Braves 9, Cards 7 (12 innings)
Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals – Play By Play – May 11, 2012 – ESPN.
We’ve seen this before, haven’t we? Up and down games, lots of pitchers used, won with home run heroics well into extra play. Fortunately, it’s mostly been the Braves coming out of top, as it was last night.
The Braves set up Mike Minor with a bunch of runs last night, and it was 5-1 after three innings. In the first, Michael Bourn led off with a single, then Martin Prado hit a ground-rule double and Freddie Freeman walked to load the bases. They couldn’t get a hit but it didn’t matter so much as first Bourn and then Prado scored on passed balls. Chipper Jones actually walked to make it first-and-third, but there were no more passed balls to be found.
The Cardinals got a run back with a solo homer in the secon, then the Braves offense went back to work. Two more ground rule doubles, both with one out, one by Dan Uggla and one by Brian McCann, added one run. Chipper singled in McCann and then advanced on an error. With two out, Pastornicky hit — yes — a ground-rule double to make is 5-1.
Minor was cruising, until the fourth, when he allowed back-to-back solo homers, the first by Carlos Beltran, who was just getting started… I am basically Captain Hook, as I’ve mentioned. If you leave a starter in to get a win, he will usually blow the lead. As in this case. With two out in the fifth, Minor lost it. He gave up two singles (the first to Rafael Furcal), then a double to John Jay and finally a triple to Beltran to give the Cards a 6-5 lead. He finally went to the pen, in the person of Chad Durbin.
Cristhian Martinez took over from Durbin in the sixth and in the seventh Uggla hit a homer to tie it at six. Medlen pitched the seventh. In the eighth, the Braves loaded the bases in various ways but couldn’t get the scoring hit. (Eric Hinske, after striking out pinch-hitting argued with the umpire and was ejected, though he was leaving the game anyway.) Eventually, Heyward scored on a Freddie Freeman infield single.
The lead didn’t last long. With one out in the eighth, Beltran homered again, this time against Jonny Venters, to make it 7-7. It would stay that was for some time. Livan Hernandez came in to pitch starting the tenth, and was in trouble during both it and the eleventh. He got a double play to get out of bases-loaded in the tenth, and a popup with a two-out bases-loaded jam in the eleventh.
Chipper walked leading off the twelfth, and Jason Heyward followed with a home run. Craig Kimbrel allowed a leadoff single but followed by two strikeouts and a groundout for the save.
JC’ed…I welcome corrections, as this is basically just guessing. It is beyond unnerving to not see Chipper in here:
McCann 12000
Freeman ~700
Uggla 13000
Pastornicky (assuming he sticks) ~495
Prado ~6850
Francisco ~495
Constanza ~485
Heyward ~700
Hudson 9000 (with a 1000 buyout)
Beachy ~565
Hanson ~3750
Minor ~495
Delgado ~495
Teheran ~485
Kimbrel ~700
Venters ~700
O’Flaherty ~3300
Medlen ~565
Vizcaino ~483
Martinez ~533
Varvaro ~485
I left off Jurrjens because let’s be serious. Also left out are Ross, Hinske, and Diaz although they are probably strong candidates to be resigned.
But still, that’s only 56 mil.
May 12th, 2012 at 1:39 pmI think they could afford Bourn for one or two years, but it’s the later years of his would-be contract (when Heyward and Freeman, among others, will be starting to get expensive) that make his staying in Atlanta so unlikely, IMO.
May 12th, 2012 at 1:47 pmOne of the reasons I love this place and keep coming back (seriously) is because it’s May 12, we’re .5 games out of the division and playing well, and we’re already into rosterbation for next year.
May 12th, 2012 at 1:58 pmCarlos “Braveskiller” Beltran career vs ATL: 304/395/562 in 425 PAs w/ 19 HRs.
That’s not including his 2004 NLDS performance.
At Turner Field, he’s 325/423/608 in 229 PAs w/ 12 HRs.
Off to The Bronx to see Yanks/Mariners. Looking at the Mariners (mostly no-name) lineup, I realize their SS & RF have the same name as Japanese motorcycles.
FWIW, this could be Phil Hughes’ last stand. If he can’t get this lineup out…
May 12th, 2012 at 2:02 pmrosterbation
Awesome.
May 12th, 2012 at 2:22 pmIf Minor makes one more terrible start I suspect Jurrjens will replace him.
