Phillies 9, Braves 4

Bobby Cox done cracked up. An apparent bullpen audition resulted in six late runs and a 9-4 win for the Phillies.

Ryan Howard (AP - John Bazemore)

The Braves got the ball rolling in the third on a solo homer by Martin Prado. Ryan Howard put the Phillies ahead in the fourth on a two-run homer and hit another shot in the sixth for a 3-1 lead.

Kris Medlen and Boone Logan both pitched when they shouldn't have, resulting in a two-run double by Jayson Werth in the eighth. Brian McCann hit a two-run home run in the home half to cut the lead to two, but again a reliever pitched when he shouldn't have in the ninth. Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run home run to seal the deal, and Ben Francisco hit a solo homer just to play with us. Adam LaRoche singled in a run in the ninth to be dumb.

Tim Hudson: L (1-1), 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K
Kris Medlen: 0.1 IP, H, 2 ER, BB
Manny Acosta: 0.2 IP, H
Vladimir Nunez: 1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, K

Hudson was perfect through 3.1 innings but gave up a single to start the inning and followed with the Howard homer. He cruised through the fifth, gave up the second Howard homer in the sixth, and pitched a perfect seventh. So Hudson's only mistakes were to Howard, and they cost him the game. Medlen never did anything right in the eighth and the bases were eventually loaded. Quick, who is the first person you think of that should pitch with the bases loaded? Exactly, Manny Acosta. Good choice. Acosta gave up two of Medlen's runs. Vladimir Nunez is just plain awful and should never pitch in Atlanta.

Brian McCann: 3-4, HR, 2 RBI
Martin Prado: 2-4, HR
Adam LaRoche: 2-4, RBI

Yunel Escobar was pulled after one at bat because of laziness running down the first base line. I seriously think it's become a joke at how bad Bobby picks on Escobar. He would never pull anybody else out of the game for that. His old mind has developed a grudge against Yunel. The Braves seemed to put the ball in play well, hitting it hard but right at people. They had 12 hits.

Notable Phillies:
J.A. Happ: 3 IP, 5 H, ER, K
Ryan Howard: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Notable Stat:
Bobby Cox sucks

Next Game:
9/19: Phillies, 7:10 (Pedro Martinez vs. Javier Vazquez)

9/18-9/20: Phillies @ Braves Series Preview

Philadelphia Phillies (85-60, 1st NL East)
vs.
Atlanta Braves (78-68, 2nd NL East)
@

I'm baaaack. And apparently I'm bad luck because the Braves continued winning in my absence.

The Phillies Lately:
The Phillies have gotten back on the winning track now that the Braves have as well. After taking three of four from the Mets, they most recently swept the Nationals to end a successful homestand. They continue to cruise at 7.5 games ahead of the Braves.

The Braves Lately:
The Braves have won seven games in a row for the first time since 2006 (I think I heard that right. Hard to believe). After sweeping the Cardinals, they came home and easily swept the Mets three straight to bump themselves back into second place in the East, though it doesn't really matter.

9/18 - 7:30
J.A. Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA, 52 BB, 104 K, 1.18 WHIP)
Career vs. Braves: 2-0, 2.15 ERA in 4 starts, 5 total games
vs.
Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.63 ERA, 5 BB, 12 K, 1.44 WHIP)
Career vs. Phillies: 4-5, 3.79 ERA in 14 starts

If the Braves are any sort of team they will destroy J.A. Happ to better Tommy Hanson's ROY chances. Happ hasn't started since Sept. 2 due to an oblique injury, and his last start wasn't that special, allowing four runs in six innings to the Giants. He does have the Braves' number this year, giving up five runs in 16.2 innings and posting a .190 BAA. After two solid starts, Tim Hudson struggled in his most recent, allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings against the Cardinals. Luckily, the offense was in full swing and backed him up. Hopefully it's not fatigue, but I wouldn't rule it out because he's not used to the full load. (Advantage: Phillies)

9/19 - 7:10
Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.87 ERA, 6 BB, 34 K, 1.09 WHIP)
Career vs. Braves: 11-10, 3.65 ERA in 24 starts, 31 total games
vs.
Javier Vazquez (13-9, 3.01 ERA, 40 BB, 216 K, 1.05 WHIP)
Career vs. Phillies: 11-8, 4.44 ERA in 27 starts

