Like a jock strap on a cold day, Javier Vazquez felt the warm embrace of run support as the Braves put up nine runs behind his strong effort on the mound. Vazquez went 7 innings allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6 -- another quality start for Javy.
The offense tied a season-high record with 17 hits. This, despite Matt Diaz tying a franchise record by grounding into 3 double plays -- he redeemed himself by homering in the sixth. Adam LaRoche is all kinds of hot right now as he went 4-for-4 (all singles), and has had a hit in every game he has started for the Braves since being re-acquired last week. Martin Prado and Garret Anderson also added 3-hits a piece. Even Vazquez had a hit. The only regular without a hit -- Chipper Jones.
Chipper is now just 6-for-his-last-32, a .188 average. This begs the question, "is something wrong?" He doesn't seem to be hurting or favoring anything. Perhaps he's simply not getting any good pitches to hit, and he's pressing to try and make something happen. Whatever it is, if we can get him going like the Chipper Jones of last year, then we really might have a chance.