Braves Vs Frisco

Here's the skinny on Atlanta Braves baseball...

America's favorite tomahawkers are 72-51 after 123 games. That ain't a bad mark, unless the seemingly flawless Phillies reside within your division. In this case, they do. And that might be a problem. With a 7.5 game lead, Philadelphia has just about locked the division down, en route to claiming another NL East pennant.

Now for the good news... Atlanta created a little breathing room in the race for the NL Wild Card, by taking the first 2 games in a 4 game series vs San Francisco. With a 6 game lead over the champs, tonight's contest could be pivotal for either side. If the Braves can squeak out another victory, the lead expands to 7. If not, it shrinks back to 5 with 39 regular season games remaining.

The first pitch is slated for 7:10, as Jair Jurrjens returns to Atlanta's rotation after spending 15 days on the disabled list with a strained right knee. Dude is 12-4 with an ERA of 2.63 in 2011. Meanwhile, Matt Cain will take the mound for the World Series Champion, San Francisco Giants. Cain has posted a 9-9 record with an ERA of 3.00.

Braves vs Champs

Looking to sweep last season's World Series Champs, the Atlanta Braves are up to bat in the 8th inning. A leadoff HR by former Fish 2B, Dan Uggla, tied the score at 6. Here's the rest of the skinny...

Rookie Brave, Brandon Beachy, allowed 2 runs on 3 hits through six innings. The young fella also fanned seven Frisco batsmen. With the score 2-2, Jason Heyward connected on 3 run homer, and Atlanta took a short lived 5-2 lead in the 7th.

Then came the bottom of the inning and Jairo Asencio took the mound for Atlanta. And, that was not a good thing for the Braves. It was downright ugly, as the baseball Giants scored 4 times on 4 hits and a walk with the bases loaded.

Update: Cody Ross batting for Frisco in bottom of 9th. Score remains tied at 6.

I'll post more updates in the comments section, unless I'm too busy watching the Hawks vs Dwight Howards. Game 4 tips off without Zaza Pachulia and Jason Richardson, soon. Good guys lead the series 2 games to one.

Braves At Giants

After a lengthy rain delay, Bobby Cox has chosen to field a lineup featuring bench players in San Francisco. Playing 3B for the Braves tonight, is Eric "I'm a pinch hitter" Henske. Joining him in the infield is fellow scrub, Omar "not Menaya" Infante at 2B. In left field, Matt "platoon player" Diaz gets the start. Former yank, Melky Cabrera is in center field for the Braves. Atlanta leads 2-0, via a 2 run homer by All Star catcher Brian McCann in the first inning. Kenshin "Sammy" Kawakami is on the mound for the Braves. So far, he's off to a good start. Tim Lincecum is pitching for San Francisco. Atlanta is up to bat in the top of the 3rd. Martin Prado is on second, as Henske comes up to bat. Brian McCann is on deck.

Free Baseball in Frisco

San Francisco shortstop, Edgar Renteria just said, "Hey ya'll, remember me?" The former Atlanta Brave tied today's contest in the bottom of the ninth with a 2 run bomb off Braves closer billy wagner. Atlanta was looking for it's first win in front of McCovey's Cove since the 2008 season. But, Renteria had other plans. The game is going into the 11th inning. The former met, "Wild Bill" wagner, just wasted a brilliant outing by Tim Hudson. Hopefully, the Braves can push a few more runs across the scoreboard and emerge victorious in Frisco.

The Braves have 2 outs with Melky Cabrera on 2nd and Martin Prado on 1B. Yunel Escobar is at the plate for Atlanta. I'll update the comments section, when something happens.

Update: Braves failed to score in 12th. Giants are due up. Rookie right fielder, Jason Heyward is 0-5 on the day. But, we gotta keep in mind...he's a rookie. Sandoval just led off the inning with a double off Kris Medlin. PH Andres Torres up to bat for San Francisco. Sacrifice bunt puts the winning run at 3rd.

Braves At Giants

The Atlanta Braves are out west, to take on the Giants in San Francisco. Chipper Jones is out of the line up, as he is listed as "day to day" with a tweak to his right oblique. Tim Hudson will take the mound for Atlanta. He posted a 2-1 record with an ERA of 3.61 in limited action last season. He will be opposed by Johnathan Sanchez, who went 8-12 with a 4.24 ERA in 2009. Yunel Escobar will bat in the 3 hole, vacated by the injured Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. First pitch is just minutes away. Go Braves!