ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Braves at Nationals
I’ve mentioned before that I find the most painful losses to be those where you rally from a big deficit only to lose. Case in point last night, where the Braves came from 3-0 to tie it in the top of the eighth, only to see the bullpen give up four in the bottom of the inning. Just as painful is to give up three homers to a player I don’t respect, Alfonso Soriano.
Smoltz only went five, allowing three runs, two on Soriano solo shots. He probably could have gone longer, but I’m guessing Bobby didn’t want to risk it. Ray gave them two shutout innings, though he allowed three hits and two walks so you can’t say he was effective.
Cormier picked up the loss for giving up a one-out triple and an intentional walk, but the winning run scored on a wild pitch by Remlinger, and Villareal gave up a three-run homer to Soriano to follow.
The Braves only had six hits. Three of them were by McCann, including two doubles. Langerhans struck out four times and Andruw three.
Thomson versus Ramon Ortiz tonight, weather permitting.
I would guess that Bobby figured it was a good opportunity to get the bullpen some work, so that’s why he pulled Smoltz after five. Since none of them had pitched in three days, he probably went into the game expecting to pull John early. That also fits with the “more rest early in the season for Smoltz” plan.
Interesting that you all had so much to say before the series began, and it got awfully quiet after the Nats beat you.