Hanson Allows Four Homers in 7-1 Loss to Marlins

Pure garbage is about the best way to describe this game. The Marlins hit four home runs off Tommy Hanson in route to a 7-1 win, giving the Braves their fourth straight loss.

As if a preview of things to come, Cameron Maybin hit a home run on the first pitch of the game for the Marlins. The next batter, Logan Morrison, did the same for a two-run lead without recording an out. Terrible defense led to two runs in the second on a Brad Davis sac fly RBI and Chris Volstad RBI single (Jason Heyward overthrew the cutoff man by 10 feet when the runner didn’t even run home, advancing the back-end runner to second and eventually causing him to score). A leadoff triple by Hanley Ramirez in the third was actually a fly ball lost in the sky by Eric Hinske, resulting in two bases for Ramirez. He reached third when Hinske threw the ball to no one in particular and it took a stabbing grab to prevent it from going all the way to the backstop. This is little league stuff.

The Marlins hit another set of back-to-back home runs in the sixth off the bats of Dan Uggla and Gaby Sanchez, giving them a 7-0 lead. This prompted Bobby to yank Hanson without recording an out in the inning. Hanson went five innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. He didn’t walk any and struck out three. He didn’t have much of anything going tonight and a career-high four homers allowed is evidence of that. Defense and a few bloops didn’t help, but it was clear he had nothing going for him.

The Braves let Chris Volstad dominate them for eight innings, allowing a single run in the eighth on a solo homer by Heyward (getting his run back, I guess). They didn’t walk a single time and had six hits. Two were from Heyward, one coming from a double by Derrek Lee. They put a runner on second in the second and third innings but both times with two outs and nothing coming from it. They put two in scoring position in the sixth but again with two outs, and Hinske grounded out.

If you’re looking for a bright spot, you can look at the bullpen tonight. Cristhian Martinez pitched two scoreless innings, including two strikeouts. Craig Kimbrel gave up a hit and walk but struck out two in a scoreless inning. Billy Wagner walked two in a scoreless inning.

The Braves will have to rely on another team to keep the lead the same again, as the Phillies and Padres are currently playing. Pretty soon the Braves will have to rely on themselves again to do this. Ricky Nolasco and Tim Hudson pitch Saturday night.