Turner Field
Playing at home and that helps. In fact we’ve just won our 8th home game in a row and we look like a good team on Turner Field turf.
Perhaps the visiting Celtics passed their road curse onto us when they were visiting the Hawks during the first round. Because 4-14 just ain’t right.
RBI’s vs LOB’s
With runners in scoring position the Braves got three crucial RBI’s thanks to McCann, Frenchy, and a very timely late inning knock by Kotsay. Seeing the guys in the heart of the lineup get simple, pertinent hits when needed, instead of swinging for the fences is the way to win ball games. Chipper scored one of those runs because… well he’s always on base! (Make that .423 mid way through May, Mr. MVP).
Bullpen
Despite it being one of Jurrjens less impressive starts, he only gave up 2 ER’s and went 5 mostly strong innings. Even his off night is amazing by comparison to Chuck James’ best appearance in 2008. He wasn’t in line to get the win but the bullpen came through in a big way.
These guys act like they don’t care if our three best relievers are absent and if they never come back again. Ohman, Bennett, and Acosta combined for 4 scoreless innnings, 4 K’s, 2 BB’s, and only 1 hit. Manny is pitching like a completely different reliever since that embarrassment at Nationals Park. He’s only allowed 2 ER’s since that loss and he got his second win with a 1-2-3 ninth last night.
Matt Diaz
You can shave the beard now, Matt. He broke his 0-11 slump with a hit in his only at bat. I don’t know if that was a rally beard or not but it’s nice to see him make a step in the right direction. Now if only Teixeira can get on track.
Now,
Let’s make it 9 in a row at home and get the series win and go for the sweep on Sunday.
Keep Choppin’,
JB in ATL
2 Comments
May 17, 2008 at 3:10 pm
What also went right is that the A’s ran themselves out of two runs (and should have been a third with Jurrjens errant throw to the plate).
I’m loving the bullpen right now. Just think strong it’s going to be in a few weeks with Soriano, Smoltz, and Gonzales back. That’s frightening.
May 17, 2008 at 3:44 pm
True, they did squander some opportunities and we managed to benefit at the cost of their baserunning blunders.
And we did still have 8 LOB’s but a win is a win and a 1 run win at that!
May 17, 2008 at 2:10 pm
What also went right is that the A's ran themselves out of two runs (and should have been a third with Jurrjens errant throw to the plate). I'm loving the bullpen right now. Just think strong it's going to be in a few weeks with Soriano, Smoltz, and Gonzales back. That's frightening.
May 17, 2008 at 2:44 pm
True, they did squander some opportunities and we managed to benefit at the cost of their baserunning blunders. And we did still have 8 LOB's but a win is a win and a 1 run win at that!