The winning streak is over.
The Braves fell to the Dodgers on Friday night in a bit of a sloppy game. Kenshin Kawakami started for the Braves and really struggled early on. The Dodgers scored 2 runs in the 1st and 2nd innings, putting themup 4-0 early. After the first two Dodgers hitters reached, Andre Ethier drove in Rafael Furcal with a sac-fly to RF. After retiring Manny and James Loney, KK gave up a double to Ronnie Bliiard that drove in Kemp from 2nd.
The Braves scored two runs in the 4th inning. Yunel Escobar, who had a fantastic night, singled in Martin Prado with a blooper down the RF line. Melky Cabrera then reached on a fielding error by Dodger 3B Jamey Carroll which allowed Omar Infante to score. The score was 4-2 after the top of the 3rd.
The score remained the same for 4 more innings as Kawakami and Clayton Kershaw both settled down towards the middle of the game. Kershaw was striking out Braves hitters at will, including 4 to Jason Heyward. Kawakami pitched nicely as well. In the innings he struggled, his pitches were getting elevated in the zone. In the middle innings when he was successful, he was keeping his pitches down.
The Braves came up with a huge 2-out rally in the 7th. After a single from Infante and a walk to Troy Glaus, Joe Torre removed Clayton Kershaw from the game and brought in Hong-Chih Kuo. Yunel Escobar showed flashes of the 2009 season when he ripped a 2-run double to the left field gap to score Infante and Glaus without a throw. The game was now tied 4-4.
Oddly, Bobby Cox sent KK to the mound in the 7th after already throwing 97 pitches. Kawakami retired Matt Kemp, but Andre Ethier hit a double that landed on the foul line in RF and then bounced into the seats in foul territory. After an intentional walk to Manny Ramirez, Bobby then decided to pull Kawakami and bring in Eric O'Flaherty.
EOF didn't deliver tonight. He gave up a RBI-single up the middle to James Loney that scored Ethier from 2nd without a throw. He was able to induce an inning-ending double play from Ronnie Belliard, but the damage was already done. The Dodgers had the lead once again, 5-4.
The Braves hitters went down quietly in the 8th and 9th, which included a 5th strikeout from Jason Heyward to finish the ballgame. Not a good night for the Rookie of the Year.
Dodgers win 5-4.
MVP of the Game:
Yunel Escobar - 3-for-4, 2B, 3RBI
LVP of the Game:
Jason Heyward - 0-for-5, 5K, 3 LOB
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Upcoming Game: Game 3 of the 4-game series starts tomorrow night at 10:10EST. Tommy Hanson will pitch for the Good Guys and it'll be Chad Billingsley on the mound for the Bad Guys. Let's all hope the Braves can start a new winning streak tomorrow night.
GO BRAVES!