The Braves really needed to start hitting and they did exactly that on Sunday afternoon. After losing consecutive home games for the first time since April 21st and 22nd, Atlanta came up big with 11 runs and ensured themselves a victory.
Derek Lowe started for the Braves and was pretty good, but struggled in the 5th inning. He ended up going 5 and 1/3 innings and got his 10th win of the season. Manny Parra actually out-lasted Lowe, but gave up 10 runs on 10 hits. It's about time we started to hit left-handed pitching.
Rickie Weeks led off the game with a solo-HR to put the Brew Crew on the board first. Weeks also hit another solo-HR in the 6th inning.
The Braves came right back in the 2nd inning on an RBI-double from Matt Diaz to tie the game up. Melky Cabrera then chopped one a few feet away from home plate, but it was enough to score Diaz to 3rd.
With a 2-1 lead, the Braves broke it open in the 3rd. Omar Infante drove in Martin Prado to make it 3-1, and then Brian McCann came up with the big hit of the game. On an 0-2 pitch, BMac ripped a ball to the right field seats for a grand slam. The slam was the 6th of McCann's career.
Matty Diaz continued to destroy any and all left-handed inning in the 5th when he hit a solo-HR to left field, his 2nd in as many games. He's going to have a huge 2nd half folks. I can feel it.
After the Brewers got the score to 8-3 in the 6th, the Braves answered right back. Omar Infante singled up the middle to drive in a run and BMac walked to score a run as well. Matty Diaz came up big once again with an RBI-single to CF.
The Braves entered the final innings up 11-3 and gave up a few meaningless runs. Jesse Chavez was unable to end the game by himself which forced Bobby to bring in Billy Wagner in, but Wags had no trouble retiring Prince Fielder and Casey McGehee.
Braves win 11-6. A much needed win as we prepare for a big 3-game series against the NL's 2nd best team: the San Diego Padres.
MVP:
Brian "McVP" McCann - 2-for-4, Grand Slam, 5RBI,
LVP:
Manny Parra - 5.1IP, 10H, 10ER, 2BB, 2K,
The Mets are currently winning a close game in San Francisco and the Phillies play tonight, so we'll be able to follow both games knowing we've already taken care of business.
All-in-all, the Braves should've won the series, but the Brewers have a good offense that can score some runs. As long as we win 2 against the Padres, it should be seen as a successful home stand.