2006 Atlanta Braves Replay Assn

[motnahp]

Chipper Jones smacked a 3-run homer and the Braves got 7 strong innings from Tim Hudson, defeating the Giants 5-3.

THU AUG 31

SF_____3___8___0
ATL____5__10___0

Standings at the end of August:

[motnahp]

....and the rest:

[motnahp]

Jeff Francoeur and Adam LaRoche homered and the Braves edged the Phillies 3-2. Chuck James allowed only a 2-run homer to Pat Burrell and collected the win. Villarreal, Paronto and Wickman posted 3 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and no walks between them.

FRI SEP 1

ATL_____3___8___0
PHA_____2__10___0

Things tighten up in the wild card race. At close of play today:

LA_____72-62
COL___72-62
SF_____72-63
ATL____72-63

The Braves have a 4-game series at Colorado Sep 21-24, their only games remaining against this bunch of NL West teams. All three of them are playing for just the wild card, as San Diego has a 7-game lead in that division.

[motnahp]

This game is the front-runner for the most exciting game of the season, thus far.

Adam LaRoche belted a solo homer in the top of the 10th to lead the Braves over the Phillies 8-7 in a great ball game. Philly took an early 4-0 lead in the second inning, chasing Atlanta starter Kyle Davies. Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer in the 1st. Brett Myers held the Braves off the board through 7 innings, while Brave relievers Wayne Franklin, Kevin Barry and Ken Ray held the Phils to those 4 runs. Ray pitched 3 perfect innings in his longest stint of the year.

Scott Mathieson took the mound for Philly in the top of the 8th inning and the Brave bats awoke. A single and two walks loaded the bases. Atlanta scored one run on a Chipper Jones groundout. Following another walk, Adam LaRoche lined a grand slam homer over the left field wall to give the Braves a 5-4 lead. Chad Paronto came on in the bottom of the 8th to try and preserve the lead. The Phillies regained the lead, however, on Pat Burrell's 3-run homer off Paronto, and took a 7-5 lead into the 9th inning.

Arthur Rhodes took the mound, in place of injured closer Tom Gordon. Brian McCann singled, pinch-hitter Brian Jordan doubled, moving McCann to 3rd, putting the tying runs in scoring position. Matt Diaz, batting for Paronto, singled to center field, scoring McCann and moving Jordan to third (it was at this point that manager motnahp realized he had made a mistake. Speedy Pete Orr came in to run for the 39-year-old Jordan at third). Orr scored on an infield grounder and the game was tied 7-7. Rick White relieved Rhodes and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Motnahp went with closer Bob Wickman in the 9th and Big Bob retired the side in order. On to extra innings, we go. At this point, the Braves' bullpen consisted of three good relievers with very tired arms and two very rested rookies (5-pointers). With one out in the top of the 10th, LaRoche came through again, blasting his 2nd homer of the game and 33rd of the season, this one to right field. The Braves got two more runners aboard with Wickman due up. Bob's skills on the mound made him too valuable to pinch-hit for, so he was asked to bunt. He bunted into a double play to end the inning. Not fazed in the least, Wickman struck out Utley, Burrell, and rookie Joe Thurston to end the game. WOW !

SAT SEP 2

ATL_____8___10___0
PHA_____7___12___0

[motnahp]

Pinch-hitter Jose Hernandez singled home Chris Roberson with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th as Philadelphia prevailed over the Braves, 2-1.

SUN SEP 3

ATL_____1___8___1
PHA_____2__12___0

[motnahp]

The Braves took the opener of a three-game series at New York, 10-6. Atlanta built a 10-1 lead, then emptied the bench. Lance Cormier was brilliant, tossing six innings and allowing only one run. Peter Moylan allowed the other five Mets' runs as he failed to record an out in the 8th. Chipper Jones was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a homer, and 6 RBI. He walked in his 4th plate appearance, then was removed from the game. Mets' starter Oliver Perez was knocked around for 8 runs in only 3 innings.

MON SEP 4

ATL____10___19___0
NYM____6____9___0

[motnahp]

Darren Oliver and Dave Williams held the Braves to only 4 hits as the Mets won, 8-1. Shawn Green, Carlos Beltran, and reliever Williams all homered for New York. For the Braves, Tim Hudson struggled, allowing 9 hits and 5 runs in 5 innings.

TUE SEP 5

ATL_____1___4___0
NYM____8___14___0

[motnahp]

The Mets got a great outing from Tom Glavine and took the series with a 4-1 win. Jose Valentin homered and Shawn Green added a big two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the 7th.