May 12th, 2012 at 2:29 pmIn Dallas (Arlington) today, taking in my first Rangers game. It’s throwback day, so their opponent was referred to as the California Angels, which was both weird and cool.
I really like their stadium, especially all the design pieces they incorporated from old ballparks. CJ Wilson started for the Angels, and they really hate him here. Pujols was also booed at every chance, but not nearly as much as Wilson. They really don’t like him here.
Also, Josh Hamilton is a beast.
May 12th, 2012 at 2:30 pmBeachy and Hanson are the only starters with above a 100 ERA+.
May 12th, 2012 at 2:30 pmI think Huddy will bounce back fine; his last start against the Cubs was excellent. Delgado you can live with somewhat below average performance, and he hasn’t been awful. Minor is a real trouble spot, though. One of either him or Jurrjens needs to get it back on track.
May 12th, 2012 at 4:25 pmIf only the Braves had that Lowe guy and his 159 ERA+ here.
May 12th, 2012 at 4:29 pmYeah, and his 2.68 k/9. Before his last start, I noticed that his ERA and k/9 were exactly the same: 2.32.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:12 pmI really hope that we re-sign Bourn.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:13 pm@11 But you fail to cite the most important stat of all, and Lowe leads the league in it: winKnowledge.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:23 pmWe just signed Felix Pie out of the Indy league and put him at AAA.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:34 pmOh, good. I always love failed Cub prospects.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:44 pmububba: And with Montero at DH, they have another vehicle out there.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:50 pmPie may cause Wren to eat “humble” pie, but I’d rather Pie cause us to eat crow.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:54 pmFelix Pie, 2011: .220/.264/.280 with 0 HR and 10 BB in 164 AB.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:57 pmAlbert Pujols, 2012: .195/.236/.278 with 1 HR and 9 BB in 133 AB.
“Pie may cause Wren to eat “humble” pie, but I’d rather Pie cause us to eat crow.”
Does this mean if Pie gets called up, is hot for ten days and inevitably regresses to the mean, his nickname here will be ‘Pumpkin Pie’?
May 12th, 2012 at 6:04 pm19- More likely, he’ll be a pie in the face of management.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:07 pm@17
I see what you did there.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:10 pmBryce Harper cuts face in dugout tantrum
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320511117
May 12th, 2012 at 6:11 pm22- Hopefully, it’ll be a learning experience, not least about the laws of physics: swing a couple of pounds of lumber at a concrete wall and it will come back to you.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:13 pmBABIP be damned, you’ve gotta love grounders with eyes. Unless the other team’s hitting them.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:19 pmWoooo!!!!
May 12th, 2012 at 6:26 pmSmall strike zone this evening. Works for me so far.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:28 pmWainwright’s going to need to hand out a bases-loaded walk to everyone in the lineup twice and then come join the Braves again before I’m satisfied.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:29 pm!!!!!!!
Two more free runs.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:29 pm“…I’d rather Pie cause us to eat crow.”
Or cause you to put su pie en su boca?
May 12th, 2012 at 6:30 pmQuite possibly the worst swing I’ve seen in the last 40 years.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:32 pmCardinals feed: “Scott Linebrink, the Cardinals hope to see him pitch sometime this week.”
I guess they didn’t watch Atlanta much last season.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:34 pmHas a team ever loaded the bases with no outs in back to back games and then failed to get a hit?
May 12th, 2012 at 6:35 pmI’m sure they have, but doing so and getting four runs anyway is a lot less common.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:36 pm“Cardinals feed: “Scott Linebrink, the Cardinals hope to see him pitch sometime this week.” I guess they didn’t watch Atlanta much last season.”
Linebrink was the Cardinals’ team MVP last year.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:39 pmIs there any question who you would rather have the next five years (salary included) Beachy or Wainwright ?
May 12th, 2012 at 6:57 pmWow, that could have been really embarrassing. But it worked.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:00 pmBroken bat, drives the ball to the warning track. Don’t recall seeing something like that before.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:12 pmPrado has become a pretty good left fielder
May 12th, 2012 at 7:12 pmI recall Sheffield hitting a broken-bat homer in Atlanta, once.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:14 pmAndruw Jones hit a broken-bat home run to center field in Atlanta a few years back. Believe it was against the Marlins.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:16 pmGood lord, Dan.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:29 pmMcCann turned his ankle.
