Atlanta Braves vs. Milwaukee Brewers – Box Score – July 25, 2009 – ESPN

Javier Vazquez has kidnapped Tommy Hanson’s run support! Hanson, despite giving up only two runs in seven innings, picked up his first loss as the Braves blew several early scoring chances then basically shut down in the last innings against the Brewers’ weak bullpen. Hanson, who is recovering from the flu and lost a lot of weight, was obviously not quite right, with his velocity off his usual standard, and struck out only one. He still mostly kept the ball down and stayed out of trouble, except for the fifth inning when the Brewers got two runs on three singles and a walk. It’s a good sign for a pitcher when he doesn’t have his best stuff and can still give a better than minimal quality start.

Unfortunately for Hanson, nobody but Nate McLouth showed up tonight. McLouth had two hits and two walks, but that equalled the output of the entire rest of the team. They really only came close to scoring in the fifth, when Church walked with one out and McLouth with two out, but Prado’s hard grounder was fielded by the second baseman. (Judging from last night, if that had been Craig Counsell, it would have been a hit. Still not on board with that scoring decision.) The Braves had one extra-base hit, from McCann in the fourth, and he was the only Brave to reach third base.

Any chance of a comeback died in the eighth when after getting the leadoff man O’Flaherty walked the bases loaded. Yeah, they were all righties, and he’s a lefty, but he’s gotten righties out earlier in the season. Bobby came in with Acosta — because you don’t want to use one of your good relievers when you’re down two runs — and after getting the first man he gave up a single to score two and put it out of reach.