Tuesday, May 01, 2007

We're going STREAKING walking!

What's the best way to counter getting beat by a walkoff homerun? Winning by a walkoff homerun, of course. In the 9th inning of the Braves game against the Phillies, Andruw Jones connected on a three-run shot with one out against "Six Finger's McGee" aka Antonio Alfonseca. I didn't post what happened Sunday, but we were beaten by the Colorado Rockies on a Matt Holliday walkoff homerun in the 11th inning.

Tim Hudson was playing with a heavy heart as he had just lost his former college teammate, Josh Hancock and his grandmother, but he wanted to play and he pitched yet another gem. He went eight and allowed just four hits, all singles, and one walk. Unfortunately, three of the four hits he gave up came in one inning, the 6th, in which he gave up two runs, one came courtesy of a Chase Utley sacrifice fly that scored Jimmy Rollins and then an RBI single by Ryan Howard that scored Shane Victorino.

In the bottom of the sixth-inning Chipper Jones came back and tied the game at two with a solo shot to center, it was his 8th of the season.

In the eighth inning, we blew a great chance to take the lead for Hudson when Brayan Pena, who came in and hit for Hudson, grounded out to the pitcher with runners at third and second. Mike Gonzalez came in for the ninth to replace Hudson and to say he was excellent was an understatement. He was absolutely lights out, he faced the Phillies best hitters, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell(I use "best" lightly here) all went down almost as fast as they came up. Gonzalez mixed his 94 MPH fastball, 85 MPH slider and his 83 MPH change up so well, he got Utley to pop up, Howard to ground out and struck out Burrell.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kelly Johnson led off the inning with a single. Next up was Edgar Renteria who laid down a bad bunt and the Phillies got KJ at second. Chipper was then walked in favor of Andruw who as you know, ended the game in one swing.

WP: Mike Gonzalez(1-0)
LP: Antonio Alfonseca(1-1)

HR: ATL- Chipper Jones(8) and Andruw Jones(5)

The Braves next game is tonight against the Phillies, they have Cole Hamels going and we have Mark "fuckin" Redman. Spare me!

Note: Braves starter, Tim Hudson, was granted special permission to wear "J.H." on his left shoulder in memory of his fallen teammate, Josh Hancock. And Willie Harris, who was called up when we traded Langerhans, went 1-3 with a walk.

No comments: