B-Ray-ves Report: Career Day

Chipper Jones hits Manny Parra’s high heat out for his first home run of the day. (Photo: AP Photo/John Amis)

In this “B-Ray-ves Report,” we discuss the Braves come-from-behind victory over Milwaukee and Chipper Jones having possibly the greatest game of his career. We also discuss the Rays formerly reliable bullpen blowing a game against the Yanks and a chance to close the gap in the division:

Current Series:

Atlanta -

Friday: Brewers 4, Braves 0 (WP - Gallardo, LP - Jurrjens)
Saturday: Brewers 3, Braves 0 (WP - Suppan, LP - Vazquez, SV - Hoffman)
Sunday: Braves 8, Brewers 7 (WP - O’Flaherty, LP - Villanueva, SV - Gonzalez)

On Deck: Four game series vs. Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Monday

Tampa Bay -

Saturday: Rays 9, Yankees 7 (WP - Howell, LP - Rivera, SV - Choate)
Sunday: Yankees 4, Rays 3 (WP - Aceves, LP - Balfour, SV - Rivera)
Monday: @ New York (A) - 7:05 PM EST (Sonnanstine - Pettitte)

On Deck: Three game series @ Los Angeles of Anaheim beginning Tuesday

Yesterday’s Triple Play:

Atlanta -

Something Positive: Have a Day CJ - Chipper Jones had one of the finest days in his career Sunday afternoon when he went 4-for-4, BB, 2 HR, 3B, and 5 RBI. For each of the past 11 years, Jones has had at least a pair of multi-homer games, but only four times in his career has he had a perfect day. Chipper did have a three homer game in 2006 but did get out once. Sunday not only did he hit the two HR. He also had an RBI-triple, a single, and a walk. Honorable Mentions: McLouth delivering the game-tying hit..

Something Negative: Tommy’s Unbalanced Day - Braves top prospect and the #1 pitching prospect (after David Price was called up last week) Tommy Hanson made his much anticipated (that’s an understatement) debut, and he was PHENOMENAL…through the first three innings. The first time through the lineup Hanson went 9 up, 9 down with 4 K, including striking out the side in the second inning. His first hit didn’t come until the fourth inning when Ryan Braun hit a two-run home run after another Yunel Escobar error, but then he finished off the inning and got the first two outs of the 5th before giving up back-to-back hits, including a double off the wall by the opposing pitcher. The 6th inning was even worse as Hanson gave up a pair of two-run homers, but again he finished the inning strong before being removed from the game for a pinch hitter. He was dominant at times and left balls up at times, but he did throw 61 of 91 pitches for strikes.  Honorable Mention: Francoeur 0-4 with 4 LOB.

Something Crazy: Off-Balance One Legged Three Run Homer - Where in the world did that come from Chipper? Whether it be from his various ailments, his advanced age, or no longer being on that “S” word (not saying that he necessarily ever was), CJ just hasn’t had the pop in his bat that he once had the last couple of years. After once hitting 34+ homers for four straight seasons, Jones hasn’t managed to hit 30 since 2004, and usually when he hits one, it is on a pure swing that he completely squares a ball up. But his second homer on Sunday came on a 3-1 pitch that got him off balance and forced him to hit it off only his front leg. However, he kept his hands back masterfully and squared the ball up perfectly. I initially thought it was going to be a lazy, SHALLOW fly ball, and it kept traveling and sailing, and suddenly Mike Cameron was on the warning track and then it was gone.

Tampa Bay -

Something Positive: Gabe Gross?? - Where did this clutch hitter come from? Gabe Gross drove in the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning with two outs against Joba Chamberlain. It ended up not mattering because of the Something Negative, but Gross has started hitting like a major leaguer. His batting average is up to .255, and he had the Rays only hit with a runner in scoring position. Honorable Mentions: Joe Nelson’s impressive 2 scoreless IP.

Something Negative: Bullpen Blowup - The Rays had a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 series lead on the Yanks and close the gap in the AL East. Nelson was great for two innings, but Grant Balfour came on in the 8th got an out and then promptly gave up two hits and a walk getting himself yanked from the game. Of course, the normally reliant JP Howell didn’t do any better walking in a run. He did manage a ground ball that should have been a double play, but Willy Aybar botched it, tieing the game. Then another groundout gave the Yankees the lead..  Honorable Mention: BenZ bad day (0-4, 3 K).

Something Crazy: One Year Fluke? - Balfour was amazing last season. He put up some of the best numbers a reliever has posted in a single season with a 1.54 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 82 K to only 24 BB in 58.1 IP. Prior to that? Not so much. (A 4.15 ERA in 26 innings in 2003 was his best season.) This season? Again, not so much. After three runs (2 ER) in a third of an inning, the Mad Australian has a 6.31 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 25 K to 17 BB in 25.2 IP.

Team Leaders:

Atlanta -

Home Runs
1. Nate McLouth - 9
2. Chipper Jones - 7
3. 3 Tied - 3

Tampa Bay -

Home Runs
1. Carlos Pena - 17
2. Evan Longoria - 13
3. Ben Zobrist - 11

Standings:

NL East

AL East

Shotgun Spratling

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