Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Atlanta Braves – Box Score – June 27, 2012 – ESPN.
The Braves jumped out to a 6-0 lead, only to let the D-Backs cut it to 6-4. But they held from there, thanks to Eric O’Flaherty and, of course, Craig Kimbrel.
Jason Heyward, who is now hitting second, opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first; it stayed that way until the fifth. Chipper Jones reached on a walk, then Freddie Freeman singled. Andrelton Simmons grounded to the pitcher, who threw the ball away, allowing Chipper to score. Tommy Hanson walked to load the bases, and Michael Bourn hit a sac fly to score Freeman. Heyward walked to load the bases again, and Simmons scored to make it 4-0. In the sixth, Dan Uggla walked and Chipper hit a homer, and it was 6-0.
After getting the first man in the seventh, Hanson allowed two singles then a homer, and it was suddenly 6-3. Jonny Venters got his first man, then allowed a solo homer. Eric O’Flaherty allowed two runners but got out of it with a double play. And Craig Kimbrel of course struck out the side.
We seem to be getting some help today from the Rockies, who are thumping the Nats early.
If we can win tonight, it could put us 2.5-games behind the Nats as they visit for the weekend.
Of course, the pitching matchups for the weekend are not promising. (Though any game with Minor isn’t promising.)
What do the Braves see in Minor anyway? When I watch him pitch none of his pitches look better than average.
We need Bourn to start us off with a single up the middle, followed by Heyward working one of those 12 pitch ABs leading to a walk to unsettle young Mr. Bauer, followed by a patented Nitram Odarp 2 strike double down the leftfield foul line.
Presto – a 2-0 lead, 20 pitches thrown, and still nobody out in the 1st.
As long as Minor never has to go to the stretch, he’s fine.
So it’s perfect game or bust!
Minor vs. Strasburg is just… eugh. I know Wren’s a deliberate GM, but he really should have a solution in place to keep that from happening. We need to get back out in front in the East.
They’re calling for temps between 104 and 109(!) here on Fri, Sat and Sun. Just brutal.
Minor’s going to lose. Might as well send him up against a guy there’s no shame in losing to.
He somehow outpitched Sabathia once, so… you never know.
The Rockies did it for us, too, but it’s still frustrating to watch them roll over for the Nats.
Oh, my God. It’s a balmy 107 here in Phoenix, but it’s a dry heat, so it feels like 95 in Georgia.
I can’t even imagine a humid 109. I’m pretty sure there isn’t enough sweet tea in the world.
Wow, now it’s Col 10, Wash 9, bottom 5th.
Looks like Colorado’s Josh Outman didn’t live up to his name.
At least the Rockies get the last at-bat…
Who does better in the heat. California beach boy or Vandy grad/
Well, the humidity is actually pretty low, so it is gonna be a Phoenix-like heat wave, I think. Right now it’s 98, but the humidity’s only 26%. I was actually somewhat surprised to learn that it’s 98. I’m not sure it’s even possible for it to get that hot if it’s humid as well.
Dear lord, please let us never trade for Edinson Volquez.
@12- I just got back inside and it was up to a healthy 111. And while I don’t think Phoenix is at any higher elevation than Atlanta, I remain convinced that either it is magically several hundred thousand miles closer to the sun or else the hole in the ozone layer is directly above this place. It feels like the sun is RIGHT THERE when you walk out the door.
@12, yeah, it hit 97 this afternoon and it was hard to breathe just doing very mild work out in the garden. This weekend is going to suck.
@17
Phoenix is at a higher elevation than Atlanta, but it’s not in Denver territory or anything.
Also, the all-time record high temperature in Atlanta is apparently 105, so that’s a hell of a forecast.
@19- I just went off stadium elevations; Turner is 1050′ while Chase is at 1100′. All I can say is, those are 50 pretty important feet when it comes to the intensity of the stupid, hateful sun…
I’m pretty sure that the all-time heat record in Atlanta is Fred McGriff in 1993.
Zing!
Rafael Betancourt doesn’t seem all that interested in helping the Braves.
But my man Belisle did his job in the 8th…
Headed to my first game of the year this Friday and the high in Atlanta is 106! Holy geez!
Good luck, Ryan!
ESPN’s Mark Simon just tweeted this:
Be still, my heart.
Same lineup again tonight.
Fangraphs interview with Fredi and Andrelton. Skip to five minutes in.
Nice start, JJ.
Bauer looks good. Wonder if he’s descended from Hank.
Rockies win it in the bottom of the 11th.
Colorado’s bats were on fire today.
Hot damn!
Jason has made a couple of those lately, hasn’t he?
Heyward with the cannon!
Okay, Jason can play on my team.
Make him player of the week again!
JJ owes Heyward an expensive dinner.
I think we all do.
It just seems inadequate, but: what an outstanding throw.
Good job, Jason and Brian!
Way to go Freddie!
JJ’s playing with a little bit of fire. They’re hitting him decently, and he hasn’t once hit 90. I’m holding my breath till the 5th inning is over, and then I hope Fredi gives him a VERY short leash.
JJ is leaving a few pitches up, but so far so good. Need the offense to give him about 5 runs of breathing room.
