Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves – Box Score – October 02, 2009 – ESPN

The Braves lose, and you know what? I’m okay with that. Seriously, now that the season is officially going to end in a couple of days, I can be happy that Derek Lowe didn’t get his sixteenth win because the Braves exploded for a bunch of runs the day after Tommy Hanson pitched his heart out in a no-decision turned loss. I’m petty that way, I guess.

Lowe wasn’t eligible for the win, leaving with two out in the fifth having thrown 106 pitches, walking five and striking out four, allowing eight hits, including a homer, and all six runs, five of them “earned”. He finishes the year with a 4.67 ERA. Here is the complete list of Braves pitchers who have thrown 30 or more innings with a higher ERA this year:

And here’s the complete list, with the same criteria, of those who have a lower strikeout/innings pitched ratio:

Three more years!

The Braves actually led after two, when Ross doubled in Escobar and Infante. Their other run came on a Chipper groundout in the seventh. Did I mention that the winning pitcher was Livan Hernandez? It can be difficult, after putting on a run like the Braves did, to play for no stakes. The Braves actually outhit the Nats, but drew only one walk.