Gamethread: Braves @ Brewers, July 24, 2009 (97/162) WIN

[sdp]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7168/brewers.png
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Atlanta Braves (49-47) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (48-47)
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Series Matchups
> TONIGHT: Javier Vazquez vs. Manny Parra, 8:05 PM EDT on SPSO
> Saturday: Tommy Hanson vs. Yovani Gallardo, 8:05 PM EDT on SPSO
> Sunday: Derek Lowe vs. Braden Looper, 2:05 PM EDT on FSS

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Starting Lineup
Nate McLouth, CF
Martin Prado, 2B
Chipper Jones, 3B
Brian McCann, C
Yunel Escobar, SS
Garret Anderson, LF
Matt Diaz, LF
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Javier Vazquez, RHP

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Link Roundup
Pieringer: Braves-Brewers Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview?gid=290724108)
Rosenberg: Heat is on as Braves prep for Brewers (http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090723&content_id=6015562&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl)
Schultz: Bobby Cox: Still cranky after all these years (http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/07/23/bobby-cox-still-cranky-after-all-these-years/?cxntfid=blogs_mark_bradley_blog)
Vivalamore: Diaz brothers follow own paths to majors (http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/diaz-brothers-follow-own-99445.html)

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Upcoming @ Florida
Tuesday, July 28th: Jair Jurrjens vs. Ricky Nolasco, 7:10 PM EDT on SPSO
Wednesday, July 29th: Kenshin Kawkami vs. Josh Johnson, 7:10 PM EDT on SPSO
Thursday, July 29th: Javier Vazquez vs. Rick VandenHurk, 7:10 PM EDT on SPSO

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July 31st-August 2nd: Dodgers @ Braves; August 3rd-5th: Braves @ Padres
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Go Braves!

[Dreamscape]

Manny Parra is one of those pitchers who can mow down hitters one night and get destroyed in his next start. Hopefully, it's the latter. Though, setting down the first two in quick order wasn't a good start.

[Dreamscape]

Jason Kendall is one of the worst major league hitters in the game and the Brewers...bat him leadoff. Thanks, Brew Crew.

Though, when you have Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, I guess your manager can be an idiot.

[Dreamscape]

Esco, first pitch hacking, singles to right to open the second. Bit surprised to see him in the fifth spot, though I like it.

[Dreamscape]

Matty with a one-out single. Runners on the corners for Kotchy.

Gotta take the lead right here.

[Dreamscape]

Okay, according to Gameday, Kotchy grounded into a rundown type thingy...but Esco scored...I dunno, but the Braves lead.

I'll take it.

[Dreamscape]

Great seven-pitch at-bat for Javy ends in his third double of the season.

[Hobbes]

Prado baby!

[Dreamscape]

Parra having issues getting ahead and walks McLouth.

Falls behind Prado and after Prado fouls one off...THREE RUN JACK!!!

[Dreamscape]

Yay, it's bad Manny!

Chipper follows with a base hit and the Manny gets a talking to.

[sdp]

Maybe Chip Caray was right about Prado...

[Dreamscape]

Not a good start as Hardy doubles to open the bottom of the third with the Braves up by four.

[Dreamscape]

Javy asking for trouble. Never, ever, ever walk a really crappy hitter like Jason Kendall. Runners on the corners for that guy from Notre Dame with the weird swing who I kinda hate.

[Dreamscape]

Great. A two-run double as Javy decides he's doesn't like it when the Braves score runs for him.

[Dreamscape]

Big, big, big, big K of Fatty. Now got to get the rookie and preserve this two run lead, Javy.

[Dreamscape]

Javy gets out of the jam by striking out Fielder and McGehee. 4-2 heading to the fourth.

Get some runs, Braves.

[Hobbes]

Big, big, big, big K of Fatty.

That was HUUUUGE. (pun intended :p)

[Lauren T.]

I just want to snuggle-hug him!!

[Dreamscape]

Krotchy walks, but Javy fails at getting the bunt down. What, did hitting that double mess up Javy or something?

