February 9, 2012

Brooks Conrad delivers another Braves win

Stop me if you have heard this one before: Chipper Jones leaves the game with an injury (shocker).  Brooks Conrad enters the game to replace Jones.  Conrad hits clutch home run to help Braves win the game. 

It might not have been as dramatic as his grand slam against the Reds earlier this season, but it was every bit as important.

Conrad’s two run homer in the 9th inning last night in Houston gave helped the Braves to a 4-2 win over the Astros.  More importantly it extended the Braves lead in the N.L. East standings to 2 ½ games over Philadelphia.  My Dodgers finally did something right and beat the Phillies 15-9 last night in Philly.  Braves fans get to root hard for L.A. the next couple of games before the Dodgers head to the ATL this weekend.

As for Chipper Jones, he will get an MRI on his injured knee today.  He dropped to the ground after making a throw in the sixth inning. Bobby Cox expects Jones to be out “a while”. 

Jones obviously won’t be in the lineup this afternoon when the Braves close out their series with the Astros this afternoon.  Today’s game starts at 1:05.

Braves make it five in a row

The Braves ran their winning streak to five last night with a 9-8 win at Washington.The big hit came off the bat of Brooks Conrad who had been promoted from Triple “A” before the game to replace the injured Kelly Johnson. Conrad pinch-hit in the seventh and cracked a go ahead three run homer.

Audio:  Brooks Conrad on homer  :17

That homer broke a 5-5 tie.

The Braves led 9-6 in the ninth before the Nationals scored twice off Rafael Soriano who eventually retired the side to pick up his 8th save.

Starter Kenshin Kawakami didn’t make it through the fifth inning after giving up five runs and forcing Bobby Cox to go to his bullpen.

Audio: Bobby Cox on Kawakami’s outing :19

Boone Logan, the first of four releivers used by Cox, earned the win.

The Braves are back to within a game of .500 and remain two games back of the Phillies in the National League East.

Box Score