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Braves beat 5/11
Hanson continues to draw comparisons
MILWAUKEE — After delivering one of the best performances of his young career the night before, Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson received high praise from his manager before Tuesday’s game.
Hanson pitched eight scoreless innings while striking out eight in the Braves’ 8-2 victory over the Brewers on Monday night at Miller Park. It was the third time in Hanson’s career he’s pitched eight innings and the second of those three in which he did not allow a run.
Hanson utilized four pitches very effectively Monday night to neutralize the Brewers, including his curveball and slider. Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee, who went 1-for-3 against Hanson, was among those impressed by the young right-hander.
“He’s got command of his fastball and he’s got really good command of an above-average slider,” McGehee said after Monday’s game. “That makes for a pretty good combination.” When asked who he would compare Hanson to before Tuesday’s game, Braves manager Bobby Cox answered quickly, with little hesitation.
“Kind of a [John] Smoltz-type arm,” Cox said. “Smoltzy had the great breaking balls [and] Hanson’s got a great curve and slider, just like Smoltz. … You don’t see breaking balls like that very often.”
Smoltz, who pitched 21 years with the Braves, used three pitches — fastball, slider, split-finger — consistently while also mixing in an occasional curveball and changeup. While with the Braves, Smoltz won the NL Cy Young Award in 1996 and he was an eight-time All-Star.
When told of his manager’s comparison, Hanson was humbled and honored to hear it.
“That’s just a huge honor,” Hanson said. “They throw those names around and that’s just a little bit overwhelming for me. But it’s definitely a huge honor and something to feel good about.”
Chipper scratched with sore groin
MILWAUKEE — Just an hour before the scheduled start of Tuesday night’s game against the Brewers at Miller Park, third baseman Chipper Jones was scratched from the Braves’ lineup.
Originally slated to bat third in the order, Jones was set to follow right fielder Jason Heyward and ahead of catcher Brian McCann. Due to a sore groin, however, Jones was taken out of the lineup in favor of Brooks Conrad.
Jones sat out Sunday’s series finale in Philadelphia with the same injury and was pulled on Monday after legging out an infield single in the sixth inning of the Braves’ 8-2 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park.
“He started limping a little bit,” Cox said of Jones after Monday’s game. “The ball got by the catcher all the way and he couldn’t run. I don’t know if he can play [Tuesday] or not.” The move also shook up the Braves’ batting order, as center fielder Nate McClouth moved from eighth to first, and second baseman Martin Prado and Heyward each dropped a spot to second and third in the lineup, respectively.
Cox thrilled about honor for Glavine
MILWAUKEE — With the announcement that Tom Glavine’s No. 47 will be retired by the club, Braves manager Bobby Cox took a moment before Tuesday’s game to reflect on the left-hander’s 22-year career.
Glavine pitched the first 16 seasons for Atlanta with Cox at the helm. During that time, he won two National League Cy Young Awards, earned eight All-Star Game selections and was named MVP of the 1995 World Series.
One thing that Glavine didn’t get recognized for, though, was his durability. It didn’t go unnoticed by his manager, however.
“All those years he pitched, he never went on the disabled list until right at the very end. [He was a] great competitor,” Cox said. “He can pitch hurt. Sore shoulder, sore elbow, bad ankle, bad knee, bad ribs — you name it, he did it. It’s amazing.
Glavine pitched Game 2 and Game 6 in that 1995 World Series, earning the win each time. Game 6, which clinched the title for the Braves, was one of the best performances of Glavine’s career, helping him secure the MVP Award.
Over eight innings, Glavine did not allow a run and gave up just one hit in the Braves’ 1-0 victory.
Glavine would never be mistaken for one of the more overpowering pitchers in the game, but his consistency was key to his success and something that left an impression on Cox.
“He was like a machine most of the time,” Cox said. “Strike after strike — in, out — [he could] change speeds, [had a] great changeup, was a great fielder, great bunter, good hitter — you could always squeeze with him even with two strikes. He brought a lot to the ballpark.”
