Braves bullpen does them in

Brian McCann, Jordan Schafer and Matt Diaz all went deep, but a leaky bullpen could not contain a seven run lead as they fell to the Phillies, 12-11. Atlanta gave up eight runs in the seventh inning including four that came off of bases loaded walks destroying what was a 10-3 lead. The Phillies tacked on an additional run in the eighth before the Braves mounted a comeback attempt in the ninth that fell short.

The game marked the debut of off season acquistion Javier Vazquez who went six innings, allowing three runs, five hits, four walks while striking out five. The three homeruns gave the Braves eight on the season.

Crap, if a seven run lead is not safe, I don’t even want to think about how the rest of this season is going to fall. And seriously, will the Braves ever win a one-run game on the road?

News&Notes: Chipper Jones and Garrett Anderson were out of the line-up on Wednesday. Jones missed the game with a bruised left thumb, but is expected to be ready for Friday’s home opener. Meanwhile Anderson could be out for much longer after re-injuring his right calf muscle. I take back everything I wrote in March about Anderson being a better pick-up than Ken Griffey, Jr., especially if Anderson is going to spend the rest of the season going on and off the DL. All hail Matt Diaz!...Derek Lowe will make his Braves debut at Turner Field on Friday...The Hall of Fame is unveiling a Hank Aaron exhibit called "Hank Aaron: Chasing a Dream"...Old news, I know, but I did want to mention the Braves will be retiring Greg Maddux #31 in a ceremony in July.
(Photo: AP/ Tom Mihalek)