DEL.ICIO.USDouble dooms Braves in 14th
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, September 07, 2008
They could blame an unlucky bounce for an extra-innings loss Saturday, but the Braves had only themselves to blame for another Sunday.
Blaine Boyer blew a two-run lead in the seventh inning and the Braves wasted numerous scoring opportunities before Elijah Dukes hit a three-run double in the 14th inning to lift the Nationals to a 7-4 win at Turner Field.
AP
Nationals’ Luke Montz beats the tag of Braves’ catcher Corky Miller to score in eighth.
“Same old story,” said Chipper Jones, who had three hits including a two-run double in the second inning. “We can’t get outs in the seventh and eighth innings to get the ball to Gonzo [closer Mike Gonzalez].
“Yeah, we had scoring opportunities offensively. But you’d just like to see games you have firmly in your grasp … won. We haven’t been able to bridge the gap between the starters and the closer.”
It was the 20th loss in 27 games for the Braves, who are 2-10 in extra-innings games.
“We got a lot of chances, but couldn’t get the hit,” said manager Bobby Cox, whose Braves split the four-game series to finish 6-12 this season against the last-place Nationals.
Jeff Bennett (2-6) faced five batters in the 14th inning and retired only one, but the finger of blame seemed pointed at Boyer’s slip in the eighth inning.
Boyer gave up two runs, two hits and a costly walk. He has an 11.49 ERA in past 20 appearnces, with 20 runs and 22 hits surrendered in 15-2/3 innings.
He walked September callup Luke Montz with two outs and a runner on, then No. 8 hitter Alberto Gonzalez hit a two-run double to erase Atlanta’s 4-2 lead.
“We walk a guy that never had a base hit in his career,” Cox said, referring to Montz, who’s 0-for-9 with one walk — the walk by Boyer. “And we walk him.”
Boyer has an 8.77 ERA and .301 opponents’ average in 31 appearances since July 1, after posting 3.63 ERA and .228 mark in 43 before then.
“I’ve got no business walking that guy,” Boyer said. “You’re thinking about it, it’s 14 innings and we’re having to use all these pitchers because I didn’t do my job.”
The Braves frittered away scoring chances, none more conspicuous than the 11th inning, when pinch-hitter Brian McCann decided to bunt with two runners on.
He wound up striking out swinging, after fouling back a first-pitch bunt.
“I probably shouldn’t have done that,” said McCann, who leads the Braves with 23 homers and 79 RBIs, and hasn’t had a sacrifice bunt since July 2007. He most definitely wasn’t sent to pinch-hit with the expectation he’d bunt.
McCann explained: “[Cox] didn’t put the bunt on. I got up there and I was looking out at the pitcher, and the [late-afternoon] shadows were horrible. That guy [Rivera] is good; he’s got a ton of movement.
“I have a tough time facing that guy, and with the shadows and all, I was just trying to get those guys over.”
McCann was 3-for-6 against the right-hander. Josh Anderson had hit a leadoff single and Casey Kotchman drew a pinch-hit walk against him to start the inning.
Cox sent up McCann to finish the deal. McCann soon realized his mistake.
“He could have used a pitcher to go do that [bunt],” McCann said.
Gregor Blanco struck out and Martin Prado grounded out to end the inning.
The Braves had another opportunity in the 12th, after Jones’ leadoff single.
But Kelly Johnson, the Braves’ hottest hitter lately, tried to bunt (he, too, fouled one back) before grounding into a fielder’s choice. Yunel Escobar struck out and Jeff Francoeur hit an inning-ending groundout.
The night before, Johnson hit a two-out, bases-loaded drive to the gap in the ninth that could’ve won the game — if the ball hadn’t bounced off the warning track and over the fence for a ground-rule double. The last runner to cross the plate was sent back to third, and the Braves lost 8-5 in 10 innings.
Sunday was another frustrating day for Francoeur, who went 1-for-7, grounded into two double plays, popped out with bases loaded in the first inning — he’s 4-for-28 with bases loaded — and grounded out with two on to end the game.
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