Braves smash Mets 9-2. Minor moves to 3-0.

The Braves gave Minor a lead, he let the Mets take it back, then the Braves explode for 7 runs.

That is really the story of the game. Minor pitched 5 innings, his shortest start since being called up to the big leagues. Derek Lee gave him and the Braves a 1-0 lead in the 4th inning. Minor pitched himself into trouble in the 5th inning and gave the Mets 2 runs on two sac flies. That was all the Mets could muster against the lefty.

Minor gave up 7 hits, 2 runs and walked 3. He gave up career highs in hits and walks.  He struck out 4 on his way to throwing 104 pitches.

The Braves got him the win as they scored 7 times in the bottom of the 5th. Nate McClouth, recalled from AAA today, got things rolling as he was hit to lead off the inning. Infante reached on an error. Jason Heyward continued his hot hitting with a 2 rbi double.

After a Prado single and Lee walk, Alex Gonzalez drove in a run with a single. But, David Ross had the big blow hitting a grand slam to push the lead to 8-2.

The Braves bullpen closed out the game with 4 hitless and scoreless innings. They have pitched 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings over the past 3 games.

Freddie Freeman is headed to the Braves.

The Atlanta Braves announced that they will call up five players from Gwinnett, their AAA affiliate, for their September roster.

Freddie Freeman is the most anticipated of the group. He is Jason Heyward’s current room mate and best friend. He has been destroying AAA pitching for the past 3 months or so. For the year, he is hitting .319 with 35 doubles, 18 home runs, 87 RBIs. If you check out the International League stats page at http:

//web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=117&sid=t431

Freeman is at or near the top in almost every offensive category for this past season. If it was not for his team mate, Barbaro Canizares, he would win the International League batting title.

Others who are headed to Atlanta are relievers Mike Dunn and Scott Proctor, catcher J.C. Boscan and Kenshin Kawakami. Kawakami was recalled yesterday, but was optioned to Danville today in a tactical move. He will rejoin the team tomorrow.

Also headed to Atlanta is Nate McClouth and Troy Glaus. McClouth may be available to play as early as tonight. Glaus will be activated from the DL on Thursday.

One other move that is expected will come after the AAA season ends and the Braves will recall Craig Kimbrel. He was sent down in order to bring back Minor so he could make his scheduled start tonight vs the Mets. The season ends for Gwinnett on September 7.

Derek Lowe has been pitching through pain for 6 weeks.

Derek Lowe admitted that he has been pitching with a sore elbow for 6 weeks today. He received a cortisone shot after the game on Sunday. He has been assured that there is no ligament damage in his elbow and will not require surgery. He is supposed to throw a side session tomorrow and he is scheduled to start on Friday vs. the Marlins, the team which he gave up 6 runs in 3 innings this past Sunday.

His plan is to pitch through the pain for the Braves.

I admire Lowe’s tenacity and iron-clad personality. He is a gamer and a true competitor.

But, the Braves are in a freaking pennant race!  It is not the time for him to be macho and try to play through an injury. If he is hurting, he needs to take a start off.  If he is the “big-game pitcher” that everyone says he is, then his job comes when he is healthy and the Braves play the Phillies.

The way he has pitched recently does not need to be repeated when the Braves are trying to distance themselves from the Philadelphia Phillies. Maybe Bobby Cox and Frank Wren will intervene like they have done with Kawakami, Troy Glaus and Nate McClouth.

Braves need Heyward and McCann’s offensive production

There are two guys in the Braves batting order that need to produce: Jason Heyward and Brian McCann. With Chipper Jones going down to injury, the weight of the offense has fallen on these two hitters.

Jason Heyward has the luxury of hitting between Omar Infante and Martin Prado right now. Both of these hitters are hitting and on base machines. Since Martin Prado’s return to the Atlanta Braves’ lineup in the #3 spot behind Heyward: Heyward has hit .431 with a .525 OBP and .725 slugging percentage, with 4 home runs, 10 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

Over the last 9 games, Heyward has been even better: he has hit .528 with a .605 OBP and .944 slugging %.

McCann has an equally important role. He has to get hits to drive in the 3 guys who are getting on base in front of him. If he, nor Derek Lee, does not drive in runs, then all the hits are pointless at the top of your batting order.

Over the last 7 games, B-Mac has been getting it done to the tune of a .542 average and a .625 OBP and .875 slugging percentage. He has 2 home runs and 5 RBIs during those 7 games.

The Braves need these two guys to hit in order to be productive. Infante and Prado have been on base and racking up hits all year. That isn’t going to stop. But, they need guys to drive them in when they are on base and that is where Heyward and McCann come in to play.

Kawakami back in the Braves bullpen: Lowe hurt?

The Braves recalled Kenshin Kawakami today and optioned Cristhian Martinez back to Gwinnett. Kawakami was expected to rejoin the bullpen on September 1, but may have been called up as a precaution against the possibility that Derek Lowe may need to skip a start.

Lowe did not look good on Sunday. He was tagged for 6 runs against the Marlins and only lasted 3 innings. Martinez pitched great for the Braves, shutting down the Marlins and giving the Braves a chance to come back in the end.

Lowe has said he isn’t sure if he is hurt. He is scheduled to throw a side session tomorrow. More will be known after that session.

Martinez is expected to be back on September 7th when the AAA season ends.

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