As I mentioned in the preview that anytime a pitcher like Johan Santana is on the mound then I feel less than optimistic about the other teams chances for victory. However, if that pitcher struggles early then a team like the Braves must capitalize before he can right the ship. That is exactly what took place yesterday as the Braves pounced on Johan Santana wracking up three runs in the first inning on their way to a 4-1 victory.
The troubles began immediately for Santana, Omar Infante led off the game with a single to right and Jason Heyward walked. Chipper Jones then hit into a fielders choice at third that put runners on the corners on what should have been a double play ball. Santana nemesis Matt Diaz then stepped to the plate and quickly doubled to left scoring Infante and giving the Braves an early 1-0 lead.
The inning continued with Chipper Jones at third and Diaz at second and Alex Gonzalez at the plate. Gonzalez grounded to second baseman Luis Castillo who threw out Chipper Jones trying to score at the plate for the second out of the inning. Troy Glaus walked and the newest Brave Rick Ankiel stepped in against Santana with the bases loaded and the Braves leading 1-0. Ankiel’s two RBI single to center gave the Braves a 3-0 lead before David Ross struck out to end the inning.
A quick 3-0 lead wouldn’t be much if the Braves couldn’t make it stand up and that is where Tim Hudson came in. Hudson pitched six innings, allowing only six hits and one earned run to earn his 12th victory of the season. He walked three and struck out three on an extremely humid night that saw him going to the rosin bag a lot. His gutty performance never let the Mets back in the game.
Jonny Venters and Takashi Saito each pitched an inning of scoreless relief. Saito did have to pitch around two hits in the process. Billy Wagner came on to close it out and recorded his 25th save of the season. Wagner struck out Angel Pagan to end the game.
The Braves got an insurance run off of Santana in the seventh who had settled down considerably since his first inning struggles when Chipper Jones launched his 8th home run of the season into the left center field seats. It was Jones only hit of the night but provided the Braves with some much needed breathing room. Omar Infante, Matt Diaz, and Rick Ankiel all had two hits apiece.
It was a much needed win for the Braves after coming home struggling from a long road trip. A tough match up with Santana is out of the way and the Braves picked up a half game on the idle Philadelphia Phillies and now lead the division by 3 games.
Add us as a preferred source on Google