It’s always special when you beat Livan Hernandez. At least, it is for me. The Braves knocked Eric Gregg’s favorite pitcher out of the game in the third and cruised from there.
Andruw had a monster game — just about the best game anyone could have. He went 4-4 with two homers and a double, also walked once, scored three times, drove in five, and made several outfield plays that looked routine only because he was the one making them. The homers were gravy; the big blow was the double, which scored two runs in the third and knocked Hernandez out. JD Drew was almost as good, going 4-4 with a homer and some nice OF play of his own. Chipper didn’t get a hit but walked three times. LaRoche, Thomas, and Furcal all hit homers; for Thomas, it was the first of his career and broke open the scoring in the second.
Jaret Wright went six, allowing six hits, two walks, one run, striking out three. He didn’t seem to have the stuff he’s had in his best outings, and on a couple of occasions struggled to put his man away. But with a 6-0 lead entering the third, he wasn’t exactly going for the strikeouts.
Alfonseca and Gryboski both left the game in the seventh with injuries. Base12 was hit on the wrist by a line drive, and Gryboski slipped on the mound and strained his back.
Things went about as well as they could have. The Mets beat the Phillies and the Marlins lost. The Braves suddenly find themselves in third place, only a game and a half out of first and half a game behind the second-place Mets. While the Mets and Phillies play one more game, the Braves are off today then head into the All-Star break with a three-game set in Philadelphia.
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