D-Backs 3, Braves 2

Can't do anything but blame the offense for this one. Javier Vazquez pitched lights out until the seventh, got tired and gave up the two-run lead. The D-Backs walked off in the 11th for a 3-2 win.

The Braves scored their only two runs in the third on RBI doubles by Kelly Johnson and Garret Anderson. Vazquez shut the D-Backs out until the seventh, when Arizona brought home two on an RBI double by Ryan Roberts and an RBI single by Chris Young. The score remained tied at two until the 11th, when Eric Byrnes singled in the winning run

Javier Vazquez: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 8 K
Rafael Soriano: 1 IP, K
Mike Gonzalez: 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K
Jeff Bennett: L (2-2), 0.1 IP, 2 H, ER

Vazquez shut the D-Backs out until the seventh, allowing just four hits to that point. It is worth noting that Eric O' Flaherty came on and got the final two outs in the inning to hold them at two runs. Vazquez deserved the win but should never expect one while pitching for this team.

Kelly Johnson: 1-5, RBI
Garret Anderson: 1-5, RBI
David Ross: 2-3

The Braves had eight hits but quit hitting at all after a single in the eighth by Jordan Schafer. The hits seemed to be isolated, though four were left in scoring position with two outs. Matt Diaz got the start in center, giving Schafer the day off. Diaz went 0-3. The Braves seriously can't expect to win games without both Brian McCann and Chipper Jones in the lineup. I understand giving McCann the day off but do it when Chipper can play.

Notable D-Backs:
Doug Davis: 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Eric Byrnes: 2-3, RBI

Notable Stat:
A Brave stole a base.

Jeff Francoeur Doesn't Deserve a Job:
3 K's

Next Game:
5/31: @ D-Backs, 4:10 (Kris Medlen vs. Max Scherzer)

Braves 10, D-Backs 6

Jair Jurrjens doesn't know what to do with run support, so it's no surprise to me he tried to give it back. The Braves scored four in the second and five in the third in route to a 10-6 win over the D-Backs.

Jeff Francoeur singled in a run in the second to start. Jurrjens doubled in two and another scored on an error. In the third, Kelly Johnson singled in two and Yunel Escobar hit a three-run home run that flew 452 feet. Francoeur added another RBI single in the fourth for a nine-run lead.

The D-Backs attempted to come back in the fourth with a three-run homer by Chad Tracy. Gerardo Parra singled in a run in the fifth and did the same in the seventh to bring them back to within four, where it remained.

Jair Jurrjens: W (5-2), 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, BB, 5 K
Peter Moylan: 0.2 IP, 2 H, ER
Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez: 2 IP, 0 ER, 5 K

Jair Jurrjens struggled probably due to the run support he received early. The Chad Tracy homer did him in. Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez each pitched a scoreless inning, combining for five strikeouts.

Yunel Escobar: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
Jeff Francoeur: 2-5, 2 RBI
Kelly Johnson, Jair Jurrjens: 2 RBI each

Yunel Escobar launched a home run that reached the upper deck of left field in Arizona. I've never seen a swing like that from him.

Notable D-Backs:
Jon Garland: 2.2 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, K
Chad Tracy: 3-4, HR, 4 RBI
Gerardo Parra: 3-5, 2 RBI

Notable Stat:
Every Braves starter had at least one hit.

Jeff Francoeur Doesn't Deserve a Job:
Didn't get the ball out of the infield when he wasn't singling in runs.

Diamondbacks 5, Braves 2

Kelly Johnson made his weekly team-costing mistake and Dan Haren outpitched Derek Lowe for a 5-2 D-Backs win, making it four straight losses for the Braves.

A sac fly RBI by Chris Young got the scoring started in the second. The Braves tied it in the third on an RBI double by Chipper Jones. An error by Johnson in the fourth prevented a double play, leading to a two-run double by Mark Reynolds to start a four-run inning. Casey Kotchman singled in a run in the eighth for the only other run.

Derek Lowe: L (6-3), 7 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 K
Jorge Campillo: 1 IP, H

Derek Lowe struggled with extra base hits, though his numbers would have probably been much different had Johnson completed the double play in the fourth. He didn't walk any but wasn't spot on. Jorge Campillo got some work in for the first time since being activated.

Casey Kotchman: 2-4, RBI
Chipper Jones: 2B, RBI
Kelly Johnson: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R

Casey Kotchman got back on track with his first multi-hit game since May 19th. Chipper Jones also had a rebound of sorts with an RBI double. Kelly Johnson had two doubles and scored twice but I still don't like him.

Notable Diamondbacks:
Dan Haren: W (4-4), 8 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 8 K
Mark Reynolds: 2-4, 2 RBI

Notable Stat:
6-8 spots in Braves lineup: 0-10, 6 K (Francoeur, Hernandez, Schafer)

Jeff Francoeur Doesn't Deserve a Job:
0-4, 2 K...Struck out with two on, no outs. Either struck out or grounded to third all four times.

5/28-5/31: Braves @ Diamondbacks Series Preview

After starting the West Coast trip on a bad note, the Braves look to rebound in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.

The Braves took to the road fresh off a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays, but gave it right back by ending up on the wrong end of a three-game sweep against the Giants. The offense was held to five total runs in the series. The Braves now sit at .500, three games out of first.

Since splitting a rain-shortened series with the Braves, the Diamondbacks have gone 6-4. They are coming off a series loss to the red hot Padres and sit at 20-27.

