdowns), leading the team, suggesting that Fredi has miscast him.

by pbrfan on Aug 14, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

In all fairness

He was used as the 4th man today for the first time in a while. Most likely only because ArVis was used for 2 innings last night, which of course is something to criticize Fredi about.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 14, 2011 9:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Fredi, Fredi, Fredi....

I don’t understand Fredi’s use of the bullpen, he did a crap job of that in Florida as well. I also don’t understand batting McCann 3rd after coming off the DL, he should have been batting 5th at least I think that move threw off Freeman’s and Uggla’s game. Fredi has really lucked into managing this team. It’s the players themselves not the coaching staff that has the Braves this record so far this season.

by RichmondBravesFan on Aug 14, 2011 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously, most of the time it seems like Freddi’s asleep during the game except when fcks it up like today, yanking Beachy for no good reason.

by bloodgimp on Aug 14, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

“no good reason”…………..lol

Beachy has 6 inning-citis.

Eric O gave up the 2 run homer.

"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
"Wang, my third at-bat, he threw me a 1-0 fastball that I fouled straight back, and he came back with another heater, which surprised me." - Freddie Freeman

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 14, 2011 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I highly doubt dropping

Them in the order was the reason for anyone’s struggles. Mac was only out for 15 games not like he missed a month and he did get 5 abs in AAA. The guy is still the best hitter on the team.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 14, 2011 10:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I agree about Mac

but if you were watching the game today you could see his timing was still off and I’m not saying this would be a permanent fix just maybe for this game. Six at bats in AAA was not enough.

by RichmondBravesFan on Aug 15, 2011 6:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Jesus ^%$#@! Christ!

Another pathetic loss that just shouldn’t have happened. If the Braves want to make it to the playoffs they cannot be losing series to the Cubs.

by bloodgimp on Aug 14, 2011 7:32 PM EDT reply actions

Don't like the Braves, but my hat's off to Dan Uggla

33 straight games, after his start to the season, is remarkable. Good job, Dan.

by donniethelion on Aug 14, 2011 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

Anybody else extremely pleased to see Linebrink activated from the DL?

by Undocorkscrew on Aug 14, 2011 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

Not if Fredi keeps leaving him in to face lefties when he’s proven he can’t get outs that day.

by Ivan the Great on Aug 14, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

The bullpen was used in exactly the wrong order. The highest leverage went to Vizcaino (2.64), Linebrink (2.29), EOF (1.62), Venters (.66), and Kimbrel (.51).

The PAs Linebrink got were 4 times more important than Venters and Kimbrel.

by pbrfan on Aug 14, 2011 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

Very disappointing loss. Don’t understand why Linebrink was in there. It’s not like the Cubs were starting to get to Beachy. It was two lucky bloop hits the other way.

I had a feeling when they called Linebrink that we’d give up the lead.

And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Aug 14, 2011 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

Stupid Blunder

Gongalez pulling Beachy and putting in Linebrink was stupid? The coaching has gone plum stupid and sending the Kid back to the Minors and bringing up Linebrink another stupid Blunder.

by jayball on Aug 14, 2011 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Don't relief pitchers go to rehab first before getting activated and pitch in the majors?

I don’t remember reading anything about Linebrink going to rehab. Linebrink was probably rusty coming out of the DL.

by rubbles88 on Aug 14, 2011 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

I would suspect

A veteran would in most cases ask for and receive just getting by on throwing side sessions after only a 15 day or so stint.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 14, 2011 10:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

tough game

Beachy was cruising until the sixth. Overall, he had a good outing but Linebrink, EOF (when was the last time he was mentioned this in group?), and the offense lost it for us. Yea, Linebrink was probably rusty and probably shouldn’t have pitched, but he failed to perform as well as EOF. I have nothing to say about the offense. Vizcaino looks like he has adjusted and now has hopefully taken off. Venters and Kimbrel….nasty.

by Braves24 on Aug 14, 2011 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

who was it that said Barney was due?

You shouldn’t sip liquor.
-justincredubil02

no, Jack Daniel is whiskey.
-ChopMaster

"Welcome to the show, Brandon Beachy. I think you’re going to stay a while."

by abraves257 on Aug 14, 2011 10:35 PM EDT reply actions

Still Unbelievable that we lost this series

The WC is ours to lose. It’s that simple.

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 14, 2011 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

The WC is ours to lose?

Fredi Gonzalez sez: Challenge accepted.

Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."

by Lennox on Aug 15, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Blame Fredi whenever we lose, if that makes you feel better.

Beachy couldn’t get through the 6th. Linebrink failed. And O’Flaherty had one of his rare fails. Conrad and Hinske are both wastes of space, right now. Prado should have been more patient at that last at bat. Mac should have stopped those balls at the plate. And the Cubs are playing better than “the Cubs” right now.

We lost this game / series collectively. Fredi had nothing to do with it. But again, blame one guy if that’s what works for you.

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 15, 2011 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Hinske

Is a waste of space? If so then your standards are a bit too high.

by atlynkhtr on Aug 15, 2011 1:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Same thing if he's applying it to Conrad also

Those guys are both really valuable bench pieces. Not the best in the world, sure, but if they weren’t on our bench, another playoff team wouldn’t hesitate to add either.

My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.

by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT

by Bronn on Aug 15, 2011 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess we just got spoiled with Infante on the bench last year,

and Brooks has been a shadow of his former self last year.

Basically all I meant was our bench hasn’t been as clutch as last year.

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Aug 15, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

“and Brooks has been a shadow of his former self last year.”

He’s having an excellent year. Really not sure what numbers you are looking at.

by pbrfan on Aug 15, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Fredi had nothing to do with it.

That’s completely ridiculous. There is blame to spread around but Fredi is the one who left Linebrink in for a batter too long (if not two), incomprehensibly letting him face a left handed hitter with Sherril ready to go in the pen. He cannot be absolved of that foolishness.

by Sam Jethroe on Aug 15, 2011 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions

First mistake was putting Linebrink in

Vizcaino should have been the first reliever in the game today. If he comes in before Linebrink, we probably win this 5-4.

My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.

by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT

by Bronn on Aug 15, 2011 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I would've probably done it that way, too.

Unlike some people here, I really think that Beachy was pretty much done and needed to be pulled. It’s a close call and I respect that some see it differently.

Further, you can make an argument for bringing Linebrink in. Again, I would have probably opted for AV, but it’s a close call. What you simply can’t defend, at least to my mind, is leaving Scott out there for so long, especially to face a lefty when George was up and ready to go.

by Sam Jethroe on Aug 15, 2011 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions