Thursday, May 14, 2009

A walk followed by a marathon



One day after the Braves lost a heartbreaker to the Mets in 10 innings by walking in the game winning run; Atlanta was able to outlast New York in a 12 inning marathon, 8-7.

The frustration was palpable during Tuesday’s loss. Atlanta once again squandered a brilliant performance by Jair Jurrjens with a controversial bullpen meltdown. In the ninth, with the Braves holding onto a one run lead, Mike Gonzalez allowed a double to Carlos Beltran, who then proceeded to steal third base. Chipper Jones maintained that Beltran was out, but a ruling by Third Base Umpire Greg Gibson rejected that assumption. Gibson claimed that he was able to slide around Jones’ tag and was thus safe. Luis Castillo hit a sacrifice fly that scored Beltran and pushed the game into extra innings.

In the tenth, with the bases loaded, Carlos Beltran drew a six pitch walk that drove in the game winner for the Mets. Waste Management may have an addition to their rout, ballparks where Jair Jurrjens is pitching. This is getting ridiculous.


The following night, Atlanta hoped to salvage things with a series victory and though it took 12 innings they finally did it. Atlanta got off to a hot start in the first when Chipper Jones doubled scoring Yunel Escobar. Garret Anderson followed with a single that scored Jones. The Mets battled back but two more runs in the third gave Atlanta an early 4-2 victory.

As the remainder of the game played out, it was obvious that the Mets were not willing to sit on the bench twiddling their thumbs. In the fourth with Buddy Carlyle on the mound in relief of starter Jo-Jo Reyes, Fernando Tatis rocked a grand slam that put the Mets up, 6-4. The game would continue its see-saw pace until the Braves took the lead for good with a Martin Prado solo shot in the 12th that sent Atlanta home riding a productive road trip where they won six out of eight games, all against division rivals.

I think I lost a couple years of my life watching the Braves three game series with the Mets. Whether it was pitching duels or timely hitting both teams really put up a fight, I am just glad Atlanta left with two victories because it could have really gone either way.

The Braves will have Thursday off before starting a series with the Diamondbacks.

News&Notes: The Braves rested Jeff Francoeur on Wednesday…Tom Glavine is hopeful he’ll be back by the end of May…The fan that went streaking during Tuesday's game against the Mets did it on a bet...Click here for an interview with Chipper Jones…And here to read about the Braves pitching jewel, Jair Jurrjens.
(Photos: AP)

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