Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 8/5
By Jeff Schafer
Braves win 10th straight, expand NL East lead to 12 1/2
Aug 4, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Alex Wood(58) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
"Chris Johnson drove in two runs and Wood pitched six strong innings to lead the Braves to their 10th consecutive victory, 4-1 against the slumpingPhiladelphia Phillies on Sunday night.Wood (2-2) allowed one run and two hits in his fourth major league start. The unorthodox 22-year-old rookie left-hander, who configures his body in an unusual way during his delivery, struck out three and walked two.“[Braves catcher Brian McCann] and I had a good game plan, just attack and make good pitches,” Wood said. “I didn’t want to be the one who lost the streak.”Johnson, who entered leading the league in batting, hit a two-run single in the first to stake the Braves to an early lead. Justin Upton and B.J. Uptoneach had two hits with a double apiece for Atlanta, which matched its season-best winning streak.“Our offense got us going,” Wood said. “To get two runs before I got out there, you feel like you have a little room to work with.”"
Camp Notes: Chip Kelly Calls On Braves For Help
"Kelly wanted to know from assistant coach Alan Butts if there was any terminology used in baseball that could best describe what he was asking of his players. Butts responded that there was no such terminology, but there is a technique. He said the key is to take a step back first. If your first step is forward, you’ll get lost.Kelly then pulled third baseman Chris Johnson onto the field briefly so he could pick his brain further. Johnson joked that Kelly shouldn’t listen to his advice, seeing as he is an infielder.“I’ll take tips from anybody if they work,” said Kelly. “You’ve got pro baseball players that give you a better understanding of things. You get some experts here, you’re going to ask them.”"
Impact study: Atlanta Braves a $100 million home run for state economy
"The Atlanta Braves have an annual economic impact of more than $100 million — paying $8.6 million in state and local taxes each year.That’s according to a new study that measures the team’s contribution to the Georgia economy. The findings are being released just as the Braves begin efforts to renegotiate their lease of Turner Field. The current lease expires Dec. 31, 2016.“We wanted to show what we do to drive the economy in our region,” said Mike Plant, executive vice president of business operations for the Braves.Among some of the other findings of the economic impact study were:The Braves generate the employment of 1,648 full-time (or full-time equivalent) jobs in the local economy.Visiting Braves fans stay 110,000 nights each year in local hotels and motels (averaging about 2.5 nights per out-of-town fan).And, the Braves spend $10.5 million on Atlanta-based companies."
Flande Pitches G-Braves Past Bulls, 4-1
"Left-hander Yohan Flande went eight strong innings to win his third-straight start as the Gwinnett Braves (49-66) beat the Durham Bulls (73-43), 4-1 on Sunday evening. The win earned Gwinnett a split of the two-game series and was the club’s first victory in 10 tries at Durham Bulls Athletic Park this season.Flande (W, 7-6), who was fresh off a 9.0-inning complete game win on Monday at Charlotte, baffled the Durham lineup for the second-straight time. He had beaten the Bulls 4-1 at Coolray Field on July 23 by pitching 6.0 innings with just one unearned run. He was even better on Sunday, allowing one earned run on three hits over 8.0 innings, walking none and striking out eight.The G-Braves’ first run came in the top of the third off of Durham starter Merrill Kelly.Sean Kazmar led off the inning with a double to right center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Atlanta Braves’ outfielder Jordan Schafer, playing in his second rehab game with Gwinnett, plated Kazmar with a groundout to first for a 1-0 lead."