SB Nation Atlanta - Braves Come Back To Win Astros Serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2010-08-12T08:03:34-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13782662010-08-12T08:03:34-04:002010-08-12T08:03:34-04:00Braves Comeback Win Seals Astros Series
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<p><a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/8/11/1618311/braves-come-back-to-win-in-extras">From Talking Chop</a>:</p>
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<p>Now the Braves are back to winning series. It may seem like every game the last two weeks has been a struggle, but the Braves have won the last three series and are 7-and-3 during that span. It sure seemed like today’s game against the Astros was a struggle, but the Braves pulled out the win in the end.</p>
<p>Tommy Hanson was on auto-pilot this afternoon. He worked some deep counts, but he used his defense and held the Astros to just two hits through seven innings. He even helped himself with a bouncing single over the third baseman’s head to score the go-ahead run in the fifth.</p>
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https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/8/12/1619156/braves-come-back-to-win-astrosJason Kirk2010-08-10T19:48:18-04:002010-08-10T19:48:18-04:00One-Paragraph Recap: Game 1, Astros Beat Bumbling Braves 10-4
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<p>Mike Minor pitched decently in his debut, striking out five and walking only one in six innings. He gave up a few bloop hits but also got lucky when some hard-hit balls turned into outs. Overall, he allowed three earned runs. Jason Heyward and Brian McCann homered early to in an up-and-down game, but the Braves’ defense was absolutely brutal, making several key mistakes that led to multiple runs. In particular, the Astros scored six runs in the seventh inning off of Kyle Farnsworth and Peter Moylan thanks to bad pitching, poor fundamentals, and abysmal defense. That inning turned a 4-4 game into a 10-4 blowout.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/8/10/1616520/recap-Braves-Astros-august-10Jacob Peterson2010-08-09T17:38:38-04:002010-08-09T17:38:38-04:00Braves New Rookie Pitcher Mike Minor Set To Take On Astros
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<p>The Braves unveiled Jair Jurrjens in 2008, they unleashed Tommy Hanson in 2009, and on Monday they will reveal stud rookie pitcher version 2010, left-hander Mike Minor. The talented rookie pitcher was only drafted last year, and has barely spent a full year in professional baseball. He takes the rotation spot of the injured Kris Medlen until Kenshin Kawakami is ready to rejoin the rotation.</p>
<p>Here is what <a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/8/9/1614190/braves-at-astros-series-preview">Talking Chop</a> has to say about the pitching matchups for the series:</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><b>Monday, 8:05 EST: </b>Mike Minor (3.44 ERA, 10.9 K/9, 3.17 K/BB in MiLB) vs. Bud Norris (4-7, 5.65 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 2.28 K/BB)<br>Minor has been great this season in the minors and looks to transition that success into the majors. <a href="http://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/8/7/1610927/what-to-expect-from-mike-minor-2010-braves">Jacob </a>wrote a very good article on what to expect from Minor this season, and he really couldn't get introduced into the majors in a better way. The Astros have a putrid offense, so I expect Minor to pitch relatively well tonight. Norris actually hasn't been too bad this year, despite the high ERA. He strikes out more than a batter per inning but he also walks over four batters per nine. If the Braves stay patient like they usually do, they should be able to get enough base runners on to score some runs on Bud.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><b>Tuesday, 8:05 EST:</b> Jair Jurrjens (4-4, 4.48 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 1.92 K/BB) vs. J.A. Happ (2-1, 4.03 ERA, 5.39 FIP, 0.84 K/BB)<br>The Braves face a familiar foe in J.A. Happ on Tuesday night. Happ was moved to Houston in the Roy Oswalt deal. He has had a good start and a bad start since then, throwing six scoreless innings in his first start followed by a one inning, seven runs allowed performance in his latest outing. He has had some success in his career against the Braves, posting a 2.23 ERA in five starts, but he also has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of just 18-12 against them. Jair battled through his last start, allowing just two runs over six innings despite starting off poorly. This is probably the most evenly matched game of the series.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><b>Wednesday, 2:05 EST:</b> Tommy Hanson (8-8, 3.69 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 3.25 K/BB) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (9-11, 4.34 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 2.32 K/BB)<br>The curse of Kenshin Kawakami has now hit Tommy Hanson, but I don't see that trend continuing in his next start, even though the Braves are opposing a decent lefty. Hanson's season has been absolutely phenomenal but the Braves haven't been able to score for him lately or play defense. I expect him to dominate the Astro's lineup though, hopefully leading to a victory for him and the team. Rodriguez is a pretty solid, veteran left-handed starter, and that is a combination that usually gives the Braves a bit of trouble (see Moyer, Jamie).</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/2010/8/9/1614190/braves-at-astros-series-preview">Head over to Talking Chop</a> for more of the Braves-Astros series preview.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/8/9/2319091/braves-new-rookie-pitcher-mike-minor-set-to-take-on-astrosgondeee