Morning Chop: Braves News 4/15
By Jeff Schafer
Braves blank Nats to sweep, extend win streak to nine
Apr 14, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder
B.J. Upton(2) and first baseman
Chris Johnson(23) celebrate after the final out against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
"The Washington Nationals aren’t conceding anything to the Atlanta Braves, except perhaps for this:At this point in the season, it’s pretty obvious which team is better than the other.Justin Upton and Andrelton Simmons homered to back a sparkling pitching performance by Paul Maholm, and the Braves beat Washington 9-0 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.After forging two-run victories on Friday and Saturday, Atlanta took a 7-0 lead in the third inning against Gio Gonzalez (1-1) and coasted to the finish.“I take the blame on this one 100 percent,” Gonzalez said. “The Braves right now are running hot. They’re red hot right now. You got to give them the credit. They’re a tough hitting lineup and a good rotation.”"
Atlanta Braves: Sizzling Start Gets Hotter with Early Season Sweep of Nationals
"The Atlanta Braves arrived in Washington on a serious roll with a record of 8-1. Nothing has changed in the loss column as they leave the nation’s capital with an MLB-best 11-1 mark.They are a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies away from being undefeated. Cliff Lee was lights out that night, so you had to tip your cap.This is the third straight series sweep for the Braves. Unlike the Cubs and Marlins (a combined 6-16 coming into Sunday), the Nationals are legit.They are a popular pick to win the World Series.The fact that Atlanta went into Nationals Park—where Washington was previously undefeated—and beat Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez along the way speaks even more volumes.It’s early. It’s April. We all know.But it is as big a statement as a team can make against its bitter division rival in early April."
No. 42 to be ubiquitous for Jackie festivities
"Once again, the Dodgers — all of them — will be wearing the famous No. 42 on Monday night at Dodger Stadium in honor of one of their own. It’s the 66th anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson put on a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform in a regular-season game for the first time, thus integrating Major League Baseball forever.Robinson will be honored in each of the nine ballparks where games will be played again this April 15, but the main ceremony will be staged in Chavez Ravine for the first time since 2007. The revamped ballpark is more than six decades and 3,000 miles removed from Flatbush and tiny Ebbets Field, where Robinson went out to play first base for dem Bums. On that epic day in 1947 in front of 26,623, Robinson reached base on a throwing error, scored a run, the Dodgers defeated the Boston Braves, and the grand old game was never the same.In 1997, under the direction of Commissioner Bud Selig, Robinson’s No. 42 was retired across all of Major League Baseball in an unprecedented tribute."
Braves, Royals to honor Robinson on Tuesday
"While Major League Baseball will begin celebrating Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, the Royals and Braves will do so Tuesday. Both clubs’ players and on-field staff will wear Robinson’s No. 42 to honor Robinson’s life and contributions to the game. In 1997, under the direction of Commissioner Bud Selig, Robinson’s No. 42 was retired across all of Major League Baseball in an unprecedented tribute.Nobody has been swinging a hotter bat for the Braves than outfielder Justin Upton, who hit his seventh homer of the year Sunday. But an even more encouraging sign for Atlanta was seeing his brother, center fielder B.J. Upton, break out of his early-season slump with a three-hit game."