Rangers 9 Braves 5

A second consecutive weak start by Davies and a team-wide inability (besides LaRoche) to hit with runners in scoring position added up to a loss to a Texas team that seemed amenable to a Braves comeback. The bullpen did a decent job of holding the Rangers at bay after a 5-run 1st, and we chipped away until it was 7-5 in the seventh, but could get no closer.

One interesting tidbit being reported is that the Braves started seven rookies (Orr, Johnson, Langerhans, Marte, McCann, Betemit, and Davies), the most since October 1, 1978 (Eddie Miller, Glenn Hubbard, Bob Beall, Larry Whisenton, Chico Ruiz, Bruce Benedict, Mickey Mahler). My question is, when was the last time we, or any team, started seven rookies in a game before September, when rosters expand? Incidentally, if you include Vasquez, Boyer, and John Foster (yes, he's technically still a rookie), the Braves played a total of 10 rookies.

Furcal sat out again yesterday -- Brave-O-Matic has come around to supporting a trade of Furcal. Betemit has outperformed him (looking comfortable doing it) at the plate to the point that we can absorb the defensive hit. Marte appears to have much more range than Chipper at 3B, making the switch to Betemit easier. Of course, Chipper will eventually be back -- our groundball pitching staff may not be so sanguine about having Chipper and Betemit backing them up....