Vazquez reaches strikeout milestone

By DAVID O'BRIEN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

His first strikeout Tuesday was the 200th of the season for Braves pitcher Javier Vazquez, his fifth career 200-strikeout season and third in a row.

The only other active pitchers with at least five 200-strikeout seasons are Randy Johnson (13), Pedro Martinez (nine), and John Smoltz and Johan Santana (five apiece).

Prado frustrated, but determined

He was credited for being the sparkplug to the team’s midseason surge, and Martin Prado is frustrated after his recent headache problems and slump came at a crucial time for the Braves.

“We were so close [in the wild-card race],” he said. “Now there’s a long way to go. ... I believe in God, a lot. If this happened to me at some point, I’ve just got to accept it. Every single player in the sport has passed through [a slump] like this.

“I’m a human being. All I can do is try my best, try to keep going, finish strong, and don’t give up.”

He hit .340 with 18 extra-base hits (five homers) and 28 RBIs in 38 games from June 30 to Aug. 13, and the Braves went 24-14. Prado won the second-base job and thrived in his first extensive duties.

Then came his bout with headaches that he believed were stress-related, from worrying about his mother after she was forced to return to violence-torn Venezuela after her visa expired.

Prado missed a week being tested and resting as he got accustomed to prescription medication.

In his 18 games since Aug. 13 Prado has hit .264 with two extra-base hits (one homer) and five RBIs, and the Braves are 6-12 in those games. After striking out with two runners on to end the second inning Tuesday, he singled and was picked off first base for the third out in the fifth.