Braves 9 Cubs 4
"The Braves have already redefined their team for the next five years." -- Peter Gammons
Absolutely exhilarating game. Cubs starter Jerome Williams had outdueled John Smoltz, and the Cubs held a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth, having countered a two-run HR by Furcal with one of their own by Aramis Ramirez. The game was essentially over before another out was recorded.
Giles tripled off the top of the wall to start the inning, and Andruw, having looked at two strikes, went deep on a low inside pitch that was supposed to be high and outside (no, Chip, it wasn't his 28th, it was his 27th...please calm down). LaRoche and McCann both reached base, then Jeff Francoeur, this week's callup, put the game away with a 3-run HR, made more exciting by the fact that he was one strike away from his fourth strikeout in his hometown major league debut. A standing ovation and curtain call ensued, and all was right with the world. Giles capped a four-hit game by nailing Francoeur square in the face with some celebratory shaving cream during the hometown boy's postgame interview. Goodbye golden sombrero, hello pie-in-the-face.
Thus we complete a four-game sweep of the Cubs, who sent the completely screwed-up Corey Patterson to AAA after the game. The Nats actually lost a 1-run game today, so we're only 2.5 games back, with three vs. the Brewers to close out the first 89/162nds of the season. Washington travels to Philly -- sure would be nice to pick up just one more game in the standings before the All-Star break. We're on a roll, and it wouldn't be possible without the kids.
Our rookie batting stats so far this season:
AB - 635
R - 109
H - 168
2B - 31
3B - 9
HR - 19
RBI - 74
BB - 73
BA - .265 (Team - .262)
OBP- .340 (Team - .330)
SLG- .432 (Team - .434)
Absolutely exhilarating game. Cubs starter Jerome Williams had outdueled John Smoltz, and the Cubs held a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth, having countered a two-run HR by Furcal with one of their own by Aramis Ramirez. The game was essentially over before another out was recorded.
Giles tripled off the top of the wall to start the inning, and Andruw, having looked at two strikes, went deep on a low inside pitch that was supposed to be high and outside (no, Chip, it wasn't his 28th, it was his 27th...please calm down). LaRoche and McCann both reached base, then Jeff Francoeur, this week's callup, put the game away with a 3-run HR, made more exciting by the fact that he was one strike away from his fourth strikeout in his hometown major league debut. A standing ovation and curtain call ensued, and all was right with the world. Giles capped a four-hit game by nailing Francoeur square in the face with some celebratory shaving cream during the hometown boy's postgame interview. Goodbye golden sombrero, hello pie-in-the-face.
Thus we complete a four-game sweep of the Cubs, who sent the completely screwed-up Corey Patterson to AAA after the game. The Nats actually lost a 1-run game today, so we're only 2.5 games back, with three vs. the Brewers to close out the first 89/162nds of the season. Washington travels to Philly -- sure would be nice to pick up just one more game in the standings before the All-Star break. We're on a roll, and it wouldn't be possible without the kids.
Our rookie batting stats so far this season:
AB - 635
R - 109
H - 168
2B - 31
3B - 9
HR - 19
RBI - 74
BB - 73
BA - .265 (Team - .262)
OBP- .340 (Team - .330)
SLG- .432 (Team - .434)
posted by Sam Bass | 10:56 PM
3 Comments:
TBS flashed a graphic showing the roots of this lineup and as we all know the entire starting lineup sans Smoltz came from within the organization. In addition to really putting a charge into the offense (along with the timely pitching), these rooks are putting butts in the seats (2nd largest crowd in The Ted history on Monday). This team has juice for the first time in a long. Not that the businesslike approach of years past is gone or unappreciated...but its fantastic to see wild eyed smiles in the dugout. The shots of Francoeur's family after the dinger kind of sums up an enthusiasm that has been lacking for years in Atlanta. Win lose or draw, this is the most exciting team that they have fielded since 91.
I wonder how well some of the young pitchers are going to work out of the bullpen with the return of the H's? Who goes down and who stays? Not to mention the ripples caused by the return of Chipper, this should be an exciting second half. And when its all said and done, I have that comfort level with management that they will make the right decisions. How many fans have that? What a great franchise (still wished someone would buy it out of corporate hell)
On a side note, the story about Hudson and Hampton having issues with Bobby's strikezone during the simulated game really had me chuckling...would love to have been a fly on the wall for that.
TBS flashed a graphic showing the roots of this lineup and as we all know the entire starting lineup sans Smoltz came from within the organization. In addition to really putting a charge into the offense (along with the timely pitching), these rooks are putting butts in the seats (2nd largest crowd in The Ted history on Monday). This team has juice for the first time in a long. Not that the businesslike approach of years past is gone or unappreciated...but its fantastic to see wild eyed smiles in the dugout. The shots of Francoeur's family after the dinger kind of sums up an enthusiasm that has been lacking for years in Atlanta. Win lose or draw, this is the most exciting team that they have fielded since 91.
I wonder how well some of the young pitchers are going to work out of the bullpen with the return of the H's? Who goes down and who stays? Not to mention the ripples caused by the return of Chipper, this should be an exciting second half. And when its all said and done, I have that comfort level with management that they will make the right decisions. How many fans have that? What a great franchise (still wished someone would buy it out of corporate hell)
On a side note, the story about Hudson and Hampton having issues with Bobby's strikezone during the simulated game really had me chuckling...would love to have been a fly on the wall for that.
I agree -- it's not just this year people are excited about, but the sense that we're a franchise on the upswing. Not an easy accomplishment for a team with 13 straight pennants, but there it is. The last few seasons, while enjoyable, have had the feeling that the magic is ebbing away, especially considering our postseason failures.
Now, though, we know we're in good hands, at least where the everyday lineup is concerned. The fact that so many of these guys were hometown products helps, too.
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