2006 Atlanta Braves Replay Assn

[motnahp]

LaRoche & Giles homered. Lance Cormier allowed only 1 run in 6 innings as the Braves downed the Nationals 9-3.

WED SEP 20

ATL_____9___14___0
WAS____3____6___1

Colordo won and LA lost. Braves are 1 game behind the Rockies and 1 game ahead of the Dodgers.

[motnahp]

Round One of the four-game series goes to........the Braves, 10-7 in 11 innings. Chipper Jones drew a bases-loaded walk. Andruw Jones followed with a 2-run single. Oscar Villarreal pitched 3 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Bob Wickman was 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 11th for the save. Tim Hudson took advantage of the light air with a 3-run homer, but couldn't keep the Rockies off the board. Hudson left after 6 innings with the Braves trailing 6-5. The Braves tied the score at 6-6 in the 7th, only to see the Rockies take the lead again in their half of the 7th, scoring off Ken Ray. Atlanta tied the game in the 8th. Oscar Villarreal held Colorado off the board in the 8th, 9th, and 10th, before the Braves took the lead for good in the 11th.

THUR SEP 21

ATL_____10___13___2
COL_____7____9___0

[motnahp]

As the 2007 Braves are coming back from an 8-2 deficit and beating the Phillies, these Braves spotted Colorado an 8-2 lead, scored 3 in the 8th, but fell short. Colorado goes back up by one game in the race for the wild card, winning 8-5. Atlanta put the first 2 runners on base in the 9th off Brian Fuentes, but Chipper Jones grounded into a force play and Andruw Jones grounded into a double play to end the game. Chuck James started for Atlanta and was torched for 7 runs in only 2 2/3 innings. The bullpen of Davies, Moylan, Franklin, and Paronto kept the Braves in the game, but time ran out.

FRI SEP 22

ATL_____5___9___0
COL_____9__14___0

Updated wild-card standings thru 9/22:

COL____85-69
ATL____84-70
LA_____82-72
SF, MIL, HOU___all 79-75
ARIZ___78-75

[motnahp]

The Braves won a nail-biter in 10 innings, 5-3. Atlanta took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th and turned it over to almost automatic Bob Wickman. Big Bob allowed a leadoff homer to Brad Hawpe to tie the game at 3-3. In the top of the 10th. Marcus Giles walked with one out and stole 2nd. Third baseman Garrett Atkins made an error on Edgar Renteria's grounder, putting runners on 1st & 3rd. The young Rockies showed their nerves, as J.D. Closser then mishandled Chipper Jones' grounder. Giles scored and the Braves were up 4-3. Andruw Jones singled to left, bringing in Renteria. Wickman stayed on to pitch the bottom of the 10th. With one out, Atkins walked. After Ryan Spilbroughs flew out, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe singled. With the bases loaded, Jamey Carroll grounded out. Game over. Wild-card race tied again, with Smoltz on the mound tomorrow. Tyler Yates was impressive again. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one run on 5 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 5.

SAT SEP 23

ATL_____5___12___0
COL_____3__10___2

[motnahp]

The Braves are making it tough on themselves now. They dropped a 4-2 decision at Colorado in the final game of the series, again falling a game behind the Rockies with 6 games to play. Josh Fogg outdueled John Smoltz. Fogg went 7 1/3 innings, allowing only the two runs on 7 hits. Ray King and Brian Fuentes shut down the Braves in the 8th and 9th. Colorado's Jeff Baker led off the first with his 1st homer of the season. The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 6th. Alvin Colina's two-run single was part of a 3-run inning by the Rockies. Both the Braves and Rockies will have their final off-day on Monday. The Braves then host the Mets and Astros for three games each. The Rockies will host the Dodgers for 3, then finish the season with three games in Chicago against the lowly Cubs. Things don't look good for the boys of A.T.L.

