Number 32 for the Reds had a stellar performance Friday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Jay Bruce, a 21 year old native of Beaumont, Texas sparked the Cincinnati Reds with two hits and two runs helping in a three to two victory over the Braves. The center-fielder helped himself to a game tying RBI in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a sacrifice fly by Brandon Phillips the score was two to one in favor of the Reds. Tom Glavine who started the day was able to get through the sixth but the damage was done as the Braves were unable to finish the deal. Mark Teixeira opened the scoring a with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth, Kelly Johnson who had doubled to open the inning scored on the play. The Braves then answered the Reds in the seventh inning with a run scoring double play by Reuben Gotay. The Reds won it in eleven innings, scoring off two defensive miscues by Chipper Jones who also went 0 for 5 for the day, striking out once and grounding into two double plays.

Notes: Mark Kotsay was put on the DL list today. Josh Anderson was called up and has taken his place on the roster. John Smoltz is to pitch one more minor league assignment and may be available for action on Monday.

A nice divisional win for the Atlanta Braves tonight as they beat the New York Mets by the score of 4-2.  Tim Hudson pitched eight strong innings as he picked up the win and the Braves started the weekend series on the right foot.

Hudson gave up seven hits and two runs in the game.  Two solo home runs in the second inning was all Hudson gave the Mets.  Hudson is now 7-3 on the season with the win.  Manny Acosta came in and got the first two outs in the ninth inning before Will Ohman came in to get the last out and record the save which was his first of the year.

The Braves were led at the plate by Kelly Johnson who went 3-4 with an rbi.  Chipper Jones, Omar Infante, Mark Teixeira, and Johnson all had one rbi in the game.  The Braves offense had 12 hits in the game compared to 8 for the Mets.

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The Atlanta Braves completed a double header sweep of the New York Mets on Tuesday with a 6-2 win in the second game.  That was coming off a 6-1 win in the first game of the double header.

This time it was Jorge Campillo who shut down the Mets as he tossed seven innings to pick up the win and improve to 1-0 on the season.  Campillo only gave up three hits while striking out seven batters.

Jeff Bennett pitched a scoress seventh inning before Blaine Boyer came in and gave up two runs while only recording two outs in the eighth inning.  That is when Manny Acosta came in to get the last four outs of the game and pick up his third save of the season.

At the plate for the Braves, Mark Kotsay had a two run home run in the eighth inning.  Other then those two runs, the four other Braves runs all came within the first three innings of the game.  Chipper Jones had a rbi double in the first inning to get the Braves on the board.  Mark Teixeira then had a rbi single third inning before Kelly Johnson had a two run double.

Good day for the Braves as the win both games and improve their record to 24-21.  Braves Blog

The Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets if the first game of their double header on Monday.  Tom Glavine said that he wasn’t feeling that good in the bullpen and was shacky in the first inning but then settled down to pitch the Braves past the Mets by the score of 6-1.

Glavine tossed six innings while giving up three hits and one run to improve his record to 2-1 on the season.  The one run that Glavine gave up came in the first inning with Luis Castillo took him deep for a solo home run.

Will Ohman, Blaine Boyer, and Manny Acosta pitched the final three innings in the game and all did a fairly good job.

The Braves were led at the plate by Brian McCann who had a two run home run and a rbi single to finish the game with three rbi.  Yunel Escobar, Mark Teixeira, and Kelly Johnson, all chipped in with one rbi as well.

It was a good win for the Braves as they are now 1.5 games back in the division.  The Braves, Mets, and Phillies are all 1.5 games back of the Marlins right now.  Braves Blog

Matt Diaz picked a good time to get his only hit of the game as he singled in Yunel Escobar in the ninth inning as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Thursday afternoon.  The Braves scored four runs in the the final four innings to complete the comeback.

Manny Acosta improved to 1-1 on the season as he picked up the win.  Starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes only lasted 2 2/3 innings as he gave up five hits and two runs.  Reyes had to leave the game in the third inning with a blister on his left hand.

Buddy Carlyle left the game in the fifth inning but not before he gave up one run.  Jorge Campillo pitched 1 1/3 innings as he gave up run as well.  After that the Braves bullpen locked down and held the Padres scoreless.

Greg Norton led the Braves with two rbi in the game.  Mark Teixeira and Diaz both had one rbi in the game for the Bravs.

It was a great come back rally for the Braves who improved to 18-15 with the win.  Braves Blog

The Atlanta Braves picked up a big win Thursday night as they beat the Florida Marlins 7-4.  The Braves record is now 11-11 on the season. Hopefully they can get over the .500 hump and pick up another win tomorrow against the Marlins.

Jeff Francoeur led the Braves as he had three RBI.  Matt Diaz had two RBI in the game as well.  Chipper Jones hit a solo home run in the second inning.  Mark Teixeira also had a RBI in the game for the Braves.

Chuck James tossed five innings to pick up the win.  James allowed four runs on five hits.  Jorge Campillo and Manny Acosta both tossed two inning to finish off the Marlins.

It was a good win for the Braves, and I look for them to have another good game tomorrow.

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The Atlanta Braves got a big win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday allowing only five hits and one run with a 6-1 final score.  This puts Atlanta at a split 9-9 for the season and this is the fourth game in a row they have won including the three game sweep against the Dodgers.

Jair Jurrjens in now 2-2 for the year with the win over the Dodgers on Sunday.  He pitched a full seven innings giving up only 3 hits and 1 run.  Blaine Boyer and Will Ohman were brought in to the close out the night.

Kelly Johnson hit his 3rd home run of the year and Mark Teixeira hit his 4th home run as well.  Martin Prado and Mark Kotsay were also able to get and RBI each. 

The Braves will welcome the Nationals at home in Atlanta on Monday to start a 2 game series.  Do you think they can stretch the winning streak to 5?

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The Atlanta Braves destroyed the Flordia Marlins by the score of 8-0 on Thursday night.  Chipper Jones hit two home runs, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann also hit home runs for the Braves.  Jones, Teixeira, and McCann went back-to-back-to-back in the fifth inning to blow the game wide open.

John Smoltz pitched five innings and only allowed three hits to pick up the win.  Will Ohman, Chris Resop, Manny Acosta, and Buddy Carlyle pitched the final four innings of the game without giving up a hit.   Great job by all the pitchers to limit the Marlins to only three hits on the night.

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Mark Teixeira and the Atlanta Braves were able to come to terms on a deal for 2008 that will pay Teixeira $12.5 million dollars to stay with the Braves.  While most Braves were hoping that they would agree on a long term deal, they should be happy he will still be in Atlanta for the 08 season.

I expect Teixeira to play the free agent market after the 08 season so the Braves are going to have to pony up some money to keep the big first basemen around.   Tex will be hoping for a huge year so he can cash in on the free agent market.

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