The Worst to First Association

[motnahp]

The Braves scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and never looked back, taking the 2nd game of the series with the Phillies, 6-1. With the win. the Braves close to within a game of the Phils. Rick Mahler (10-14) went 6 strong innings for the win. Juan Eichelberger (2 IP) and Charlie Puleo (1 IP) provided scoreless relief help. Jeff Blauser continued his hot hitting, going 3-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Gerald Perry was 2-4 with an RBI and Dion James was 2-5 with an RBI. Bill Champion (2-2) allowed all 6 runs and took the loss. The Braves will send Tom Glavine (13-9, 2.42) to the mound against ace Steve Carlton (19-7, 2.33), as the Braves try to get a share of the division lead in the two teams' last meeting of the regular season.

WED SEP 14

PHA_____1___6___0
ATL_____6__11___1

[motnahp]

Steve Carlton and two relievers combined to shut out the Braves 5-0. Philadelphia regains a 2-game lead over Atlanta in the division race. Carlton improved to 20-7, while Atlanta starter Tom Glavine allowed 2 runs in 7+ innings and falls to 13-10. Greg Luzinski was 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI for Philly.

THUR SEP 15

PHA_____5___9___1
ATL_____0___5___1

Season record: 86-61, 2nd place in NL East, 2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

Albert Hall's 1-out single in the bottom of the 13th inning scored Gerald Perry from second with the winning run, as the Braves came back to beat the Marlins 6-5. Florida led 5-2 at one point, but Atlanta chipped away with single runs in the 5th and 6th innings, making the score 5-4. That score held until the 9th, but Florida closer Antonio Alfonseco could not. Hall came in to pinch run and scored the tying run on a Jeff Blauser pinch single. Charlie Puleo (10-5) was the winning pitcher, while Kirt Ojala (4-8) took the loss.

FRI SEP 16

FLA_____5___13___1 (13 innings)
ATL_____6___12___0

Houston's Dave Roberts pitched a 7-hit shutout against the Phillies. The Phils' lead over the Braves is back to 1 game.

[motnahp]

It was Atlanta's turn for a blown save, as Bruce Sutter allowed 3 runs in the 9th. The Marlins trailed 2-1 and ended up winning 4-2. Sutter falls to 6-4. Kirt Ojala improved to 5-8, while Antonio Alfonseca collected his 10th save.

Philadelphia lost again in Houston, 4-2. The Braves are still one game out. Houston leads the NL Central by one game over Cincinnati.

SAT SEP 17

FLA_____4___8___2
ATL_____2___9___1

[motnahp]

Jim Morrison belted a pair of homers (1, 2) to account for all of Atlanta's runs in a 3-2 win over the Marlins. Florida took the early lead on a 2-run homer (7) from Bobby Bonilla in the top of the 2nd. Morrison tied the game with a 2-run homer of his own in the 5th and put the Braves ahead for good with a solo homer in the 7th. Jim Acker (5-2) pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief for the win. Chuck Cary pitched the 8th and 9th innings and earned his first save. Matt Mantei (4-5) took the loss.

Philadelphia beat Houston 4-1 to hold onto their 1-game lead over the Braves.

SUN SEP 18

FLA_____2___10___1
ATL_____3____9___0

Season record: 88-62, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Braves were off on the 19th. Philly beat Chicago 3-1 to increase their lead to 1 1/2 games. Atlanta travels to Montreal for 2 games, then visits Colorado for 4. It's the final road trip of the regular season.

[motnahp]

Six Atlanta pitchers combined to shut out the Expos 3-0. Starter Rick Mahler suffered a rib cage injury in the first inning and had to leave the game after only 1/3 of an inning. Juan Eichelberger (1-0, 3 IP), Jose Alvarez (2 2/3 IP), Paul Assenmacher (1 IP), Joe Boever (1 IP), and Bruce Sutter (1 IP, 32nd SV) followed Mahler. Atlanta scored twice in the 2nd inning off losing pitcher Mike Wegener (8-11), then added an insurance run in the 8th.

