Braves Unnecessarily Lose Padres Series

After Kris Medlen continued his scoreless streak to 28.1 IP to even the series Tuesday night, Tommy Hanson was himself and the Braves lose Wednesday.  The Braves are now five back of the Nationals and 2.5 ahead of the Cardinals.

• Medlen was magnificent, not walking anyone and striking out nine in eight innings.  In his six starts this year, he has allowed THREE extra-base hits.
• Dan Uggla had an interesting game, going 1-4 with a HR and 3 K’s.  He is one of 21 players all-time to have at least eight career games with at least three K’s and all his hits as homers.
• Hanson couldn’t get through the fifth inning, walking two and striking out three.  He wasn’t horrible, but he wasn’t good enough to be trusted in important games.
• The game was only 4-1 before Chad Durbin and Jonny Venters combined to allow four runs in the 8th.  David Ross added a solo homer in the 9th.
• The Braves best chance to change momentum was the 5th when they had runners on second and third with no outs.  Hanson struck out, then Michael Bourn hit a sac fly that moved up both runners, though it decreased the Braves’ win probability.  Reed Johnson ended the inning with a groundout and the Padres scored two more runs the next half-inning to provide breathing room.