ATL_____1___6___0
NYM____4__10___1

Despite the two straight losses to the Mets, the Braves remain right in the thick of the wild-card race. After close of play today:

LA_____75-64___-----
ATL____74-66___ 1 1/2 GB
SF_____74-66___ 1 1/2 GB
COL___73-66____ 2 GB
HOU___72-68___ 3 1/2 GB
MILW__71-69___ 4 1/2 GB

[motnahp]

John Smoltz allowed only 1 run on 4 hits, while striking out 9 in 8 innings as the Braves took the opener of a 4-game series with the Cubs, 7-4. Adam LaRoche and Edgar Renteria homered.

FRI SEP 8

CHC_____4___7___1
ATL______7___9___1

[motnahp]

Lance Cormier was brilliant, allowing only 1 hit over 6 innings. McBride, Paronto, and Wickman held the Cubs off the board the last 3 innings as the Braves shut out the Cubs 3-0. Carlos Zambrano allowed only a Chipper Jones solo homer in the bottom of the 1st. Pinch-hitter Matt Diaz smacked a 2-run homer in the 8th, adding a couple of insurance runs. Pete Orr started in place of Marcus Giles and contributed 2 hits and a stolen base.

SAT SEP 9

CHC_____0___3___0
ATL______3___6___1

Wild-card standings at close of play today:

ATL_____76-66___-----
COL_____76-66__-----
SF______75-67___ 1 GB
LA______75-67___ 1 GB
HOU____73-69___ 3 GB
MILW___72-70___ 4 GB

Looking ahead on the Atlanta schedule: 2 more games at home with the Cubs, followed by Philadelphia and Florida at home for 3 each. Two games in Washington, followed by 4 games AT Colorado. The Braves finish at home with 3-game sets against the Mets and Astros. 20 games remaining and 14 of them are at home, but Florida has given the Braves fits this year and the Mets will surely be looking to keep the Braves from the postseason.

[motnahp]

Five days after one of the worst outings of his season, Tim Hudson turned in one of his best. The right-hander went the distance, allowing only 4 hits and an unearned run. He struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter. He threw only 90 pitches. Chipper Jones doubled and homered, driving in 3 runs. Andruw Jones drove in the other 2 runs as the Braves downed the Cubs for the 3rd straight time, 5-1.

CHC____1___4___1
ATL_____5__10___1

[motnahp]

The Atlanta Braves pounded the Chicago Cubs today, 23-7. Chipper Jones led the way, going 4-5 with 7 RBI, including a grand slam off Cub starter Glendon Rusch. This game had the feel of an All-Star game, as manager motnahp tried to get all of his bench players in the game. The Cubs used 23 players, including 8 pitchers. The Braves used 21 players, keeping the two Brians, Jordan and McCann, on the bench. Chuck James allowed 3 runs in 5 innings to pick up the win. Young pitchers Devine, Barry, and Moylan all saw action. There was no stopping the Brave bats. Daryle Ward, who pinch hit for James in the 5th, stayed in the game and played right field. Ward ended up 4-4 and scored three runs. Marcus Giles was also 4-4, with 2 RBI. Chipper's homer was the only long ball by the Braves, who used 6 doubles, a triple, 19 singles and 8 Cub walks to do their damage. Rookie Tony Pena, Jr. was 2-3 with a triple and 2 RBI. Much-maligned rookie Scott Thorman was 0-1 with a walk, but picked up his 1st RBI and scored his 1st run of the season.

MON SEP 11

CHC_____7___7___0
ATL_____23__27___0

Colorado, San Fran. and LA were idle today. The Braves now lead the wild card race by 1/2 game over the Rockies, and by 2 1/2 over both San Fran. and LA.

[motnahp]

Jamie Moyer & Company scattered 10 hits as the Phillies edged the Braves 3-2. Atlanta had two runners caught stealing and one thrown out at home during the game. Tyler Yates got the start and allowed all 3 runs in 5 innings. Moyer is now a combined 17-5 for the season.

TUE SEP 12

PHA_____3___7___2
ATL_____2__10___0

Colorado beat the Giants 2-1, so the Rockies now have a 1/2-game lead in the wild card race. The Rocks are without their starting catcher, Yorvit Torrealba, for the remainder of the season. They have three catchers on their MLB roster and all are "5-pointers". Before I could get too excited about that, though, I realized that Chipper Jones has one more injury remaining. He'll be unavailable from Sep 14th through the 18th.

[motnahp]

John Smoltz allowed only 3 hits in 7 2/3 innings and improved to 17-9 as the Braves beat the Phils 4-2. Bob Wickman was called upon for a 4-out save and delivered again. Marcus Giles and Jeff Francoeur hit solo homers.

WED SEP 13

PHA_____2___3___0
ATL_____4___8___0

Colorado beat the Giants again, 6-3, to maintain their half-game lead over the Braves.

