Burning Braves

LeBron James and Lindsay Lohan are hogging the headlines this week, but there are still baseball games being played. Division races are still as close as ever as the dog days of summer peek from around the corner. The temperatures in the East are soaring over the 100 degree mark, and you can bet the AL and NL East clubs are feeling the heat. The Philadelphia Phillies, especially are feeling the burn of the Atlanta Braves. The Braves scored three runs in the 11th inning to outlast the Phillies in hazy Philadelphia Tuesday. Atlanta’s 6-3 victory came after Phillies’ ace, Roy Halladay, dominated them a night before. The Braves sit five games ahead of the defending NL champions in the NL East, and hold a two game lead over the New York Mets. The Braves are hotter than a Philadelphia ballpark in July and more sizzling than a Chris Bosh autograph.
Cole Hamels allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings for the hometown Phillies. The 2008 World Series MVP struck out eight Atlanta Braves in his Tuesday night start. Still, Hamel’s team lost for the seventh time in his past eight starts. Atlanta countered with Netherland’s native, Jair Jurrjens. Perhaps the 24 year old pitcher was busy warming up to the idea of his native country in the World Cup finals, but he still tossed a credible six inning effort of three run ball. He only allowed two hits in his mound stint. The Phillies managed just three hits the entire contest. Raul Ibanez crushed a two-run homerun in the first inning to put the Phillies on top. Philadelphia first baseman, Ryan Howard, got the better of Jurrjens with a run-scoring triple in the seventh. The Atlanta hurler was removed after just 89 pitches and retiring 14-of-15 batters before Howard’s extra-base hit. Jurrjens was the benefactor of stingy relief pitching and timely hitting Tuesday.
Atlanta had plenty of scoring opportunities, but Hamels limited the offense in the early innings. The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the first frame, but scored only one tally on Troy Glaus’ fielder’s choice groundout. All-star second baseman, Martin Prado gave the Braves a 3-2 lead with a solo shot to left field in the seventh. Six Braves relievers combined to throw five scoreless innings after Howard tied the game at 3-3. Atlanta’s Matt Diaz went 3-for-5 and recorded the tie-breaking RBI in the 11th inning. Diaz’s double on a hit-and-run play started Atlanta’s three run barrage of relievers Dave Herndon and Mike Zagurski. Eric Hinske blazed a two run homerun to snap an 0-for-13 slump for the Braves’ slugger and the visitors were on their way to another win at Citizen’s Bank Park. Jesse Chavez earned the win with a scoreless tenth and Billy Wagner saved his 18th game after working a hitless 11th. The Braves lead the major leagues in final at-bat victories. Philadelphia’s slide continues as they dropped their fourth game of their last six. Wednesday is the rubber game of the three game series between the teams. Jamie Moyer goes for his tenth win of the season, where he tries to appear hotter (but definitely not younger) than Atlanta right-hander, Kris Medlen.

Parting Points: The Red Sox are pretty beat up these days…