So much for a sweep.
The Atlanta Braves (9-9) had their broomsticks handed to them on Sunday afternoon.
With a dominant effort from Cincinnati starter Micah Owings and a three-hit game from Jay Bruce, the Reds (10-8) were able to salvage a series win.
After not allowing a hit through the first three innings, Atlanta starter Kenshin Kawakami (1-3) simply fall apart. Just one batter after Joey Votto (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) doubled, Bruce connected on an 0-1 fastball in the fourth inning for a two-run homer run.
The fifth inning saw much of the same for Kawakami, who lost control of his fastball. With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, the right-hander surrendered a bases-clearing double to Votto. Brandon Phillips followed with an RBI single and Bruce (3-for-3, four RBIs) continued the assault with his second two-run homer of the afternoon, ending Kawakami’s day.
He was finished after just 4 2/3 innings pitched and gave up eight earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out two.
Atlanta’s offense, on the other hand, couldn’t replicate yesterday’s 10-run performance.
Owings (1-2), who came into the game with an 0-9 record and a 8.54 ERA in his last 14 games, held the Braves to just six hits and one earned run in seven solid innings. He also struck out six and walked three while picking up his first win since May 25, 2008.
A David Ross (1-for-2, two walks) solo home run in the seventh and a Brandon Jones (2-for-3) infield RBI single in the eighth were Atlanta’s only breakthroughs against Owings.
Chipper Jones did have a three-hit game, which included a third inning double.
The Braves were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men, collectively, on base.
The Braves begin a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Jair Jurrjens is the scheduled starter for Atlanta.
SHORT HOPS
– Kawakami is very hard to figure out. Here’s a guy who continues to have great success the first two times through the oppositions batting order, then, for whatever reason, breaks down. Call it fatigue or just terrible issues with his location. Everything from the fourth inning on was left up in the strike zone.
This has just really surprised me given the praise we heard regarding his location in Japan. Could it be a rough patch? Sure. But its looking more and more like his $25 million deal was a bad one. Did Atlanta’s front office really believe he could be our No. 3 starter? The hope for Kenshin isn’t over, but the doubt is definitely there.
– Can anybody guess what team Owings defeated in his last victory nearly a year ago? Yep, you guessed it — the Atlanta Braves. He now has a 3-0 lifetime record against the Bravos.
– Jordan Schafer was absolutely lost at the plate today. I gave him praise yesterday for the patience he has been showing with the bat, but this afternoon’s 0-for-3, three strikeout performance was just embarrassing. Did we push him into the spotlight too soon? After all, he is just 22-years old.
– Despite all the negative of today’s game, the bullpen turned in another solid performance. Buddy Carlyle and James Parr combined to throw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
– Brandon Jones made his first start after being recalled from AAA Gwinnett and had some fantastic at-bats. He had two hits on the day and was robbed of a third when a line-drive of his bat was caught. I’ve always liked Brandon as a player and I hope he does well by taking full advantage of the opportunity the Braves are giving him.
– Just a quick complaint. What’s up with that advertisment in right field. You know the scrolling sign that caused a short delay. Did they honestly think it was good idea to put such a distracting sign in the batter’s eye. Oh well, at least the company got their money’s worth with it.
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