(2009 stats followed by career stats vs. opposing team)
5/28 - 9:40
Derek Lowe (6-2, 3.45...6-7, 3.66 in 17 starts)
vs.
Dan Haren (3-4, 2.57...2-1, 6.88 in 3 starts)

Derek Lowe is coming off a two-run performance against the Blue Jays, earning his sixth win on the season. Dan Haren has been dominating through nine starts, though he only has three wins. I don't know the exact numbers but he has to lead the league in worst run support. Haren has 63 strikeouts to nine walks, leading the league in WHIP.

5/29 - 9:40
Jair Jurrjens (4-2, 2.07...1-0, 5.06 in 2 starts)
vs.
Jon Garland (4-3, 4.70...0-1, 7.94 in 1 start)

Jair Jurrjens allowed a season-high eight hits to the Blue Jays in his last start, but held them to two runs in six innings. He ranks third in the league in ERA. How Jon Garland has more wins than Haren is beyond me. His WHIP is off the charts, though his ERA is the lowest it's been since the beginning of May.

5/30 - 4:10
Javier Vazquez (4-4, 3.80...5-3, 3.92 in 13 starts)
vs.
Doug Davis (2-6, 3.77...1-1, 3.96 in 6 starts)

Javier Vazquez is coming off his worst start since the beginning of May, allowing five runs to the Giants. He gave up two runs in seven innings to the Diamondbacks in their previous series, including 10 strikeouts. Doug Davis leads the league in losses at six, due in large part to the Arizona offense. He gave up two earned runs in six innings against the Braves in their previous series.

5/31 - 4:10
Kris Medlen (0-2, 9.72)
vs.
Max Scherzer (2-3, 3.38...1-0, 0.00 in 1 start, 3 total games)

Kris Medlen had a better start in his second outing, giving up four runs in 5.1 innings, and all four runs coming in one inning. This will more than likely be his last start for the Braves for now. Max Scherzer earned his first career win against the Braves in their previous series. He is coming off a two-run performance against the Padres.

Key Diamondbacks Relievers:
CL - Chad Qualls (20 IP, 8 ER, 11 SV...13 IP, 3 ER, HLD)
SU - Tony Pena (22.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 HLD...8.1 IP, 6 ER)
MR - Jon Rauch (19.2 IP, 15 ER, 2 SV...26.2 IP, 11 ER, 4 SV)

Key Diamondbacks Hitters:
RF - Justin Upton (.335, 9 HR, 29 RBI....154, 0 HR, 2 RBI in 8 games)
3B - Mark Reynolds (.257, 13 HR, 27 RBI....164, 3 HR, 10 RBI in 16 games)
CF - Gerardo Parra (.291, HR, 13 RBI....444, 0 HR, 4 RBI in 2 games)

Diamondbacks Injuries:
LF/1B - Conor Jackson (15-day, pneumonia)
SP - Yusmeiro Petit (15-day, strained shoulder)
1B - Tony Clark (15-day, wrist ligament strain)
RP - Tom Gordon (15-day, strained hamstring)
SP - Brandon Webb (15-day, shoulder bursitis)

Not Missing Much

Sorry for the absence, but I'll be back and going strong starting with the Diamondbacks series. West Coast games and 8 AM summer classes don't mix. Not much to report on in San Francisco anyway.

Braves 10, Blue Jays 2

The Braves poured on seven in the seventh and Brian McCann went deep twice as the Braves completed the sweep, 10-2.

Brian McCann - (AP/Gregory Smith)

The Braves started the scoring in the first with two solo homers by McCann and Kelly Johnson. The Blue Jays slowly crept back to a tie when Jose Bautista grounded out to score a run in the fourth and Lyle Overbay singled in a run in the sixth for a tie at two.

The Braves took the lead in the seventh and didn't let up. Chipper Jones singled in a run as a pinch hitter to start the rally, further proving his value to the offense. However, it doesn't seem to affect his need to be in the lineup. Johnson doubled in two, Garret Anderson hit a sac fly RBI (all he's good for), and McCann capped the seven-run inning with a three-run homer. Greg Norton added a groundout RBI for the 10th run.

Jair Jurrjens allowed two runs on eight hits in six innings, walking two and striking out three. However, he wasn't able to get the win since the Braves offense doesn't like him. Peter Moylan, Eric O' Flaherty, and Jeff Bennett combined for a scoreless seventh. Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless eighth. Manny Acosta pitched a scoreless ninth in his first appearance of the season.

McCann had three hits, two homers, and four RBIs. Johnson had three hits, a homer, and three RBIs. Jones and Anderson each picked up an RBI. Diory Hernandez recorded two hits in his second career start and his first error as well.

Scott Richmond allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, not walking any and striking out five. Shawn Camp gave up three runs and Jason Frasor gave up four.

Bautista and Overbay each picked up an RBI. Vernon Wells, Marco Scutaro, and Aaron Hill each had two hits.

Jeff Francoeur Doesn't Deserve a Job:
Today's evidence of Jeff Francoeur not deserving a major league job? Grounding out to third on the first pitch with two in scoring position and one out.

The Braves travel to San Francisco for a three-game set with the Giants, starting Monday at 4:05. Javier Vazquez faces Jonathan Sanchez.

Notes:
W: Jeff Bennett (2-1)
L: Shawn Camp (0-2)
- Chipper Jones returned from injury to drive in the go-ahead run as a pinch hitter.
- Kelly Johnson finished a triple shy of the cycle.