ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Phillies at Braves
Ack. Buddy Carlyle was not that bad, but not good, and the Braves went into late-inning hibernation again to let the Phillies hang on despite decent relief work. The Braves led 1-0 after one and held onto that to the third, when the Phillies erupted for four runs, as the Braves played poorly on defense and Carlyle couldn’t get a strikeout or other easy out. And they just couldn’t get back to even.
Carlyle’s start was reminiscent of some Cormier had last year — four innings, five earned runs, but some decent signs (three strikeouts, no homers, a good strike-to-ball ratio), enough to make him not completely worth giving up on. I’d give him another start but it’s not like he was better than James or Davies. He could have gotten a couple of breaks and won the game, he just didn’t.
The bullpen went five and allowed one run, off of Kali in the seventh. McBride was strong, two innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts — he allowed an inherited run, but coming in with a runner at third, none out, that’s going to happen. The Vulture also pitched well.
But with Chipper out the Braves aren’t going to win many games allowing six runs. Renteria drove in all four, with a groundout in the first, a double in the third, and a homer in the fifth. The Braves and Phillies each had eight hits and three walks, the Phillies just bunched theirs better.
Bobby got himself ejected again, and is one behind the record. Hopefully Chipper will be back tomorrow. Hopefully the Braves can solve Cole Hamels. I’m not exactly optimistic.
neither am I, I’m not looking forward to tomorrow’s game. We have to win somehow. When was Andruw’s, McCann’s, and Jeff’s last HR’s? Seems like we are in a power outage
nevermind
Andruw – May 11th, McCann – May 14th, Jeff -May 18th
Chipper had the batting gloves on in the 6th I think, today… he might be able to play tomorrow because we have to win, we can’t afford a sweep at home!
I didn’t put this in the recap because I didn’t want to make it “official”, but my feeling is that the Braves lost this game not because the Phillies hit the ball better (they didn’t) or pitched better (ditto) but because the Phillies played better defense. Take the 1-2-3 eighth inning, where outs 2 and 3 were both excellent defensive plays robbing Francoeur and Andruw of hits. In comparison, with good defense the Braves probably hold the Phillies to no more than two, possibly one run in the third, and great defense and they’re probably shut out. Looking at the lineups, the only place where the Braves are clearly superior on defense is left field.
The glaring lack of starting pitching is really hurting this team, as is an inconsistent offense. Salty needs to be plugged into this lineup more often.
Also, Prado continues to play shakily in the field. Would rather have Escobar up here…
I wish the bleeding would stop. It wasn’t too long ago the Phillies were eight back, now they’re only three back of the Braves. The Braves need to pull tomorrow out, somehow.
The Braves seem to be looking to set the record for most first-pitch outs. I don’t mind swinging at the first pitch if you can drive it, even if it still makes an out. It’s Francoeur and Andruw swinging at the first pitch, poping it up in the infield or grounding out meekly that bothers me.
Along with the good defense by the Phillies, their team speed is also a help – both offensively and defensively.
The big advantage the Braves have over the Phils has been in the bullpen. I don’t know anything about him, but Zagurski has looked impressive. All I know is that he’s a brand new call up who was dominating in AAA. Hopefully the league will figure him out, but for now, he’s shut the Braves down in key situations 2 games in a row. The Phillies were getting killed in the 6th and 7th innings earlier in the year.
I really appreciated Mac’s write up on Carlyle. I was hoping that he would be a strong prospect, but he appears to be a Travis Smith type. Hopefully I’m wrong, but I just don’t see him as being anything more than temporary fill-in 5th starter.
I am just hoping this is THE low period of the Braves for this year. As long as they can avoid a ten-game losing streak, I think the team will be fine eventually.
KC–I agree and if the Braves can avoid the kind of collapse they had last June they should remain competitive. That said, after the Phillies the Braves face the Brewers on the road, so they need play well….
Carlisle wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t good either. He’ll lose his spot when Cormier is ready and rightly so.
I agree with Mac about the defense. That bobbled ball by Renteria that he then threw to Prado (who must be destroyed) who got it knocked away by the dang pitcher hurt.
The Braves are playing .500 ball in May. It’s not quite last June yet, but it sometimes looks as bad. A little more consistency from James and Davies and a healthy Chipper would turn things around pretty quickly.