Braves get RP Chris Martin from
ColdplayRangers. Gave up SP Kolby Allard, former #14 overall pick. Hope Martin can
singpitch well in relief to help out our porous bullpen. Even Swarzak finally gave up a 3-run homer tonight.
Don't really count tonight's win as much, as it was basically against a AA pitcher for Nats. Dallas Keuchel has been worse than advertised so far, not really helping our rotation that much, which kind of shows you a) how bad the Braves rotation has really been so far this season and b) how much the improved hitting has helped overcome that more often than not.
Braves finally hitting their mid-season bad spell at an inopportune time. Yeah, we got the one win against the Nats to hold off the dam breaking, but with Markakis out, (And Swanson hurt) we really miss that help to our lineup.
Wonder if we'll get anyone else before the deadline. Hate to give much up for this season where Dodgers basically have a cakewalk to the World Series, and the AL boasts several strong teams and HF advantage (again) so it seems like, hard as it may be, Braves might be better off going with more or less what they've got rather than mortgage their farm when their window has barely opened. Luke Jackson will just have to be good enough for us this year it looks like. ( he walks the leadoff batter again in the 9th- sheeesh.) Minter has been confused, Wilson was brought up too early, and the rest of the kids are not quite ready to pitch up here. Don't want them to trade Pache or Anderson. And Soroka and Fried really will have innings pitched issues coming up in next month. Don't know that they should blow it up yet, just steady the course and hope for the best.
Tomorrow night's game is big, but we'll have to bite our nails next few weeks and see what's what.
Edit: Hey, maybe tonight's game is big. Turned 9-1 and 11-2 leads into 11-5 and now 11-7. The Braves bullpen is the Gift that keeps on giving (to other teams.) This is terrible.
Edit2: Kendrick doubles to center, Jackson's on fire!
Edit3:
"Anatomy of a bullpen meltdown" now 11-8 as Wash scores yet again. Still only 1 out in 9th. Nats have run #10 at bat, with tying run on deck.
Edit4: Gomes mercifully helps us out. 11-8 final. Bullpen ERAs took a hit (again).
Braves hang on with their fingernails to win. Won't have any left to bite this coming month. We got the one game we needed, but that was uuugly.
Soroka vs Sanchez tomorrow in an afternoon game. Sanchez beat him 5-3 on July 20 to snap his streak of 9 straight wins. Soroka may be hitting his wall. I guess we'll see; and if any help is on the way.