Morning Chop: Braves News 4/18
By Jeff Schafer
Kelly Shoppach Tried to Throw the Ball, but Failed
Not Braves related, but to good had to throw it up on here
Davis, Francoeur lead Royals past Braves 1-0
"Wade Davis pitched five-hit ball for seven innings, Jeff Francoeur had a fourth-inning RBI single and the Kansas City Royals stopped Atlanta’s 10-game spurt with a 1-0 victory Wednesday.“We feel like we can win every one of them,” said Uggla, who was called out on strikes for the final out. “We’ll just have to come back tomorrow and start another streak.”The Braves were seeking their first 13-1 start since 1994, but the powerful Atlanta offense finally was stifled, a day after homering five times against the Royals.Davis (2-0) didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven, and the Braves couldn’t get a runner past first base until Jason Heyward ‘s two-out double in the sixth. Their only serious scoring chance came in the seventh, when Juan Francisco was thrown out easily trying to score from first on a pop down the right-field line.“My goal was to get ahead,” Davis said. “They have a pretty good offense. I had to mix it up a lot and minimize mistakes.”"
Braves’ Luis Avilan feeling better
March 9, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Luis Avilan (43) walks back to the dugout after he pitched the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
"Atlanta Braves reliever Luis Avilan is feeling better after being carted off the field the previous night because of severe pain in his left leg.The left-hander went down while pitching in the ninth inning Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. But, after being checked out Wednesday morning before the finale of a two-game series, it appears he just had a severe cramp.Avilan says his leg “is better now. It’s way better now.” He believes he’ll be able to pitch again in a couple of days and hopes to avoid the 15-day disabled list."
Braves GM: ‘We’ve gotten Atlanta’s attention’
"There was no sorrow in Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren’s voice Wednesday afternoon, only confidence.There was no remorse that the Braves’ 10-game winning streak came to a halt, only belief they will start another one.The Braves, 12-2, are off to their greatest start since the beginnings of their 14-year dynasty in 1991, and not even a 1-0 loss Wednesday to the Kansas City Royals is about to dampen the fervor in Atlanta.“There’s a lot of excitement going around town,” Wren told USA TODAY Sports, driving home from Turner Field. “We saw it with the addition of Justin Upton back in January, the buzz in the community and spring training. And now with the start we’ve gotten off to, that’s only increased.“We’ve gotten Atlanta’s attention.”"