Morning Chop: Braves 6/1
By Jeff Schafer
Sorry TT Fans, I put the wrong Upton as the homepage photo…hopefully no one minded
Strasburg Leaves Start Against Atlanta After Two Innings
May 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Stephen Strasburg(37) walks back to the mound after giving up a home run in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
"9:19 PM: Now Adam Kilgore reports from a source that Strasburg had a problem with a muscle in his back, and not with his arm as some feared.Meanwhile, Craig Stammen threw four perfect innings in relief to play savior for the Nats.10:03 PM: Julie Alexandria of MASN is saying Strasburg felt a twinge in his back before the game, tried to pitch through it, and it got worse to the point where he could not continue.11:30 PM: The official word is a strained oblique, which is unfortunately the same injury Ross Detwiler has."
Atlanta Braves Rumors
"Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told reporters that he has discussed sending major offseason acquisition B.J. Upton to Triple-A to work out if his current struggles,according to an Associated Press report. Gonzalez acknowledges that there may be some obstacles involved, “I think there’s some logistics — contractual things and that sort of stuff — that they might not be able to do it that easy.“"
Charlotte native makes MLB debut with Atlanta Braves
"Charlotte native and Ardrey Kell graduate Alex Wood made his Major League Baseball debut with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.It was not only an exciting moment for himself, but his family as well.Wood made his debut in the ninth inning with the Braves leading 11-3 over the Blue Jays.As Wood took the mound during the final inning, Wood’s mother was seen on television cheering and becoming emotional for her son.After allowing a single to Colby Rasmus, Wood ended the game by getting Maicer Izturis to ground into a double play.Wood celebrated by making sure he kept the ball he pitched with by placing it in his back pocket.“I was fortunate to get in there at the end. It was pretty special. When I walked out there I heard some Dawgs fans barking and everyone cheering. It was a pretty neat moment, for sure,” Wood told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the win."
Braves can’t capitalize on Strasburg’s early exit
"Freddie Freeman thought the Atlanta Braves would capitalize on an early exit by Washington ace Stephen Strasburg.Instead, the Braves scored just once against the Nationals’ bullpen in a 3-2 loss on Friday night.Freeman accounted for both Atlanta runs. His fifth homer, a solo shot in the second, came off Strasburg, and his RBI single in the seventh came off Tyler Clippard. But Freeman credited Craig Stammen with setting the tone for the game after replacing Strasburg, who strained his right oblique, to start the third.“He mowed right through us, and we weren’t able to get to him,” Freeman said. “But we got into the bullpen, so maybe that will help us out the next two games.”"
"…Strasburg left with a 2-1 lead. He allowed two hits and one run with no walks and two strikeouts. The Nationals are sending him back to Washington for an examination of his right oblique.”He was complaining of discomfort warming up, and it was more severe than the last time out,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “He’s a gamer. He wanted to continue. But something like that – I’m not going to take a chance with his arm. That’s the main concern.”"