Braves Complete Sweep of Pirates, Take Finale 5-2

(Source: Yardbarker.com)

It is official, Kenshin Kawakami has to be snake bit. Kawakami finished off his third great start in a row but yet again came away with nothing to show for it. Things went awry for Kawakami with Pirates Right Fielder Garrett Jones at the plate leading off the seventh inning. Kawakami appeared to strike Jones out with a split finger but third base umpire Chris Guccione came racing in to say that the ball hit the ground. Bobby Cox came out to argue but to no avail. Video replay did show that the ball hit the ground but it was impossible to tell whether or not Jones even fouled the ball off.

Jones later walked in the at bat and first baseman Jeff Clement quickly tied the game with a two run home run into the Center Field bleachers ending Kawakami’s bid for his first win. The Braves went back to work against the Pirate’s bullpen and took the lead right back on pinch hit RBI single by Chipper Jones that scored Nate McLouth. Jason Heyward provided insurance runs with a two RBI triple later in the inning. Billy Wagner pitched an uneventful ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.

Braves First Baseman Troy Glaus added his seventh home run and two more RBI’s to his season totals. Martin Prado, Melky Cabrera, and Jason Heyward all had two hits apiece. Yunel Escobar snapped out of his funk with a three hit day going 3-5 at the plate.

The series sweep combined with a Phillies loss today pulls the Braves to within a half a game of first place in the National League Eastern Division. The Braves have been one of the best clubs in baseball for the month of May and now is their opportunity to cement their status as contenders to the rest of the league.