Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – Box Score – April 17, 2009 – ESPN

This really sucks. The Braves were shut out by the legendary Paul Maholm, leaving nine men on base and hitting into two double plays. In the second inning, they loaded the bases with none out, but couldn’t score. They had baserunners all over the place in the middle innings, but couldn’t do anything.

Jair Jurrjens gets hung with the loss, but really deserved better. He allowed one run, in the second inning, on a triple (that really should have been a double, Schafer misplayed a ball off the wall) and a groundout. He struck out seven in six and two thirds. He also threw 120 pitches, which is probably too many.

The Braves had six hits. Three were by the suddenly scorching Francoeur, who is hitting .350 while the team collapses around him and McCann (who was hit by pitches twice) is hitting .219. It’s like Bizarro World, and it am not good.

Early, early game today. This will serve as the game thread.