ANAHEIM-- When Nate McLouth injured his left oblique on the fourth pitch of the game Sunday, it was as if baseball gods sent a message to the Braves: The tough times aren't over.
After racking up 17 hits to win in 12 innings Saturday night, the Braves came back with a clunker in the series finale against the Angels, a 4-1 loss that dropped their record to 1-4 on a seven-game trip that continues Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
The injury-riddled Braves, who’ve scored one or no runs in three of their past four games, have an off day Monday. Mercifully.
“We were 12-4 [in May] before we started this road trip, playing pretty darn good,” said catcher David Ross, who was stranded at third base in the third inning when Dan Uggla grounded out with bases loaded. “We’re just going through a little rough stretch lately.
“I think a lot of people are looking forward to that off day and getting back on track. Sometimes off days, they stink when you’re playing good. But we’re not playing good.”
Braves starter Derek Lowe (3-4) labored through six innings, allowing three runs, five hits and five walks in six innings.
“I think tomorrow will be a good day to regroup and try to win two in Pittsburgh,” Lowe said, “and salvage what has been a pretty [bad] start so far on this trip.”
They aren’t scoring runs, and now they are dealing with quickly mounting injuries. Right fielder Jason Heyward (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list after Sunday’s game, and McLouth will join him there if his strained oblique doesn’t improve quickly.
“I think the teams that can survive those injury bugs – we’re going through it now a little bit – are going to be there at the end,” said manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose Braves remain 3 1/2 games behind National League East leader Philadelphia and two behind second-place Florida. “I think this [Braves] team, mentally, the way they grind, is going to survive that.”
The damaging blow against Lowe was Torii Hunter’s two-run homer in the fourth inning, after Joe Mather’s two-out RBI single in the second gave the Braves an early lead.
Hunter homered after a leadoff walk by Bobby Abreu. The Angels left runners in scoring position in three innings against Lowe, but got more than enough big hits to beat the scuffling Braves.
“I had non-competitive stuff, so I was happy I was able to make it as far as I did,” Lowe said. “Just one of those days where your body didn’t feel too good. I was throwing 85 miles an hour trying to get these guys out."
The Braves have scored 11 runs in five games on the trip, and nine runs came in two games. In the other three games against the Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks, they totaled two runs and 15 hits.
They’ve scored three runs or fewer in nine of their past 17 games.
Mather’s four hits and four RBIs powered Saturday’s win, and his single Sunday drove in Freddie Freeman after the rookie’s two-out double. But that was about the extent of the hitting highlights for the Braves.
Uggla’s slump deepened and the veteran second baseman showed his frustration by tossing equipment after a couple of at-bats.
The Braves loaded the bases in the third inning against Angels rookie Tyler Chatwood (3-2) on a Ross leadoff single, a Martin Prado single and Eric Hinske’s two-out walk. Uggla popped out foul to first and stood near the plate as if in disbelief.
He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to drop his average to .185, including .130 (6-for-46) with runners in scoring position. Afterward, he sat at his locker for a half-hour, alone, wearing sweat-soaked undergarments.
“Just one of them days, man,” Uggla said. “I went through a stretch where I was swinging the bat real good, and nothing came out of it. And I’ve been put in some positions – bases loaded early today – and didn’t get the job done.'
“I’m a huge team guy. I love these guys, and take a lot of pride in picking up my teammates, like I’ve done my whole career. I haven’t done that so far this year. It’s frustrating.”
His defense has exceeded expectations, but his slump at the plate has been alarming. He is 3-for-31 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
“My biggest thing is, I want to help this team win,” he said. “I want to get some runs for the pitchers. You can only take the playing-good-defense thing so far, before you’ve got to get some hits and score some runs and drive in some runs. It’s a trying time right now.”
