The Worst to First Association

[Frozen Stiffer]

Yay Marlins!
 
::runs and hides from angry, armed Braves fans::

[KG Erwin]

My, my, my, Frozen Stiffer. Y'know, sooner or later sometone's gonna come up with a Green Goblin avatar, taking a blast at that prancing pansy of yours. [:'(] [:D]

(My apologies for messing up your excellent thread, motnahp.) [:o]

[motnahp]

Three Cincinnati pitchers combined to shut out the Braves 1-0. Bruce Berenyi (11-4) went 6 innings, Tom Hume 2 innings, and Joe Price (SV 32) finished up. Berenyi also drove in the game's only run with a 2nd-inning single. Charlie Puleo fell to 9-4 with the loss.

FRI AUG 5

ATL_____0___7___1
CIN_____1___9___0

[motnahp]

Pete Smith was outstanding, allowing only one hit through 8 innings, as the Braves blanked the Reds 2-0. Smith (10-4) gave up a 2nd-inning single to Rafael Landestoy, then held the Reds hitless into the 9th. After allowing two singles and a walk in the 9th, Smith was relieved by Bruce Sutter, who earned his 22nd save by recording the final out. Ron Gant's 2nd-inning RBI triple and Smith's 9th-inning RBI single accounted for the two runs. Frank Pastore (5-10) allowed only one run in 6 innings, but took the loss.

SAT AUG 6

ATL_____2___7___0
CIN_____0___3___1

[motnahp]

Trailing 1-0 entering the 9th, the Braves exploded for 4 runs off Reds' closer Joe Price and took the series with a 4-1 victory. Tom Seaver (7 IP) and Ben Hayes (1 IP) shut out the Braves for 8 innings. Price (2-3) came on in the 9th and did not retire a batter. Ken Oberkfell singled, Ron Gant walked, then Ted Simmons singled to load the bases. Dale Murphy drove in 2 runs with a single to give the Braves the lead. Bill Scherrer replaced Price on the mound and struck out Ken Griffey for the 1st out of the inning. Lonnie Smith then delivered the final two runs with a triple. Paul Assenmacher (5-1) collected the win in relief. Bruce Sutter pitched a 1-2-3 9th for his 23rd save. The Braves now return home for a big 3-game series with division-leading Philadelphia.

SUN AUG 7

ATL_____4___8___0
CIN_____1___6___0

Season record: 65-47, 2nd place in NL East, 3 1/2 GB 1st-place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Gerald Perry's double scored Jerry Royster with the winning run in the bottom of the 9th as the Braves survived a Philadelphia rally and took the opener of a 3-game series, 6-5. Atlanta led 5-1 after 8 innings. Ron Gant smacked a 2-run double in the 1st and Dale Murphy provided insurance with a 3-run homer (12) in the bottom of the 8th. Rick Mahler gave 8 solid innings on the mound and appeared headed for the win. The Phillies rallied in the 9th, however. Mike Schmidt and Bill Robinson singled off Jose Alvarez, who was then replaced with lefty Chuck Cary. Denny Doyle greeted Cary with his 3rd homer, cutting the lead to 5-4. Bruce Sutter was summoned from the bullpen to lock down the save, but allowed a pinch-hit homer to Joe Lis (3). Sutter then retired the side and the game was tied 5-5 heading into the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Jerry Royster singled off Joe Hoerner (2-3), Lonnie Smith walked, and Perry delivered the game-winner. Sutter picked up the win and is now 4-2.

MON AUG 8

PHI_____5___9___0
ATL_____6___8___1

[motnahp]

Tom Glavine (13-7, 7 IP), Joe Boever (1 1/3 IP) and Paul Assenmacher (2/3 IP) stifled and blanked the Phillies and ace Steve Carlton 5-0. Dale Murphy was 2-4 with a homer (13) and 3 RBI. Lonnie Smith, Ron Gant, Ozzie Virgil, and Glavine all had two hits to lead the Braves' 13-hit attack. Carlton (16-4) went 6 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned). With the win, the Braves pull to within 1 1/2 games of the division-leading Phils.