With all that in mind, Cox was happy to hear his longtime pitcher would have his number retired and be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame later this season.
“It’s going to be great,” Cox said. “He meant a lot to this organization.”
Cox understands move of Phillies-Jays
MILWAUKEE — Despite an apparent advantage over the rest of the division, Braves manager Bobby Cox wasn’t bothered by the decision to move the June 25-27 series between the Phillies and Blue Jays from Toronto to Philadelphia.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the G20 Summit on June 25-26, the two clubs, along with Major League Baseball, decided to move the series to the Phillies’ home ballpark. With the G20 scheduled at the Metro Convention Center, just feet away from Rogers Centre, massive security and congestion issues would have arisen on those dates.
The Blue Jays will be the home team in Philadelphia, which means they will bat last and both teams will utilize the designated hitter. But with the game played at their ballpark and tickets being sold first to Phillies season-ticket holders, it essentially amounts to an extra three home games for the Braves’ rivals.
Still, Cox was not upset by the move due to the nature of the decision.
“They have to do it, they had no choice,” Cox said. “You can’t complain about anything like that.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Braves recap 5/10
Prado’s career night helps Braves slam Crew
MILWAUKEE — As he watched his team take batting practice before Monday’s game, manager Bobby Cox couldn’t help but notice the way the ball jumped off the Braves’ bats at Miller Park. In the sixth inning, the Brewers noticed, too.
After struggling mightily of late offensively, the Braves broke out against the Brewers on Monday, riding a six-run sixth inning — which included two home runs — to an 8-2 victory at Miller Park.
With his team up, 1-0, entering the inning, first baseman Troy Glaus crushed a 2-2 fastball from Milwaukee lefty Doug Davis (1-4) deep to center field and out, snapping Atlanta’s homerless streak of 169 at-bats.
Seven batters and one pitching change later, second baseman Martin Prado drove an 0-1 fastball from left-handed reliever Manny Parra out to left for his first career grand slam, making it 7-0 in favor of the Braves.
“He had a huge night,” Cox said of Prado, who also drove in the Braves’ first run of the game and finished with a career-high five RBIs. “Prado’s ball would’ve been out anywhere. That’s for darn sure.”
Prado’s grand slam was the first of the season for the Braves and the first since catcher Brian McCann’s grand slam on July 25, 2008, off Brad Lidge in Philadelphia. The Braves had gone 253 games without a grand slam, which was the longest-active streak.
The Royals, at 136 games, now own the longest streak of games without a grand slam.
The Braves added a run in the ninth off reliever Claudio Vargas and their eight runs proved to be more than enough.
Right-hander Tommy Hanson (3-2) pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out eight. Hanson, whose eight innings matched a career high, kept the Brewers off-balance throughout the game, mixing up his pitches and locating well.
“It definitely feels good,” Hanson said. “I just want to go strike one, strike two as much as I can and go out there and be aggressive. It feels good to go deep into the game, and that’s what I want to do. So the couple times that I did do it, it feels good.”
Hanson was especially effective when pitching ahead of hitters, which he did against 17 of the 29 batters he faced.
Facing a Brewers lineup that led the Majors in runs scored entering the game, Hanson used four pitches — fastball, slider, curveball and changeup — to keep the home team off the board through eight innings.
Only four Brewers — Joe Inglett, Prince Fielder, Casey McGehee and Jim Edmonds — hit safely against Hanson, while none were better than 1-for-3 against him.
“I’m not exactly sure what his numbers were last year, but it’s not by accident,” said McGehee, referring to Hanson’s runner-up finish in the National League Rookie of the Year balloting in 2009. “He’s got command of his fastball and he’s got really good command of an above-average slider. That makes for a pretty good combination.”
Glaus, who also singled and walked on the night, has hit safely in six straight games for the Braves. Over his past 15 games, Glaus is batting .358 with two doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs and 11 walks.