Nice slide, Dan.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:35 pmUggla going first to third would be a good illustration of the expression motoring.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:36 pmI guess Wainwright can only be hit in odd-numbered innings.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:38 pmanother great AB out of Heyward with the bases loaded
May 12th, 2012 at 7:42 pmNow that was a nice at bat by Pastornicky.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:44 pmnice work Tyler…
May 12th, 2012 at 7:44 pmYou too, Brandon
May 12th, 2012 at 7:45 pmAnd Beachy “Helps His Own Cause” ™!
May 12th, 2012 at 7:45 pmCrazy hitting!
May 12th, 2012 at 7:45 pmBeachy is so boss.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:46 pmThat hit by Beachy is as excited as I’ve ever heard Chip Caray.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:46 pm@35- Beachy in a heartbeat.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:48 pmTim Tebow wears Brandon Beachy pajamas.
May 12th, 2012 at 7:51 pmC’mon, Brandon…
May 12th, 2012 at 8:15 pmHook Hook Hook
May 12th, 2012 at 8:16 pmEpisode.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:16 pmFredi, come on!
May 12th, 2012 at 8:17 pmEpisode averted.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:21 pmGotta love Freddie at first bailing out some crappy Uggla throws.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:21 pmGood damage control. It’s ok to throw that one a little higher by the way, Dan.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:21 pmThat hook is not really hooking right now with any consistency, but we’ll take the outs. Way to work out of a jam.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:22 pmIf Danny were playing on my nephew’s little league field his throws would be perfect.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:24 pmI now ask the congregation to turn your fielding bibles to the “big inning”, because Pastor Nicky is about to preach on double play grounders!
May 12th, 2012 at 8:28 pmGood job, Brandon.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:29 pmThat list is quite crazy, Hamilton has 5 more homers than the Padres.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:31 pmThe Cold Hard Facts were indeed, both cold, and hard.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:32 pmGood inning, Kris.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:35 pmNice one, Mike!
May 12th, 2012 at 8:37 pmDid Bourn just hit a home run?
May 12th, 2012 at 8:38 pmWell, how do you like that?
May 12th, 2012 at 8:39 pmWoohoo, Bourn! Caught up to Pujols in the home run race now.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:39 pmBourn hits a home run. The Mayans may have been right after all.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:44 pmI really like beating the Cardinals. Close it out, boys.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:45 pmAnother DP sermon from Pastor Nicky (and Freddy the Free Man).
May 12th, 2012 at 8:49 pmThat works.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:51 pmBeen tired all day. Will stay up until the end, but no way I come up with a coherent recap until tomorrow. Can anyone remember a starting pitcher like Beachy, a young, undrafted free agent who become dominant on the big-league level?
May 12th, 2012 at 8:54 pmClosest I can think of is Johan Santana being a Rule 5 pick.
May 12th, 2012 at 8:58 pmKerry Ligtenberg and the bag-of-balls story was neat.
Nothing I know of compares to this Beachy thing, though. He’s just incredible.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:00 pmKeith Law doesn’t know what you’re talking about Mac. Beachy’s a fluke.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:02 pmMike Adams was undrafted. He’s been a pretty dominant reliever. Ligtenberg was pretty dominant for a year or so.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:02 pmSpeaking of incredible: ladies and gentlemen, Michael Bourn.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:02 pmHis first week was pretty crappy, but since then, where would we be without Michael Bourn?
May 12th, 2012 at 9:04 pmYeah, I meant to add starting pitchers. Johan was undrafted but ineligible as not an American subject.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:10 pmSo, will the Yankees play Bourn in center or in left?
May 12th, 2012 at 9:12 pmI’m so happy to see multiples of these kinds of victories. Wish Beachy could have gone an inning or two longer without an incident, but hey. We won 7-2.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:12 pmWell, that was nice. Go for the sweep.
And in the NY metro area, it’s Rangers/Devils. The next week or so is gonna be a little NHL nutty.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:13 pmGood win.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:13 pmGood win. Let’s get the sweep tomorrow. Good night, good folk.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:13 pmNo joy from Cincy, where the Nationals won 2-1. But they’re just delaying the inevitable.
May 12th, 2012 at 9:20 pmWas Terrell Wade drafted?
May 12th, 2012 at 10:08 pmRecapped.
May 13th, 2012 at 5:47 am