TUE AUG 9

PHI_____0___8___1
ATL_____5__13___0

[motnahp]

In a game that may come back to haunt the Braves, Philadelphia staged another comeback, this time winning 7-5 in 11 innings. Atlanta led 5-0 after 3 innings and carried that 5-0 lead into the 9th. Charlie Puleo (6 IP) and Jose Alvarez (2 IP) shut down the Phils and the Braves were thinking sweep. In the top of the 9th, however, Jim Acker and Paul Assenmacher could not hold the lead. Schmidt walked. After Don Money struck out, Deron Johnson singled. Mike Anderson and Bob Boone provided RBI singles to make the score 5-2. Tim McCarver came on to pinch hit. Paul Assenmacher replaced Acker and struck out McCarver for the 2nd out. Assenmacher then walked Tom Hutton to load the bases. An infield single by Bill Robinson made the score 5-3. Greg Luzinski then delivered a 2-run single to center, tying the score. Bruce Sutter was then summoned (finally ?) from the pen to retire the side.

In the top of the 11th, Sutter retired the first two batters. Luzinski singled again. Mike Schmidt followed with a homer (4). Dick Selma (5-4) picked up the win in relief. Mac Scarce pitched a scoreless 9th for his 43rd save. Lonnie Smith homered (6) for the Braves, while Sutter fell to 4-3 with the loss. Instead of enjoying the off-day and pulling to within a half-game of the Phillies, the Braves are again 2 1/2 games back. They wasted a golden opportunity today.

The homestand concludes with a 3-game weekend series with the Brewers.

WED AUG 10

PHI_____7___14___1 (11 innings)
ATL_____5___13___0

Season record: 67-48, 2nd place in NL East, 2 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Dale Murphy's 2-run triple capped a 4-run 5th inning and gave the Braves a 4-3 win over the Brewers. Pete Smith (11-4) went 7 innings for the win. Bruce Sutter pitched a 1-2-3 9th for his 24th save. Matt Stairs hit his 15th homer for Milwaukee. Jamey Wright took the loss and fell to 10-7.

FRI AUG 12

MIL_____3___6___1
ATL_____4___7___1

[motnahp]

The Braves made it two straight over Milwaukee, winning 7-4. Ron Gant was 2-5, including a 2-run homer, his 9th. Ken Oberkfell, Andres Thomas, and winning pitcher Zane Smith (9-7) also had two hits apiece. Jim Acker pitched the 8th and 9th and earned his 2nd save. Jose Hernandez hit his 8th home run for the Brewers. Ruben Quevedo (6-9) took the loss.

SAT AUG 13

MIL_____4___8___2
ATL_____7__13___1

[motnahp]

The Braves survived a 15-hit Milwaukee attack and swept the Brewers, 6-3. Rick Mahler went 7 innings and improved to 9-9. Bruce Sutter pitched the 9th for his 25th save. Ted Simmons and Gary Roenicke each drove in a pair of runs for Atlanta. Geoff Jenkins smacked his 9th homer for the Brewers and Wayne Franklin (1-2) took the loss.

SUN AUG 14

MIL_____3___15___1
ATL_____6____7___1

Season record: 70-48, 2nd place in NL East, 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Atlanta Braves headed north of the border for the first of four against the Expos and came away with a 3-0 win in 12 innings. Tom Glavine and Bill Stoneman threw zeroes for 8 innings each. The Braves scored in the 12th on an RBI single by Andres Thomas. A Maury Wills error loaded the bases, then Albert Hall and Lonnie Smith singled in runs to make it 3-0. Chuck Cary (2-1) picked up the win. Paul Assenmacher notched his 3rd save. Montreal reliever Dan McGinn (4-4) took the loss.

MON AUG 15

ATL_____3___13___0 (12 innings)
MON____0___11___3

Dwight Gooden pitched a 2-hit shutout, as the Mets downed the Phillies 9-0 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Braves now move into first place, 1/2 game up on the Phils.

[motnahp]

Dan McGinn (5-4) picked up the win and drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the 13th, as the Expos clipped the Braves 7-6. Atlanta went ahead 6-4 in the top of the 12th on Ron Gant's 10th homer of the year. Dealing with an exhausted bullpen, Atlanta manager motnahp called upon starter Rick Mahler (9-10) to save the game in the bottom of the 12th. With two outs, Rusty Staub tied the game for the Expos with a 2-run homer of his own, #15 on the season. Dale Murphy also homered (14) for the Braves and John Bateman clubbed his 5th for Montreal.

