Braves vs Dodgers, Series Review

Source: Yardbarker.com

5-3 – Kris Medlen vs Hiroki Kuroda

The Braves staked starter Kris Medlen to an early 4-0 and then hung on for the 4-3 victory. Troy Glaus went 2-4 with a homer and 2 RBI’s. Shortstop Yunel Escobar also had two hits on the night. Medlin pitched well yet again before running out of gas in eighth inning. Medlen’s line was 7.1 innings pitched, 6 hits allowed, 2 earned runs, and 4 strikeouts. Medlen didn’t walk anyone. Lefty Jonny Venters came on to record the last out and earn his first save of the season. The win was at the time the Braves’ ninth in a row.

5-4 – Kenshin Kawakami vs Clayton Kershaw

The Dodgers snapped the Braves nine game winning streak behind a great performance from Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw didn’t get the win as the Braves got to reliever Hong-Chih Kuo and ultimately tied the game. However a James Loney single scored Andre Ethier in the seventh to give the Dodgers the winning margin of 5-4. Yunel Escobar had another big day for the Braves going 3-4 with 3 RBI’s in the losing cause. Kenshin Kawakami saw his record drop to 0-8 on the season. Injury Note: Before this game, Braves reliever Takashi Saito was placed on the Disabled List due to an injured hamstring. Reliever Craig Kimbrel was recalled from Triple A Gwinnett.

Games 3 and 4 of the series after the jump

5-5 – Tommy Hanson vs Chad Billingsley

The Braves won for the 15th time in 18 games by exploding for nine runs between the seventh and eighth innings. The Dodgers led the game 2-0 going into the seventh inning and that is when the Braves offense went to work. Martin Prado, Omar Infante, Brian McCann, and Yunel Escobar all had 2 hits each on the night. McCann also had 4 RBI’s. Troy Glaus belted his 11th home run of the season. Tommy Hanson pitched six innings allowing eight hits and two earned runs. Hanson struck out six Dodger hitters while only walking two.

5-6 – Tim Hudson vs John Ely

Hudson and Ely may have gotten the start in this one but both were long gone by the time the Dodgers won this game in the eleventh inning. Jason Heyward got the Braves on the board in the third inning with a single to right that scored Omar Infante. Dodgers second baseman Blake DeWitt tied the game an inning later with a single of his own. The Braves played long ball in the fifth as Martin Prado and Brian McCann each homered to stake the Braves to a 4-1 lead. However, they couldn’t hold the lead as former Brave Rafael Furcal also homered in the fifth and James Loney singled in two to tie the game at 4-4. No one scored again until the bottom of the eleventh until A.J. Ellis singled off of Braves reliever Jesse Chavez scoring Russel Martin to give the Dodgers a 5-4 walk off victory.

Standings

The Braves split their four game series with the Dodgers and still maintain a 2 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. The road trip continues as they will open up another four game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Derek Lowe will be on the mound for the Braves and will be opposed by Diamondbacks righty Dan Haren.

Author’s Note

I am back from vacation so updates will be getting back to normal around here.