Fredi Gonzales used Scott Proctor today with a 4-3 lead. This proved catastrophic. Mark Reynolds came up and hit his third home run in two days (a 2-run homer to go up 5-4). After another blown lead for Proctor, this begs the question: Does he have the stuff?
WWBCD: What Would Bobby Cox Do?
It seems as though Proctor doesn't flourish during high-pressure situations as well as Venters. I understand giving Venters a rest, but on a day where the Phillies blew a 4-0 lead, the Braves needed this win today. PUT VENTERS IN.
Beachy pitched a pretty good game, making an mistake to pitcher Zach Britton, hitting his first career homer.
In the bottom of the ninth, the umpires didn't help. With a 3-1 count on Chipper Jones, a clear ball was called a strike, bringing Chipper back to the plate after running halfway down to first base. The Umpire wasn't pleased, and on another close pitch (FoxTrax confirmed it was a ball) Chipper was called out on strikes, ending the game. Had he received the deserved walk, Brian McCann would've come up to bat, the Braves late game home run specialist. We will never know what could have happened, only that it should've happened.
The Braves lost 5-4 today, ending their 9 game interleague play winning streak, and 5 game win streak.
Winning streak at 0.
Up Next: 4 game series home against the Colorado Rockies.
Tomorrow's match up: Braves All-Star Snub Tommy Hanson (9-4 2.62 Era) vs. the Rockies underachieving Ubaldo Jimenez (3-7 4.35 Era). Hopefully he doesn't no-hit the Braves again.
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