TUE AUG 16

ATL_____6___14___0 (13 innings)
MON____7___15___0

[motnahp]

The Braves and Expos played extra innings for the 3rd straight day. Atlanta prevailed this time, 6-5 in 13 innings. Ron Gant led off the top of the 13th with a triple off losing pitcher Steve Shea (3-3). Ozzie Virgil drove home Gant with a groundout. Jose ALvarez (4-5) pitched the last two innings for the win. At the plate, Ken Oberkfell (4) and starting pitcher Pete Smith (1) knocked back-to-back homers for Atlanta in the 6th. Donn Clendenon (15) and Coco Laboy (8) homered for Montreal.

WED AUG 17

ATL_____6___11___1 (13 innings)
MON____5___15___0

[motnahp]

Only needing a regulation 9 innings, the Braves downed the Expos 9-4. Andres Thomas led the way, going 3-4 with a double and 4 RBI. Winnind pitcher Zane Smith (10-7) was 2-4 with a double and 3 RBI. Manny Mota and Rusty Staub had 3 hits apiece for Montreal. Mike Wegener (6-9) took the loss. The Braves now head to Florida for a 3-game series.

THUR AUG 18

ATL_____9___10___2
MON____4___12___0

Season record: 73-49, 1st place in NL East, 1 1/2 games ahead of 2nd place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Braves edged the Marlins 2-1 in the opening game of a 3-game series. Ken Oberkfell hit a 1-out triple in the top of the 9th. He was replaced by pinch runner Albert Hall, who then scored the go-ahead run on a 2-out single by Lonnie Smith. Paul Assenmacher (6-1) pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win. Bruce Sutter collected his 26th save. Matt Mantei (3-4) took the loss and Gary Sheffield hit his 7th homer for Florida.

FRI AUG 19

ATL_____2___9___0
FLA_____1___6___1

[motnahp]

Gerald Perry's grounder scored Lonnie Smith with the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning, as the Braves went extra innings again, this time topping the Marlins 5-4. Atlanta trailed 4-1 into the top of the 9th, before tying the game against the Marlin bullpen. RBI singles from Smith and Perry were followed by a bases-loaded walk to Dale Murphy, tying the game at 4-4. In the top of the 11th, Smith tripled off Felix Heredia (4-1) with one out, then scored on Perry's RBI grounder. Bruce Sutter (5-3) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Charlie Puleo came on in the 9th and earned his 2nd save. Due to all of the recent extra inning games, Puleo has joined the bullpen. Lefty Chuck Cary will start in Puleo's spot tomorrow.

SAT AUG 20

ATL_____5___12___0 (11 innings)
FLA_____4___15___1

[motnahp]

Mark Kotsay's infield chopper scored Roberto Kelly with the winning and only run, as the Marlins topped the Braves 1-0. Vic Darensbourg (5-3) picked up the win. Jose Alvarez (4-6) suffered the loss. Chuck Cary, making his first start of the season, was brilliant. The lefthander wnt 7 innings, allowed only 4 hits, walked no one, and struck out 3. Brian Meadows was excellent for the Marlins, as well. He tossed 8 shutout innings. The Braves now return home for a 3-game series against the Pirates.

SUN AUG 21

ATL_____0___6___1
FLA_____1___6___0

Season record: 75-50, 1st place in NL East, 1 1/2 games ahead of 2nd place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Pirates scored 4 times in the top of the 9th to beat the Braves, 6-2. Jim Acker allowed all 4 runs in only 1 1/3 innings. Charlie Puleo retired the final two batters in the 9th and was (incorrectly) charged with the loss. He is now 9-5. Jim Winn (7-4) did just that, while Johnny Ray hit a solo homer (3).

MON AUG 22

PIT_____6___10___0
ATL_____2___6____0

[motnahp]

The Pirates made it two in a row over the Braves, battering Zane Smith (10-8) for 6 runs in 5 innings. The Bucs won 7-4. Rick Rhoden (6-10) got the win, with 9th inning relief help from Cecilio Guante (SV 27). Steve Henderson homered (3) for Pittsburgh. Lonnie Smith was 4-5 for the Braves with 2 doubles.

TUE AUG 23

PIT_____7___12___0
ATL_____4___14___2