Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 9/14
Aug 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; View of stairwell where Atlanta Braves fan 30-year-old Ronald Homer of Conyers, Georgia, accidentally fell to his death during the Braves game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field. Homer fell from the fourth-story platform, where a red sign with the number 1 is positioned (the sign is not connected with the incident. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Tomahawk Take’s Morning Chop – Summary of Braves’ News
Braves blow 3-0 lead in loss to Padres
Via Miami Herald
ATLANTA – Local kid David Hale had a most auspicious major league debut for the Braves on Friday night, collecting a record-breaking nine strikeouts in five scoreless innings against the Padres.
The right-hander from Marietta, Ga., left with a 3-0 lead, but a figurative wet blanket was tossed over Hale’s rousing performance when the Padres scored four runs against the team’s usually reliable bullpen to pull out a 4-3, series-opening win at Turner Field.
Hale limited the Padres to four hits and one walk, and gave a contingent of more than 100 friends and family members plenty to cheer about while breaking a franchise record for strikeouts by a pitcher in his big-league debut.
“I think it went pretty well,” the 25-year-old Princeton graduate said. “Got all my nerves out. Didn’t throw up or trip running out there, so … got to be happy with that.” Justin Upton and Brian McCann hit home runs in a three-run fourth inning to break open a scoreless game, and the Braves figured to cruise from to their 21st win in 26 home games and reduce their National League East magic number to five.
But the Padres had other plans, roaring back to defeat the Braves for the 11th time in their past 17 meetings, including all four this season. The Braves’ magic number to clinch the division title remained at six after the second-place Nationals defeated the Phillies.
Braves Fans Don’t Look Back
Atlanta Braves fans have smirked and laughed all season at the cocky Washington Nationals’ problems. The Nationals were the odds on favorite to win the National League East, but struggled to stay above .500 most of the season.
Wait until next year for the Nationals, right?
Well, not exactly. The Nationals have won seven in a row and 18 of their last 22 games, to climb within 4 games of the last NL wildcard spot. They have even whittled the Braves lead down to 10 games.
Freddy Garcia is Proving the Atlanta Braves’ Mastery of Waiver Deals
Year after year it is the same thing for the Atlanta Braves. While other teams break their backs trying to find the right trade chip to get their team what they need, the Braves swing a few quick waiver wire pickups at the end of August and presto, the team has what it needs. The 2013 season has been no different and Freddy Garcia is proof positive of their mastery of this kind of deal.
Garcia being picked up by the Braves made those skeptical Braves fans who look for reasons to hate Frank Wren salivate. They just loved to bark about how dumb it was to pick up that old guy that can’t pitch anymore. Well, anyone could see clearly he wasn’t able to pitch well anymore. Then there was that game-winning home run he gave up the other day.
Yeah, that’s right he gave up a run then and one other time. Two runs in the four games he has appeared in over the course of 13 plus innings. That is good enough for an ugly and huge 1.32 ERA.
Jason Heyward takes batting practice for first time since suffering jaw injury
Braves outfielder Jason Heyward took batting practice prior to tonight’s game against the Padres, the first time he had done so since suffering a gruesome jaw injury a little more than three weeks ago, reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Heyward was wearing a modified batting helmet for extra protection.
Fan’s death at Turner Field ruled a suicide
ATLANTA — The death of a man who fell from an upper deck platform at Turner Field has been ruled a suicide.
The medical examiner’s office says Ronald Homer, 30, of Conyers, Ga., died as a result of blunt force trauma to his torso, which would be consistent with a fall from a great height. Toxicology reports have not yet been returned in the case.
Homer plunged 65 feet from an upper deck area at Turner Field onto a private parking lot on Aug. 12.
Homer’s family denies that the death was the result of a suicide. They have retained an attorney and would not speak with Atlanta’s 11Alive News on Friday.