Monday, August 10, 2009

Braves riding high out of LA


Braves 8, Dodgers 2

The Braves capped off a successful series against the Dodgers with a blow out victory on Sunday. Javier Vazquez took the mound for the Bravos notching his fifth consecutive victory after pitching eight strong innings in which he allowed just one run while mowing down seven Dodger batters.

Vazquez’s lone hiccup came in the fourth when a Manny Ramirez check swing double kept the inning alive for LA. Casey Blake followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Andre Ethier but the inning ended after Ramirez was tagged out trying to score on a Matt Kemp fly. The Dodgers later attempted a rally in the ninth but could not duplicate Thursday’s late inning heroics.

Matt Diaz shined, putting Atlanta on the board with a solo shot before adding an RBI in the Braves five run ninth inning.

Vazquez is now 5-0 with an ERA of 2.59 in his last seven starts. During those outings the Braves remain undefeated.

Atlanta will have Monday off before starting a series with the red hot Nationals who are riding an eight game win streak.

News&Notes: Chipper Jones missed the final three games of the Dodgers series after injuring his oblique during batting practice on Friday. Jones hopes to start on Tuesday…Kelly Johnson’s more relaxed approach certainly seems to be paying off… Just because the Red Sox have decided to demote John Smoltz doesn’t mean there aren’t other teams interested in his services.
(Photo: Matt Diaz)

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