They’re hitting him decently, and he hasn’t once hit 90.
I wonder what JJ’s elbow looks like.
Brian McCann! He damn near hit that one out.
Awesomesauce!!!
Prado better gulp down a couple bottles of water, he looked absolutely drained in the dugout.
Dan’s just glad to be on base.
The umpire is squeezing Bauer pretty good.
One run scored out of all that was disappointing, but at least we’re on the board.
Okay, Brian; that was nice, despite what AAR says.
Way to go BMac!!!
Andrelton the acrobat.
Simmons!!!
SC Top Play? I’m just glad it didn’t make Friday’s ‘Not Top 10’.
Jurrjens has 0 Ks, so the DIPS gods are indeed smiling so far. And the actual defense is helping.
JJ was missing the mitt in the 4th.
Get him in, boys!
Hey! Successful bunt.
ABC baseball.
Not much getting called on the outside corner.
Kid did okay. Glad he’s gone.
Pile on the runs, team.
@63, Agreed, if he stays healthy he’s going to be fun to watch.
And yeah, I also have a feeling that we are going to need a few more runs to win this one.
Thank you.
It was nice of Arizona to give us an extra out. It’s too bad we didn’t use it.
Stephen Drew does not appear to be a good defensive shortstop.
Get somebody up and throwing, Fredi, please.
Neither option between Jurrjens or Venters fills me with confidence here.
Dangit, get him out of there.
Sigh. Waited too long, Fredi. Even Chip and Joe saw that coming.
JJ pitched okay. Hope Venters can get the first man.
JJ was fine. Get a few more of those runners in early on and it isn’t even a question mark.
Fooled me again. I thought Joe said Venters was coming in. Go get ’em, Chad.
Dur-boom!
Who would have thought Durbin would turn into a go-to guy? Good job, Chad.
I’d rather have Durbin bat than Jack Wilson.
Matt Diaz, who isn’t exactly lighting it up, but is still better than Jack Wilson, was still available. Guess Fredi is saving him for a hypothetical big spot later.
Chip thinks 5.2 innings is a quality start.
Win one for the Meds!
This game has an ominous feel.
Arizona is piggybacking 2 starters tonight.
Trevor Bauer’s routines are freaking weird.
Jeff Francoeur will not be the Royals rep in the all star game, Joe!
Yeah, it will be Butler and/or Moustakas.
Efficient, Eric. Now please score a couple of runs, boys.
Or Broxton.
John Jenkins to the Hawks, Stu.
Balk
I guess Uggla had a stroke on the third pitch or something
Uggla needs to sit out a game.
Freddie’s too stupid to rest him a game ….. he’s played every game this year !!!!
So, did anyone other than the umps spot whatever that balk was?
Would have been a great time to sit him .. with Nats coming in .. might have got him going but freddie freeloader cant see past the nose on his face ….. come on Uggla sake it off ..
If Goldschmidt had dropped that foul popup for an error in the first inning and the pitcher retired every batter, would it still be a perfect game?
we are getting zilch out of our bench pinch hitting .. time for a bench shakeup !!!!!
HInske serves no purpose anymore.
96 — Yes, since no batter would have reached base.
@96
Hmmm. I would think so, as no runners reached base
Yeah, should have just Wikipedia’d it. Thought it might be a bit obscure, but it’s in the first paragraph. Although apparently it’s never happened before.
Our bench avgs. Ross – 279 (cant hit him cause hes the only c backup), Diaz – 233, Francisco -224, Henske – 213 , Wilson – 175 ….. whew thats horrible
Craig Kimsucks
Well, hell.
Okie-dokie, boys. Show us what you’re made of.
Maybe that’s why Fredi only likes using him in ninth-inning save situations.
Cant be unhitable all the time … sometime somebody’s gonna put a good swing on one …. they lost this one letting a rookie shutem down !!
0-for-8 RISP lost this game.
We have a new losing streak, folks.
Checked the thread. Saw Tad was posting. Knew we lost. Typed this. Submitted comment. Closed out.
Uggla is worse than Jerry Sandusky.
I also have an arcane baseball query. Is there a catcher-dropping-strike-3 equivalent to the infield fly rule? Saw an inning end with the catcher stepping on home after dropping strike 3 with bases loaded and two outs. Seems with less than two outs doing that and throwing to third (and then on
to second if no outs) would be real easy.
If you can tell me how we managed to get one run in an inning where we got three walks, a hit by pitch, and a double, I’ll tell you how we lost by a run.
@112 – Yes. If there are less than two out, the batter is out regardless if there is a runner on first.
@112 No, because that can only happen with 2 outs. With less than 2 outs, the hitter is automatically if the catcher drops strike three when first base is occupied.
Woops, we contradicted the answer with the same information. Sorry to confuse the matter, as I guess that could be considered the equivalent of the infield fly…either way, there can’t be a double play there.
Ah. Thank you, I’m much too lazy to google something.
John Jenkins? Oh, hell yes!
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McCann needs steroids. Either that, or we need to move the right field fence in about twenty feet.
Though he did hit a run-scoring double last night, McCann’s ISO is at a low.
Recapped.