Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 7/30
By Jeff Schafer
PRP, Kentucky baseball product Scott Downs traded to Atlanta Braves
Jul 19, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Scott Downs (37) in the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. Angels won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
"The Braves have lost left-handed relievers Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty to season-ending elbow injuries. The 37-year-old Downs, a former Kentucky Mr. Baseball, joins Luis Avilan as lefties in Atlanta’s bullpen.Downs was 2-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 43 games with the Angels. He is 36-35 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 seasons.Following Downs’ junior season at UK, the Braves originally selecte him in the 12th round of the 1994 draft."
Atlanta Braves: Chris Johnson Takes Over NL Batting Lead, Still Hits Too Low in the Order
"Johnson is hitting .356 in the month of July and has arguably been the most consistent Atlanta hitter all season long; yet, no one would be able to tell simply by looking at manager Fredi Gonzalez‘s lineup card. Johnson has hit everywhere but leadoff for the Braves this season, but Gonzalez has routinely buried him in the No. 8 hole. On an Atlanta team whose biggest problems remain hitting for contact and hitting with runners on base, is the answer as simple as allowing Johnson to be featured in the middle of the order? Although the Braves’ bats came alive in this series, Atlanta is hitting just .248 with runners in scoring position this season. They also lead the entire National League in strikeouts. I was terrible on those cause-and-effect questions on the SATs, but even I can see that one may have something to do with the other. It’s just wild speculation, but Atlanta may want to have the players who consistently put wood on the ball to be the ones hitting with runners on base."
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Sport Clips $8 Night (August 12)
"Location: Turner Field755 Hank Aaron Drive SEAtlanta, GATime: 7:10 PMDetails: Get Terrace View Tickets for only $8, every Monday home game.Cost:$26.00- $118.00+"
Flande goes distance in 8-3 win at Charlotte
"Left-hander Yohan Flande pitched the seventh complete game of his minor league career and the first nine-inning complete game of the season for the Gwinnett Braves (47-63) in an 8-3 win over the Charlotte Knights (50-60) on Monday afternoon. His brilliant effort led the G-Braves to a split of the four-game series at Knights Stadium.Flande (6-6) threw 103 pitches, 72 of which were strikes in nailing down his team-leading sixth win of the year. He allowed three runs — two earned — on eight hits, walked none and struck out five.It was the second overall complete game for a G-Braves pitcher this season. Right-hander Cody Martin went the entire way in a seven-inning game on June 23 at Coolray Field, a 5-1 win against Syracuse in game one of a doubleheader."