GAME RECAP: Atlanta Braves 2 Milwaukee Brewers 1
By Editorial Staff
To say the Braves had an eventful All Star Break would be an understatement. Five players represented the team on the winning National League side and Brian McCann came up with the big hit and captured MVP honors. The day after the Braves exchange starting shortstops with the Toronto Blue Jays shipping out Yunel Escobar and getting back Alex Gonzalez. That is a lot going on for a team that began the second half four games up in the National League East.
Gonzalez made his debut for the Braves during Thursday night’s second half opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. Gonzalez went 1-3 with a walk in his debut and thanks to strong performances from Jair Jurrjens, the bullpen, and homers from Martin Prado and Chipper Jones, the Braves came away with a 2-1 victory over the Brewers.
Jurrjens strong return from the disabled list has been like a mid season trade for the Braves. It gives another quality arm to the starting rotation. Jurrjens pitched six and two thirds innings allowing only six hits and a first inning home run to Corey Hart. The Braves bullpen came on to shut the door as Peter Moylan and Jonny Venters combined for an inning and third of scoreless baseball before handing it over to Billy Wagner in the ninth. Wagner pitched a perfect ninth striking out two in the process for his 21st save.
The Braves runs both came in the third inning on long home runs by
Martin Prado and Chipper Jones. Prado has been hot the entire season and tied his career high in homers with his 11th Thursday night. Since the retirement talk Chipper has looked more like Chipper batting .320 over his last 22 games.
Not to be over looked but Jason Heyward returned to the lineup after a stint on the Disabled List with a sore thumb. Despite going 0-4 at the plate Heyward made two outstanding plays in the outfield and gave the Braves a major scare when he crashed into the outfield wall during the fourth inning. Most importantly, Heyward made the play and was ok and stayed in the game.
The Braves are back at it tonight with Tommy Hanson making his first start of the second half.