Whyyyy does Pedro Martinez have amazing numbers in seven starts this season? He went the deepest he has all year in his last start, pitching eight shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Mets (it was the Mets). He did face the Braves back in August but only pitched two innings because of rain. Worth noting thanks to ESPN is that Martinez threw 130 pitches in that start against the Mets. Javier Vazquez continues to be a manly man, allowing two runs over a complete game outing against the Cardinals in his last start. He pitched eight almost perfect innings before giving up the two in the ninth, and he only threw 94 pitches. I'll be attending this game so...heck yeah for me. (Advantage: Braves)

9/20 - 1:30
Cliff Lee (14-11, 3.00 ERA, 42 BB, 167 K, 1.23 WHIP)
Career vs. Braves: 1-1, 6.00 ERA in 2 starts
vs.
Tommy Hanson (10-3, 2.65 ERA, 39 BB, 93 K, 1.18 WHIP)
Career vs. Phillies: 0-1, 4.50 ERA in 1 start

The Sunday afternoon game is a monster matchup, one of the best of the season. Both pitchers are coming in with a chip on their shoulder. The Braves got to Cliff Lee for six runs in his first matchup against them as a Phillie, which was his first loss as a Phillie as well. Lee responded with two more horrible starts before throwing a complete game shutout against the Nationals in his most recent start. In his first career start against the Phillies, Tommy Hanson only went two innings due to rain and was charged with a loss because he allowed a run. Hanson hasn't allowed a run in his last 17 innings, vaulting him to (what I think should be) leading contender for Rookie of the Year. This start could very well determine that. (Advantage: Too chicken to say)

Leading Phillies Relievers:
SV - Brad Lidge (53.2 IP, 7.21 ERA, 30 SV, 10 BSV)
Career vs. Braves: 34.2 IP, 5.45 ERA, 16 SV, 3 BSV
HLD - Ryan Madson (70.2 IP, 3.31 ERA, 23 HLD)
Career vs. Braves: 46.2 IP, 3.66 ERA, 12 HLD
ERA - Scott Eyre (28 IP, 1.61 ERA, 13 HLD)
Career vs. Braves: 21.2 IP, 4.15 ERA, 5 HLD

Leading Phillies Hitters:
BA - Shane Victorino (.296, 10 HR, 58 RBI)
Career vs. Braves: .290, 6 HR, 31 RBI in 70 games
HR - Ryan Howard (.269, 38 HR, 118 RBI)
Career vs. Braves: .340, 29 HR, 82 RBI in 81 games
OPS - Chase Utley (.296, 31 HR, 90 RBI, .951 OPS)
Career vs. Braves: .289, 17 HR, 59 RBI in 104 games

Taking the Series Off

As I do every now and then, I'll be taking this coming series off, just because I'm lazy and don't want to do it. No, actually I have three tests, a speech, and a meeting presentation this week so I have more important things on the mind. Yes, even more important than the Braves, especially at this point. I'll be back for the weekend series, and I'll be going to the game Saturday so I'll have a special recap for it.

Braves 9, Cardinals 2

Javier Vazquez is a beast. He pitched eight shutout innings before giving up a couple runs in the ninth, leading the Braves to a 9-2 win and series sweep of the Cardinals.

The Braves shocked the Cardinals by scoring six runs in the third off Chris Carpenter. Adam LaRoche doubled in two, Yunel Escobar singled in two, and Matt Diaz singled in two. Nate McLouth singled in a run in the sixth, David Ross doubled in a run in the eighth, and LaRoche capped it with a solo homer in the ninth. Matt Holliday singled in two in the ninth to break up the shutout.

Javier Vazquez: W (13-9), 9 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 8 K

Vazquez gave up a single in the first and sixth and that was it through eight. He gave up four straight singles in the ninth that led to two runs, but he induced a double play and got the final out on a lineout to hold them at two. He threw just 94 pitches, meaning he was at a ridiculously low pitch count after eight.

Adam LaRoche: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
Nate McLouth: 4-5, RBI
Matt Diaz: 2 RBI

Everybody had a hit except Garret Anderson. McLouth had four of them, including an RBI single. Even Kelly Johnson managed two hits, including a double. The Braves scored seven runs off Carpenter over six innings.

Notable Cardinals:
Chris Carpenter: L (16-4), 6 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Notable Stat:
The Braves swept the Cardinals for the first time in 10 years.

Next Game:
9/15: Mets, 7:10 (Patrick Misch vs. Tommy Hanson)