ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Braves at Nationals

I keep waiting to wake up from this horrible nightmare (No… please, take it away… I can’t watch anymore!) but it never happens.

You have John Smoltz on the mound, you think you have a chance. But I think John’s just tried to do too much and is getting worn down. He did strike out six, so there’s something in the tank, but he allowed six runs in five innings, giving up nine hits and walked three. Nonetheless, he does not go into the Doghouse because he is John Smoltz.
Ken Ken “Tampa Bay Devil” Ray is in the Doghouse. The Braves fought back from 4-0 and 6-3 down to make it 6-5. But in the seventh, after Paronto had another shutout inning that gets him no credit, Ray came out and allowed two singles and then a two-out, three-run homer to the legendary Brian Schneider to kill the team. Hence this is Miserable Braves Loss Type 4.3(f): “Good Starting Pitcher has horrible start, Gives Up Homer To Fall Way Behind, Team Rallies, But Horrible Reliever Kills Them While Good Relievers Sit On Their Asses In The Bullpen Because It’s Not A Save Situation.”

LaRoche had a good game, and hit a homer that would have tied it in the eighth if Ray hadn’t completely imploded. Francoeur had a couple of hits. Andruw sat again with his “tendinitis” but had a pinch-hit single. Marcus was 0-4; I don’t care if Bobby puts Francoeur in the leadoff slot, he has to get Marcus back to second in the order. Day game tomorrow and August days in Washington are always pleasant.