I just sort of felt all night like we would come back and win this one -- "only down by two runs, we can overcome that deficit." It's amazing the kind of confidence a lineup that includes Nate McLouth and does not include Jeff Francoeur can give you.
Derek Lowe pitched well, but not great, but good enough. It was another quality start for Lowe and his seventh win of the season to continue to lead the team. He looked a little fatigued on the mound at times; perhaps this Southern heat and humidity are getting to him.
The key hit for the night came from Yunel Escobar, who laced a two-run single to left field with the bases loaded to give the Braves and Derek Lowe the lead in the seventh. The Braves power was not present like it was last night, as every hit tonight was a single.
The bullpen came on for the final two innings with Mike Gonzalez pitching the eighth and Rafael Soriano pitching around a Chipper Jones error in the ninth. Gonzo's inning was helped by a great play by Yunel Escobar. After a ground ball ricocheted off of Chipper's glove, Yunel picked it up and gunned the ball to first to get the out. Replays showed the runner safe, but the Braves got the benefit of the bad call.
The Braves are now 12-and-8 in one-run games after only winning 11 one-run games all of last year. This game was also another comeback in the late innings.