SUN SEP 24

ATL_____2___7___0
COL_____3___8___0

[motnahp]

The standings following end of play on Sunday, 9/24:

[motnahp]

......and the rest:

Just two races left to decide.

[motnahp]

The Braves took the opener against the Mets, 6-3. New York, having clinched long ago, rested Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and David Wright. Braves' manager motnahp moved up Tim Hudson one day and pushed back Lance Cormier one day in the rotation. This would set up Hudson to be able to pitch on the season's final day with a full four days' rest. Edgar Renteria went 3-5. Matt Diaz had a big 2-run single. Hudson picked up his 12th win of the season. Wickman survived a lead-off walk in the 9th and recorded the save.

TUE SEP 26

NYM_____3___10___2
ATL_____6___12___0

Now let's see if this clubhouse TV can find the Rockies/Dodgers game.......

Thank you LA! Colorado had a 3-0 lead thru 6 innings. LA scored 2 in the 7th and 3 more in the 8th. Dodgers 5, Rockies 3. We're tied again. The Dodgers are still a factor, only 2 games back. They're hoping for a sweep over Colorado.

Decisions, decisions.....John Thomson has been activated from the "DL". He has been unavailable since July 10th. Before going down, he was 5-5 with a 3.39 ERA in 15 starts. Do I start him against the Mets or Astros, or put him in the pen? Lance Cormier is 6-4, 4.38. He has allowed one run or less in each of his last 4 starts, including a win over the Mets in New York on Sept. 4th. In the third game against the Mets, it could be the red hot Tyler Yates, the struggling Chuck James, Thomson, or Cormier.

[motnahp]

The Atlanta Braves got by the Mets 4-2. Lance Cormier started and pitched 4 scoreless innings, but allowed 7 hits. John Thomson came on in the 5th, promptly loaded the bases and allowed two runs. Manager motnahp visited the mound and decided to let Thomson work out of the jam. Not only did Thomson work out of further trouble, he also held the Mets off the board in the 6th, 7th, and 8th. Bob Wickman had a 1-2-3 9th for the save. The Braves scored all 4 of their runs in the 3rd inning. Jeff Francoeur was the hitting star for Atlanta. Francoeur doubled, tripled, and had 2 RBI.

NYM_____2___10___0
ATL_____4___13___1

Now, let's see what the Rockies are doing.

No such luck this time: Colorado 6, LA 3. Colorado had a 3-2 lead, then added 3 more in the 8th. LA managed one in the 9th, before Brian Fuentes came on with two outs and shut the door. This about seals the deal for LA, as they are 3 out with only 4 to play. After the next game against the Rockies, LA visits San Francisco to end the season.

[motnahp]

Glavine, Mota, Bradford and Wagner shut down the Braves, as the Mets won 3-1. The quartet of Met pitchers allowed only 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 13. Marcus Giles had two of the Braves' 4 hits, including a solo homer. Tyler Yates allowed the 3 runs in 5 innings of work. The bullpen (Ray, McBride, Paronto, Villarreal) pitched 4 innings and allowed only 1 hit and no walks.

THUR SEP 28

NYM_____3___7___0
ATL_____1___4___0

Dodgers 4, Rockies 1. Brett Tomko shut down Colorado. Atlanta and Colorado are tied for the wild-card heading into the final weekend. LA is 2 games back and clinging to a faint hope.

[motnahp]

Scheduled pitching matchups for the two weekend series:

FRI: HOU - Wandy Rodriguez (8-5, 4.43) at ATL - John Smoltz (17-10, 2.14)
FRI: COL - Josh Fogg (16-7, 3.32) at CHI - Carlos Marmol (0-8, 8.61)

SAT: HOU - Taylor Buchholz (6-7, 4.49) at ATL - John Thomson (6-5, 3.43)
SAT: COL - Jason Jennings (11-9, 2.50) at CHI - Carlos Zambrano (10-8, 2.72)