Philly beat the Cubs 3-1. Steve Carlton won his 21st game and the Phillies maintained their 1 1/2 game lead.

TUE SEP 20

ATL_____3___9___1
MON____0___8___0

[motnahp]

Montreal pounded out 21 hits and spanked the Braves 9-3. Rusty Staub was 4-6, Donn Clendenon went 3-4 with a homer (17) and 3 RBI, Gary Sutherland was 3-5 with a homer (4), and Mack Jones went 3-5 with 2 RBI. Bill Stoneman (12-13) went the distance on the mound for the Expos. Tom Glavine (13-11) lasted only 3 1/3 innings and was charged with 5 runs.

WED SEP 21

ATL_____3___9___3
MON____9__21___0

Season record: 89-63, 2nd place in NL East 2 1/2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

The Phillies pounded the Cubs 12-4 today. Phillies increase their lead to 2 1/2

[motnahp]

Ron Gant homered twice (15, 16) and drove in 6 runs to power the Braves past the Expos, 9-3. Jeff Blauser also homered, his 3rd. Pete Smith went 7 2/3 innings on the mound and Jim Acker finished up. Byung-Hyun Kim (13-14) took the loss and Brad Hawpe hit his 10th homer for Colorado.

THUR SEP 22

ATL_____9___16___2
COL_____3___6___0

Philadephia did not play today, so the Braves trail now by 2 games in the NL East

[motnahp]

Rockies 10, Braves 0. Four Colorado pitchers combined to shut out the Braves at Coors. Jay Witasick (9-3) pitched the final 5 innings and allowed no hits. Colorado pounded out 16 hits. Garrett Atkins was 3-4 with a homer (10) and 4 RBI. Matt Holliday went 3-5, including a triple and homer (18), driving in 3 runs. Preston Wilson was 2-4 with a homer (15) and 3 RBI, and Todd Helton went 4-5. Zane Smith was charged with all 10 runs in 5 1/3 innings. Rookie pitchers Kevin Blankenship and Kevin Coffman pitched scoreless relief.

SAT SEP 24

ATL_____0___5___1
COL____10__16__0

[motnahp]

The Braves edged the Rockies 2-1. Colorado led 1-0 after 6 innings, but Gary Roenicke blasted a pinch hit homer (4) in the top of the 7th to tie the score. Ken Oberkfell's RBI triple an inning later made it 2-1. Jose Alvarez (5-7) picked up the win. Bruce Sutter notched his 33rd save. Oscar Villarreal (3-3) was charged with the loss.

The Florida Marlins beat Philadelphia yesterday AND today. The Philly lead over the Braves is only one game with 7 to play.

SAT SEP 24

ATL_____2___8___0
COL_____1___7___0

[motnahp]

Omar Quintanilla singled in Desi Relaford with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 9th, as the Rockies earned a split of the 4-game series, 2-1. Brian Fuentes (5-4) picked up the win, after allowing the Braves to tie the score at 1-1 in the top of the 9th. Joe Boever (2-3) took the loss.

The Phillies beat the Marlins 3-1, as Steve Carlton won his 22nd game.

SUN SEP 25

ATL_____1___5___1
COL_____2___6___0

Season record: 91-65, 2nd place in NL East, 2 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The New York Mets edged the Braves 5-4, as the Braves see their division hopes slipping away. Pete Schourek (9-13) went 8 innings for the win. John Franco picked up his 9th save, despite allowing a 2-run homer in the 9th to Gerald Perry (4). Jim Morrison also homered for the Braves. Losing pitcher Tom Glavine (13-12) allowed home runs to Bobby Bonilla (21) and Vince Coleman (2).

Montreal beat Philadelphia 3-2 in 11 innings. The Braves still trail by 2 games.

TUE SEP 27

NYM_____5___11___1
ATL______4___7___1

[motnahp]

Pete Smith (16-5) went 8 strong innings, getting home runs from Dion James (1) and Dale Murphy (17), as the Braves downed the Mets 4-2. Bruce Sutter pitched the 9th for this 34th save. Jeromy Burnitz homered (11) for the Mets. Dave Telgheder (9-6) took the loss.

