B.J. Upton and Justin Upton both made great defensive plays and both homered to gave Aaron Harang his 12th win of the season after winning just 2 times in his last 7 starts.
Once again, Aaron did what he usually does, … 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks in 6+ innings. Who knew that Aaron Harang would pitch over 200 innings and have 25 quality starts, which is more than Cole Hamels, Clayton Kershaw, Jordan Zimmermann, or Stephen Strasburg? All that for a million bucks.
B.J.’s 12th homer came with the game tied in the top of the third and Justin’s 29th came after Freddie Freeman walked in the 7th, giving the Braves a 4 – 2 lead. Both Uptons also threw runners out at home. Extra nice!!
Aaron departed with 2 outs and a 4 – 2 lead. Chasen Shreve finished the 7th by getting Ben Revere to ground out to 3rd. David Carpenter looked good to lock down the 8th.
Craig Kimbrel made it interesting in the 9th. A hit, an error, a walk and the bases were loaded. However, Craig got Revere to line out to Andrelton who made a diving play to his right to end the game.
It was number 46 for Kimbrel.
After a 17 – 9 start, we ended 5 and 19, depending on how tomorrow turns out. With John Hart at the realm, there will almost certainly be changes. He’s got nothing left to prove so let’s hope he is willing to take a few risks to get another championship in Atlanta.
Thanks, ChasT.
And I raise my steamy mug of coffee to Aaron Harang, the biggest, most handsome bargain of the major leagues. Good work, BH. We’ll miss you. I hope you find some good cream for the bags under your eyes.
On another happy note,
http://deadspin.com/diamondbacks-fire-grit-lord-kirk-gibson-1639670513
Praying for the Smitty’s. Win the last one, Braves.
Thanks for the winning recap.
Smitty, praying for your wife and the family. Praying for comfort and a quick recovery….
Wonder if we can bring Harang back for cheap.
I would think so. Bring on the offseason
Great news! https://mobile.twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/516245371681398785
John Hart basically said Braves need more team speed, Fredi deserves another chance, and guys need to have better years.
You! (fill in the blank) Have a better year!
I feel optimistic already.
Would keeping Bonifacio for next year and have him playing 2b be a realistic idea?
I am pretty sure that Gosselin, LaStella, and Peraza would all be better at 2b next year than Bonifacio.
Better, maybe. Cheaper, definitely.
Bad and cheap is better than bad and not cheap.
Freddie made it to first base – barely.
Russel – who would have thought?
I love that Twitter thread because it is so much fan stupidity condensed near perfectly into a tight space.
Zimmerman 2 outs from a no-hitter
What a catch by Souza.
Season over on a winning streak. Yay. Getting no hit after the first inning does not matter anymore. That is so 2014.
Thank you, Braves Journal.
Not that it matters, but finished tied with the Mets. Can’t like that.
Nonetheless, thanks Braves Journalers for sharing the relative misery, and here’s an especially Hot Stove.
So, Aaron Harang and Tim Hudson finish the season with fairly similar lines. Seriously, thanks, Wren.
Grit Lord would be a good name for a band.
So when the team stinks in 2015, will that be the end of Fredi?
@21
That’s the funny thing about the GM role. If at some point during the offseason Frank Wren said, “Ya know, we think Aaron Harang is going to have a better season than Tim Hudson, so we’re gonna let Huddy go and pick up Big Handsome,” we would have gone crazy. But we let Huddy go because of Beachy, then Beachy gets injured, so Wren signs a reclaim, the reclaim ends up having a great season, and Wren looks like a genius.
Man, if only BJ Upton had gotten injured in the beginning of the year and we were forced to do something about it…
Got back in this afternoon and was able to catch the last couple of innings of the game. I didn’t think I’d get to see any more baseball this season, and it was fun to see the Braves go out on a win. Because the team reaches the playoffs so much, I’m not accustomed to them winning their last game.
Anyone pick up the recap for Smitty today, or should I put something up? I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but if I can help, I’m willing to.
I could put something together.
Man, if only BJ Upton had gotten injured in the beginning of the year and we were forced to do something about it…
The last time the Braves were forced to do something about center field in the midst of the season, it led to Nate McLouth.
Scratch that. This is hard.
Conspiracy theory – there’s a very good chance we’re not going to be be very good next year, and Fredi is being kept around to take the blame if/when that happens.
Thank you to the recappers for a terrific season.
Go Braves!
@28 No problem. I’ll throw something up; if someone else is already writing one, I’ll either not post mine or delete it.
Braves won. Only proper ‘Rissa recaps. She’s our ace and stopper.
29 — Spike, I’ve been thinking the same thing since Wren was fired. Designated fall guy.
@29 Or, even to a lesser extent, the new GM won’t want to get his way on everything and look bad if it doesn’t work.
Basically the same thing, but I wouldn’t call it a conspiracy
New thread.