February 9, 2012

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

Braves take hot streak to the road

After a successful ten game homestand, the Braves hit the road tonight as they open a holiday weekend series in the Nation’s Capital against the Washington Nationals.The Braves won six of ten on their homestand and did so by winning the final four games. They concluded a three game sweep of the Philllies last night winning 5-2. Casey Kotchman and Garrett Anderson each hit two run homers to spark the offense, while Javier Vazquez and four relievers scattered eight hits. Mike Gonzalez picked up the win in relief.

The Braves will sendout Kenshin Kawikami to the mound tonight. He’s 4-6 with a 4.25 ERA. Rookie Ross Detwiler will start for the Nationals. He’s 0-4 with a 5.24 ERA. The Braves have gone 4-2 against the Nationals this season.

The Braves Tommy Hanson has been named the National League Rookie of the Month after going 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA. Opponents batted just .222 against Hanson in his five starts. Two of his victories came against the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Braves pitcher Tim Hudson threw 90 pitches in a bullpen session yesterday as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired elbow. Hudson is scheduled to rejoin the team in mid August. He will throw batting practice next week and his first minor league start is tentatively set for July 19th at Class A Myrtle Beach.

Braves skunk Yankees

Tommy Hanson

Tommy Hanson

The Braves got another shutout pitching performance from their starter and their bullpen last night as they beat the New York Yankees  4-0 at Turner field in the opening gamed of a three game series.

Rookie righthander Tommy Hanson allowed just four hits over 5.1 innings to earn his third win in as many decisions.  Peter Moylan, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano finished up and did not allow a hit.

Brian McCann sparked the offense with three hits, including his seventh homer, and he had two RBIs. 

The Braves are off to a 2-0 start on this ten game homestand, both shutout victories.  The series continues tonight.  Kenoshin Kawakami will start for the Braves against the Yankees Joba Chamberlain.

Braves open homestand with win

Javier Vazquez

Javier Vazquez

The Braves got shutout pitching last night from Javier Vazquez and three relievers to beat the Cubs at Turner Field 2-0 in the makeup of a June 4th rainout.

Vazquez went 6.2 innings scattering nine hits to pick up his fifth win. Peter Moylan, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano provided shutout work from the bullpen.

The Braves open an interleague series with the Yankees tonight at Turner Field.

Jeff Bennett

Jeff Bennett

The Braves dropped a tough one at Boston Sunday.Nick Green’s solo homer in the bottom of the ninth delivered a 6-5 win for the Red Sox and a 2-1 interleague series victory. The homer came on releiver Jeff Bennett’s first pitch of the game. The Braves blew a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth leaving the bases loaded.

The loss drops the Braves to 32-36 but they are just 4.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East. The Braves went 3-6 on the road trip.

They play the Cubs tonight at Turner Field in the makeup of rain out June 4th. Then they play three against the Yankees and three against the Red Sox before the Phillies come to Atlanta.