Montreal pounded Philadelphia today 12-1. The Braves trail by 1 game.

WED SEP 28

NYM_____2___7___0
ATL_____4__10___0

[motnahp]

The Braves wished a fond farewell to the New York Mets, sending them reeling with a 14-1 pounding. Jim Morrison led the way, going 3-4 with a grand slam and 6 RBI. It was Morrison's 4th homer of the year. Dale Murphy hit his 18th homer and had 3 RBI. Zane Smith went the distance and improved to 14-9. Frank Tanana (15-13) allowed 12 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

With this win, the Braves clinch at least a wild card spot. Houston is eliminated from the wind card race. They're 2 games back of the Reds in the HL Central. The Astros now come to Fulton County Stadium for 3 game to wrap up the regular season. Philadelphia visits last-place Florida.

Philadelphia shut out Montreal 3-0 to maintain a 1-game lead with 3 to play.

THUR SEP 29

NYM_____1___6___1
ATL____14___16___0

Season record: 93-66, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB 1st place Philadelphia

[motnahp]

The Braves outlasted the Astros in dramatic fashion. Ron Gant's double scored Jeff Blauser with the winning run in the bottom of the 16th, as the Braves prevailed 5-4. Joe Boever (3-3) pitched 3 scoreless innings for the win. Jim Crawford (5-5) took the loss. Houston appeared headed for victory after scoring 3 runs in the top of the 13th off Jim Acker to take a 4-1 lead. Houston closer Wayne Granger came on to lock down the win. With 2 out and nobody on, Jose Cruz misplayed Dale Murphy's fly ball in left field and Murphy ended up on second. Ken Griffey singled, scoring Murphy and making the score 4-2. Ozzie Virgil walked and Ken Oberkfell singled to load the bases. Damaso Garcia came in to run for Virgil at second. Jeff Blauser then singled through the hole, scoring both Griffey and Garcia to tie the game.

Florida took care of Philadelphia in 11 innings, 4-3. The Braves are now tied with the Phillies in the NL East!


FRI SEP 30

HOU_____4___15___1 (16 innings)
ATL______5___11___0

Injury Update: Gerald Perry suffered a hand injury in this game. He will miss about a week of action. Pitcher Rick Mahler may be available to start Sunday's game against the Astros. He is recovering from a rib cage injury. As of now, Tom Glavine is scheduled to pitch Sunday. Glavine has struggled of late. He hasn't won since August 31st, and has allowed 10 earned runs in his last 8 1/3 innings pitched. Charlie Puleo draws the start on Saturday.

[motnahp]

Standings at the end of September, with only 2 games remaining in the regular season:

[motnahp]

......and the rest:

[motnahp]

Houston nipped Atlanta 2-1. Dave Roberts improved to 17-8 with the win and Wayne Granger saved his 37th game. Charlie Puleo (10-6) pitched well, but took the loss.

Philadelphia pounded Florida 10-2. Steve Carlton won his 23rd game. Philly now leads the Braves by a game with one to play. While Houston was beating the Braves, Cincinnati eliminated the Astros with a 13-0 pasting of the Pirates.

SAT OCT 1

HOU_____2___7___2
ATL_____1___7___0

[motnahp]

Rick Mahler returned from his rib cage injury to shut down Houston, as the Braves won the regular season finale' 2-1. Mahler (11-14) went the distance, allowing only a Jose Cruz solo homer (5) in the 9th. J.R. Richard (14-9) took the loss.

Philadelphia won the NL East, defeating Florida 3-2 in 13 innings. Bill Robinson's solo homer off Kirt Ojala was the game-winner for Philly. As the wild-card team, the Braves open up postseason play at Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

SUN OCT 2

HOU_____1___6___0
ATL_____2___7___0

Final record: 95-67, 2nd place in NL East, 1 GB division-winning Philadelphia. The Braves capture the Wild Card by 5 games over the Astros.