SUN: HOU - Roy Oswalt (12-10, 3.07) at ATL - Tim Hudson (12-6, 3.33)
SUN: COL - Byung-hyun Kim (5-5, 3.48) at CHI - Sean Marshall (7-12, 3.78)

[motnahp]

The Braves dropped a tough one to the Astros, 2-1. John Smoltz had a rough 1st inning. After retiring the first two batters, he surrendered 5 straight singles. The Astros would manage only 2 hits the rest of the way. The Braves' best chance to tie came in the bottom of the 8th. Pinch-hitter Ryan Langerhans doubled, but Marcus Giles and Edgar Renteria both flied to center. After Chipper Jones reached on an Eric Bruntlett error, Andruw Jones flied to center to end the threat. Houston closer Brad Lidge walked Jeff Francoeur with one out in the 9th, but then struck out both Matt Diaz and Brian McCann to end the game. Time to root, root, root for the Cubbies. If they don't win, it truly will be a shame.

FRI SEP 29

HOU_____2___7___1
ATL_____1___5___0

COL_____6___9___0
CHC_____4___7___3

Josh Fogg picked up his 17th win. Chicago started Carlos Zambrano, but he allowed 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings. The Rockies go up by one game over the Braves. Time is running out for Atlanta.

Seattle's Jarrod Washburn became the league's first 20-game winner in the Mariners' 12-4 pounding of the Rangers in Seattle. Washburn is 20-9 for the AL West champions.

[motnahp]

John Thomson allowed only 2 hits over 7 innings and the Braves beat Houston, 3-0. The game was scoreless into the bottom of the 6th. With 2 outs, Adam LaRoche tripled and Jeff Francoeur singled. In the bottom of the 7th, Brian McCann hit a solo homer to make the score 2-0. Oscar Villarreal, pitching in the 8th inning, allowed a single and two walks. With two outs and Lance Berkman coming up, manager motnahp called on Bob Wickman for the 4-out save. Wickman got Berkman on a fly out to shallow center. Chipper Jones added a solo homer in the bottom of the 8th. Wickman retired the side in order in the 9th.

SAT SEP 30

HOU_____0___3___0
ATL_____3___8___0

No help at all up north. Jason Jennings and Ubaldo Jiminez combined to shut out the Cubs.

COL_____13___23___1
CHC_____0____4____0

The Braves trail by one game with one to play. They must win and hope for the Cubs to come through.

[motnahp]

Tim Hudson was brilliant, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks over 8 shutout innings. Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann hit back-to-back doubles with 2 out in the 7th for the game's only run in the 1-0 contest. Bob Wickman went 1-2-3 in the 9th. Now it's all up to the Cubs. The Braves finished the season with a record of 89-73.

SUN OCT 1

HOU_____0___3___0
ATL_____1___6___0

[motnahp]

The clubhouse is wet and my eyes are stinging. The Cubs defeated the Rockies 8-5, courtesy of a 6-run 4th inning, capped by an Aramis Ramirez grand slam. The Braves take the wild-card, based on a 4-2 record against the Rockies head-to-head.

[motnahp]

Atlanta vs San Diego in the Division Series. Game One: Smoltz and Young hooked up in a pitcher's duel. Mike Piazza's single with one out in the bottom of the 9th brought home Khalil Greene with the winning run as San Diego beat the Braves 2-1. MaCay McBride took the loss. Adam LaRoche homered for the Braves' only run.

FRI OCT 6 - NLDS GAME ONE

ATL_____1___5___0
SD_____2___6___1
San Diego leads series 1-0

Other scores:

STL_____6___10___0
NYM____13___16___0
New York Mets lead series 1-0

CWS_____4___5___0
NYY______6__14___0
New York Yankees lead series 1-0

SEA_____2___11___0
CLE_____4___11___1
Cleveland leads series 1-0

[motnahp]

Tim Hudson tossed 6 strong innings and the Braves' bullpen of Ray, Yates, and Wickman held back the Padres. The Braves evened the NLDS at one game apiece with a 4-1 win over San Diego.