[motnahp]

Another WOW win against the Phils. Playing without Chipper Jones, the Braves looked bad through 8 innings. Philadelphia led 2-0 entering the bottom of the 9th and sent closer Tom Gordon to the mound to finish things off. Through 8 innings, the Braves had managed 10 hits, but seemed to hit into double plays and never take an extra base. In the 9th, Pete Orr flew out, then pinch-hitter Langerhans singled to center. Edgar Renteria walked. Andruw Jones lined out to short for the 2nd out. LaRoche chopped one up the middle for a single, loading the bases. Jeff Francoeur then singled to right, scoring Langerhans and Renteria and tying the score at 2-2. Ryan Madson came on to relieve a dejected Flash Gordon. Madson's second pitch to Brian McCann (whom manager motnahp had almost removed for a pinch-runner in the 6th inning---WHEW!) was deposited over the right-field fence for a 3-run walk-off homer. Ryan Franklin got the win and Madson was wrongly given the loss. (This issue has been addressed in the past, and not resolved).

THUR SEP 14

PHA_____2___6___0
ATL_____5__14___1

Colorado 8, San Fran 5. Rockies stay in front by a half-game. At least they're helping to get rid of the Giants from this race. San Francisco is now 5 games behind the Rockies.

[motnahp]

Jeff Francoeur blasted a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 8th, as the Braves took the opener of a 3-game series with the Marlins, 4-3. Florida led 2-1 in the top of the 8th, when Miguel Cabrera's solo homer off Kyle Davies gave the Marlins a 3-1 lead. Sergio Mitre, who had relieved Dontrelle Willis, could not hold the lead. Leading off the bottom of the 8th, Andruw Jones singled to left. Adam LaRoche followed with ann infield single near first. Pete Orr came in to run for LaRoche. Orr was able to trot home, as Francoeur homered to put the Braves ahead. Bob Wickman pitched a perfect 9th for the save. Another great, come-from-behind win for the Braves. This is getting more fun with each game.

FRI SEP 15

FLA_____3___8___0
ATL_____4__10___1

The Braves can't seem to shake the Rockies. Colorado won again, as Vinny Castilla's solo homer accounted for the game's only run in a 1-0 win at Arizona. Colorado still leads Atlanta by 1/2 game.

[motnahp]

No magic on this day as the Marlins beat the Braves 6-3. Florida scored 5 times in the top of the 8th off losing pitcher Macay McBride to break a 1-1 tie. Atlanta rallied in their half of the 8th, scoring twice on Adam LaRoche's two-run homer, his 35th. The Braves rallied again off Marlin closer Joe Borowski in the 9th. Pinch-hitters Renteria and Langerhans both singled, but Borowski wiggled out of the jam, getting the next 3 batters in order to earn the save.

SAT SEP 16

FLA_____6___11___0
ATL_____3___10___0

Thank you, Arizona! The D-Backs beat the Rockies 5-4 in 14 innings, keeping Colorado 1/2 game ahead of the Braves.

[motnahp]

Tyler Yates was outstanding today. He pitched 6 shutout innings, allowed only 4 hits. He walked only 1 and struck out 10 Marlins, as the Braves won easily, 9-2. Jeff Francoeur launched a 3-run homer and Macus Giles had a bases-loaded triple to account for most of the scoring. Scott Thorman chipped in with an RBI single. Peter Moylan pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

SUN SEP 17

FLA_____2___7___2
ATL_____9__16___0

Colorado's Aaron Cook threw 6 shutout innings and the Rockies beat the D-Backs 3-0, keeping Colorado 1/2 game up on the Braves.

[motnahp]

MON SEP 18

The Braves enjoyed an off-day. They especially enjoyed knowing that San Francisco's Matt Cain pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings, striking out 12 and walking no one. The Giants went into Coors Field and blanked the Rockies 4-0.

Wild-Card standings through SEP 18:

ATL_____82-68
COL____82-68
LA______81-69
SF______78-72
MIL_____78-72
HOU____76-74

The Braves visit Washington for a short 2-game series starting tomorrow. Smoltz and Cormier will start in Washington. The Braves then visit Coors for the crucial 4-game set with the Rockies. Scheduled to start for the Braves are: Hudson, James, Yates, and Smoltz. Atlanta will benefit from another off-day following the series in Colorado, allowing them to set up their rotation for the final six games, 3 at home against the Mets and 3 at home against the Astros.

[motnahp]

The Washington Nationals broke open a 1-1 game with 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and defeated the Braves 4-1. The big blow was a two-run triple off the bat of Felipe Lopez. Losing pitcher Chad Paronto allowed all 3 runs. John Smoltz got a no-decision. With a record of 17-9, Smoltz has two scheduled starts remaining in the season. His chances of winning 20 games appear to have vanished. Chipper Jones returned to the lineup and went 1-4.

TUE SEP 19

ATL_____1___7___0
WAS____4__11___1

The news out west was not good today. Both Colorado and Los Angeles won their games. This puts the Rockies one game ahead of both Atlanta and LA.