Chopping Network: Braves split 2010 opening week

April 19, 2010

When a ball club goes on a road trip, you hope to be able to bring back home a winning record on the trip, or at least break even. Well, you can say, "At least they didn't start with a losing record."

The Braves took 2 of 3 in Philadelphia and dropped 2 of 3 to the Mets to start the season 3-3.

Game 1- Philadelphia edges Atlanta 4-3 in opener
Brett Myers (1-0) kept Atlanta batters off their game for 7 innings as he pitched the Phillies to a win in their home opener. Limiting the Braves to 1 run on 3 hits, Myers allowed only one hard hit ball ( Chipper Jones solo homer in the first inning on the first pitch he saw in 2010). Derek Lowe (pictured below left) had a quality start for Atlanta going 7 innings, giving up 3 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits. Danny Herrera (0-1) took the loss in relief.

Game 2- Francouer hits 2 HRs, Braves win 8-6

Right fielder Jeff Francouer (pictured above) saw two pitches he liked and deposited them out of the park to lead Atlanta to their first win of the season, a 8-6 triumph over Philadelphia. His three run shot in the fifth and a two run blast in the sixth allowed Javier Vazquez (pictured below right) to pick up his first win, even though he was not sharp on the mound.

Game 3- Braves win handily 9-3 over Phillies

Brian McCann stroked a homerun , a double, and a single to drive in four runs to lead the Atlanta attack. A six run sixth inning chased Phillie starter J. A. Happ from the mound to the showers and gave Jair Jurrjens ( 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 6 K, 3 BB) all the support he needed to notch his first win of the year.

Game 4- Mets batter Braves 10-4

Mets' batters hammered starter Tim Hudson (0-1) and four Atlanta relievers for 10 runs on 15 hits and 3 walks. It was Hudson's first loss since returning to the mound last August following surgery. Mark DeRosa and Jeff Francouer both homered in the losing cause.

Game 5- Lowe lays Mets low 4-1

A strong outing by Derek Lowe (1-0, 7 IP, 7 H, 1 unearned run, 4 K, 1 BB) and timely hitting by Chipper Jones and Brian McCann lead Atlanta to their first win of the year over the Mets. Freddie Freeman

hit his first big league homerun and Joe Nathan capped it off with his second save, striking out 3 in his inning of relief.

Game 6- Mets take series with 9-6 win

"Javier Vazquez (1-1) and the Braves' pen struggled again and Johan Santana (1-1) did not" sums up the game in the words of Braves manager Bobby Cox. "I am proud there is no quit in this team," he added, alluding to the 6 run ninth inning off Mets closer Billy Wagner. Freddie Freeman had his first career 5 hit game to provide another Braves highlight in the loss.

Up next for Atlanta is a nine game homestand starting tonight with a 3 game set with the Nationals. The Phillies and Mets will follow.

Braves send Vazquez to Texas for Gonzalez, Main

Monday, June 28th, 2010 - The Texas Rangers traded 32-year-old reliever Mike Gonzalez and 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Michael Main (pictured above) to the Atlanta Braves, getting 33-year-old starting pitcher Javier Vazquez in return. Braves GM Jobo Foster said the trade was made to bloster the bullpen with the reaquisition of Gonzalez, to make some financial room and to open a spot in the rotation for southpaw Aaron Poreda who, Foster says, has earned a shot with Atlanta. It is rumored that veteran starting pitcher Tim Hudson may be on his way out of the rotation if his performance does not show marked improvement.