[Dreamscape]

McLouth keeps his average from tumbling toward .250 with a double. Prado with another RBI opportunity.

[Hobbes]

Lucky break there for the Braves on what could have been a DP.

[Hobbes]

Bases juiced for Chipper!

[Dreamscape]

Bases loaded for Larry.

[Hobbes]

Chipper swung at ball four.

[Dreamscape]

Sigh.

[Hobbes]

Once again the Braves strand the bases loaded. We must lead the league in that stat.

[Dreamscape]

Of course, don't load the bases for the 3-4 hitters. That's just a mistake.

[wordslayer©]

.

[Dreamscape]

Better frame for Vazquez. Still 4-2.

[Dreamscape]

If you have another hit in that bat, Vazquez, now would be a good time to use it.

[Dreamscape]

Yay, it's tied. Had to know that was on the way.

[Lauren T.]

Chipper, that doesn't make up for leaving the bases loaded. It helps, but we're not even. ;)

5-4 Braves.

[Hobbes]

HR CHIPPER!

[Dreamscape]

Now, Chipper homers. With the bases empty.

Baseball really is a strange game.

5-4

[Dreamscape]

Not a big fan of sending Vazquez out there. I know he hasn't thrown all that many pitches, but he hasn't been that good either.

[Dreamscape]

And he gets through it, striking out the zip code known as Prince Fielder to end it with Kendall on third.

[Dreamscape]

Hey, a Greg Norton hit. Wow.

[Hobbes]

McLouth with a 2-run homer!

[Dreamscape]

Well, we needed that, Nate.

Two-run bomb scores professional pinch runner, Kelly Johnson.

[Hobbes]

Braves are tacking on the insurance runs. Nice.

[Dreamscape]

RBI base hit for Ganderson and it's 8-4!

[sdp]

This team looks for real to me. Bouncing back from a blown four-run lead. Nice.

[Dreamscape]

There you go, Freddy. A walk, steal, and a soft single.

Small Ball to the Rescue!

[Middle Man]

Dang, these guys are pretty good. Glad to see McLouth heating up.

[Hobbes]

Apparently Detroit DFA'd Josh Anderson

[Dreamscape]

Injury Delay...to McClung?

[BigWorm]

Dang, these guys are pretty good. Glad to see McLouth heating up.

Reminds me of the scene in Major League where the japenese dudes are saying the same thing.

[Middle Man]

Injury Delay...to McClung?

What the heck? Had the sound off. Was the glove stuck to his face? :confused:

[BigWorm]

Awesome. Soriano is in.

[Middle Man]

Awesome. Soriano is in.

He looks more bored than usual.

Braves win. Yay!

[Hobbes]

Braves win!

[sdp]

Nice win.

CONTENDER.

Prado + Escobar - Francoeur + Anderson have been the difference over the last couple weeks.

[BigWorm]

Speaking of the golden boy. He batted cleanup for the Mets today. Sad.

[BigWorm]

Apparently Detroit DFA'd Josh Anderson

The Red Sox also DFA'd Mark Kotsay today to make room for Adam LaRoche.

[Lauren T.]

Injury Delay...to McClung? What the heck? Had the sound off. Was the glove stuck to his face? :confused:
Joe & Boog were speculating a nerve issue -- he was flexing his hand as if he didn't have proper feeling in it.

[hoosjon]

The Red Sox also DFA'd Mark Kotsay today to make room for Adam LaRoche.

Really makes you understand our former outfield woes ... when the Sox and the Tigers DFA our former centerfielders ... and yet the Mets have our former RF batting cleanup, so I guess it could be worse.

[JanShan12]

Thanks for all the updates! I only caught the beginning of the game and a couple pitches here and there because we were celebrating my brother's birthday (for the second straight weekend... lucky guy!). I'll miss the first hour of tonight's game (niece's birthday), but home in time to watch the final innings. GO BRAVES!!!

I haven't enjoyed checking the box scores this much in years.

[Chris_Moderato]

CONTENDER.

Still not sure I'm ready to go that far yet, but I'd at least go here...

BUYER.