The game really wasn’t that close; the Braves led already 8-0 after three and Ortiz took a perfect game into the sixth before giving up his only hit, a single, to the leadoff man. He wound up walking three — “only” three, in his case — and struck out five. It was only the Expos, but it’s a good sign after his recent struggles.
Chipper doubled home Drew in the first to give the Braves the lead, then the Braves got one on a Furcal infield single in the second, followed by an inexcusable error trying to throw him out stealing which allowed Thomas to score form third. Then the big blow, a grand slam from Andruw, made it 7-0. Ortiz doubled home LaRoche, and it was 8-0. The Braves got their last run on a LaRoche solo homer in the fifth.
LaRoche also singled, but hoping for a triple from him is probably futile. The Braves’ thirteen hits were divided among nine different players, and Green, DeRosa, Betemit, and Wise all got into the game.
The final game in Montreal, unless it isn’t, tomorrow. Thomson will face Livan Hernandez, and I hope we pummel him again. The Marlins, of course, aren’t playing. I haven’t heard if their game tomorrow has been officially cancelled, but it almost certainly will be.
OK, this game certainly hasn’t been the Braves best offensive effort. How many runners have been left on base now? Like 12? Not something we’ve seen recently with their offensive fireworks.