With two homers at Miller Park, the Braves increased their road home run total by 25 percent, from eight to 10. More important than the statistics, though, is the positive energy the team got from such a lopsided victory.
After such a difficult stretch of games, losing 13 of their past 18 games, the Braves hope Monday night’s big win could be the start of a more positive streak.
“We’ve been pretty positive the last two weeks, [but] it’s been tough,” Prado said. “I think we’re going to turn it around and start a winning streak. This kind of game is what we need to start something good.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Braves beat 5/10
Powell visits old friend Uecker
MILWAUKEE — Before Braves broadcaster Jim Powell arrived at Miller Park on Monday, he visited an old friend, legendary Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker.
Powell, who worked with Uecker for 13 years in the Brewers’ radio booth, was encouraged by the health of his longtime friend, who had successful heart surgery just 10 days earlier. Uecker has been scheduled to return to the broadcast booth 10-12 weeks after his surgery on April 30.
“He looks really good, he sounds really good and he’s got the exact same sense of humor for which he’s well-known,” Powell said. “We had a great visit, and I feel like he’ll be back before people expect him to.”
After joining the Braves’ broadcast team before the 2009 season, Powell has kept in close touch with the 75-year-old Uecker over the phone, and surprisingly enough, through text messaging.
In fact, Powell was among the few people who knew the surgery was coming before the official announcement on April 27 at Miller Park.
“We’ve stayed in pretty good contact,” Powell said. “So I knew what was going on with him, and like everybody else, I was really worried about him.”
Uecker’s positive energy and humor, for which he is well known, had a profound effect on Powell when the two met Monday.
“We’ve been texting since the day after, but today was the first day that I’ve spoken to him since the surgery,” Powell said. “To see him today up and around on his feet, with good color and in great spirits, certainly picked up my spirits.”
Uecker’s humor and positive outlook were among the things noted by those closest to him when the surgery was announced, especially the comedic way with which Uecker opened the press conference on that day.
When asked about his best memories from their time together, Powell shared similar thoughts.
“When you work with Bob, you come to the ballpark to have a good time,” Powell said. “He has a healthy perspective about the game and about life. For a young broadcaster like me, I learned a lot of great lessons from him. I learned you’ve got to take the game seriously, but not too seriously and just have a good time and enjoy yourself on the broadcast.”
Jurrjens aggravates left hamstring
MILWAUKEE — Right-hander Jair Jurrjens suffered a setback on Monday that will likely keep him out beyond Saturday, when he becomes eligible to be activated from the disabled list.
While running in the outfield at Miller Park before Monday’s game, Jurrjens felt something pop in his lower left hamstring. According to Jurrjens, it was not the same part of the hamstring as the original strain that put him on the disabled list and kept him out of his last scheduled start against the Phillies.
“It wasn’t even 100 percent sprinting, I was just trying to get back to normal strides,” Jurrjens said. “Before it happened, I was feeling good and just starting to put a little bit extra in it.”
Braves manager Bobby Cox said Jurrjens would stay with the team in Milwaukee before having an MRI upon returning to Atlanta.
Cox did not say who he expected to start for the team Saturday against the D-backs.
Jurrjens is one of a handful of Braves sidelined recently after the team went relatively injury-free through Spring Training and the beginning of the season. Shortstop Yunel Escobar remains on the disabled list and is eligible to return on Saturday as well.
Third baseman Chipper Jones returned to the Braves’ lineup Monday night against the Brewers and right fielder Jason Heyward is expected back for Tuesday’s matchup.
With so many teammates dealing with various injuries, Jurrjens is trying to remain positive despite the setback with his strained hamstring.
“I’ve got to just try to [keep] a smile on my face … even if inside of me I’m not so happy,” Jurrjens said. “Everybody has their own issue on this team and the team is not doing well. For me not to be smiling, I don’t think it’s going to help with anything.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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