FRI OCT 7 - NLDS GAME 2

ATL_____4___7___0
SD______1___5___1

Other scores:

STL_____4___8___0
NYM_____5__17___0 (11 innings)
New York Mets lead series 2-0

CWS_____1___4___0
NYY______9__11___2
New York Yankees lead series 2-0

SEA_____3___11___0
CLE_____1____8___0
Series tied 1-1

[motnahp]

Matt Diaz blasted a 3-run homer, as the Braves overcame a 4-1 deficit and beat the Padres 6-4. San Diego led 4-1 as the Braves batted in the bottom of the 7th. Brian McCann's 2-run homer cut the lead to 4-3. Scott Linebrink came on to pitch for San Diego in the 8th. Chipper Jones singled to right field leading off. Andruw Jones doubled to left field, with Chipper moving to 3rd. Adam LaRoche popped out to short center. San Diego's manager brought veteran David Wells out of the pen to face Jeff Francoeur, who lined hard to short for the 2nd out. Matt Diaz then deposited Wells' first pitch over the left field fence for a 6-4 Braves lead. Bob Wickman pitched a perfect 9th for the save. Braves' starter John Thomson lasted only 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits.

MON OCT 9 - NLDS GAME 3

SD______4___9___0
ATL_____6__11___0

Other scores:

NYM_____1___8___1
STL_____2___6___0
New York Mets lead the series 2-1.

NYY_____3___11___0
CWS____4___12___0___Juan Uribe wins the game on walk-off homer in 9th.
New York Yankees lead the series 2-1.

CLE_____12___17___1
SEA______1____8___0__Cleveland plates 9 runs in top of 9th to break open close game.
Cleveland leads series 2-1.

[motnahp]

Andruw Jones & Chipper Jones both hit solo homers and the Braves got outstanding pitching, beating the Padres 3-1 and assuming command of the series, leading 3-1.
The combination of Cormier, Ray, Franklin, Villarreal, and Wickman held San Diego in check.

TUE OCT 10 - NLDS GAME 4

SD______1___7___2
ATL_____3___10___0

Other scores:

NYY_____7___11___0
CWS____2____6___1
New York Yankees lead 3-1.

CLE_____0___4___0
SEA____10__15___0
Series tied 2-2.

NYM_____5___11___0
STL_____2____4___1
New York Mets lead 3-1.

[motnahp]

The Atlanta Braves advanced to the NLCS with a 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres. Brian McCann's 3-run homer in the 4th broke a 1-1 tie. McCann ended up with 4 RBI. Adam LaRoche's solo homer accounted for the other run. John Smoltz, Macay McBride, and Chad Paronto stifled the Padres. Now we await the winner of the NYM-STL series. The Mets lead that series 3 games to 1.

WED OCT 11 - NLDS GAME 5

SD_____1___6___1
ATL____5___8___1
Atlanta wins series 4-1.

Other scores:

NYM_____3___10___1
STL_____1____4___1
NY Mets win series 4-1.

CLE_____2___8___0
SEA_____1___5___1
Cleveland leads series 3-2.

NYY_____3___6___0
CWS____2___6___1
NY Yankees win series 4-1.

It will be Atlanta vs NY Mets in the NLCS.

FRI OCT 13 - ALDS GAME 6

SEA_____9___11___0
CLE_____1_ __6___1
Series tied 3-3.

SAT OCT 14 - ALDS GAME 7

SEA_____1___7___1
CLE_____3___9___0
Cleveland wins series 4-3.

It will be Cleveland vs NY Yankees in the ALCS.

Atlanta is possibly catching a big break. Both Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez are absent from the Mets' postseason rosters.

There are great pitching matchups in both Game Ones: Smoltz and Glavine in the NLCS. Sabathia and Randy Johnson in the ALCS.