GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (28-22) at MILWAUKEE (28-22)

NL: ATLANTA at MILWAUKEE

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ATLANTA (2) AT MILWAUKEE (1) - EVENT LOG
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Atlanta Starting Lineups -- K Johnson 2B, M Diaz LF, E Renteria SS, A Jones CF,
J Francoeur RF, B McCann C, C Woodward 3B, S Thorman 1B, C James LHP.

Milwaukee Starting Lineups -- R Weeks 2B, J Hardy SS, R Braun 3B, P Fielder 1B,
J Estrada C, B Hall CF, K Mench LF, C Hart RF, C Capuano LHP.

Umpires -- Larry Poncino (HP), Bruce Froemming (1B), Bruce Dreckman (2B),
Jerry Meals (3B).

Gametime Weather: 69 degrees, Sunny, wind in from center at 12 mph.


ATLANTA 1ST: K Johnson walked. M Diaz sacrificed to pitcher, K Johnson to
second. E Renteria struck out swinging. A Jones flied out to right. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 1ST: R Weeks struck out swinging. J Hardy walked. R Braun
struck out swinging. P Fielder popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 0, MILWAUKEE 0.

ATLANTA 2ND: J Francoeur struck out swinging. B McCann grounded out to
first. C Woodward struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0,
MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 2ND: J Estrada singled to right. B Hall struck out swinging.
K Mench singled to center, J Estrada to second. C Hart lined out to right.
C Capuano singled to shallow left, J Estrada to third, K Mench to second.
R Weeks struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0,
MILWAUKEE 0.

ATLANTA 3RD: S Thorman grounded out to second. C James struck out
swinging. K Johnson grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 0, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 3RD: J Hardy fouled out to catcher. R Braun flied out to right.
P Fielder grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 0,
MILWAUKEE 0.

ATLANTA 4TH: M Diaz grounded out to shortstop. E Renteria popped out to
second. A Jones homered to right. J Francoeur flied out to right. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 1, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 4TH: J Estrada struck out swinging. B Hall struck out
swinging. K Mench struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ATLANTA 1, MILWAUKEE 0.

ATLANTA 5TH: B McCann fouled out to third. C Woodward reached on infield
single to third. S Thorman struck out swinging. C James singled to left,
C Woodward to second. K Johnson singled to right, C Woodward scored, C James
thrown out at third. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 5TH: C Hart reached on infield single to shortstop. C Capuano
sacrificed to pitcher, C Hart to second. R Weeks walked. J Hardy grounded out
to second, C Hart to third, R Weeks to second. R Braun struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 0.

ATLANTA 6TH: M Diaz singled to left. E Renteria grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, M Diaz out at second. A Jones safe at first on
throwing error by shortstop J Hardy. J Francoeur grounded into fielder's
choice to third, A Jones out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) ATLANTA 2,
MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 6TH: P Fielder homered to right. J Estrada popped out to
shortstop. B Hall grounded out to third. K Mench flied out to center.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1.

ATLANTA 7TH: B McCann singled to right. C Woodward walked, B McCann to
second. S Thorman singled to center, B McCann to third, C Woodward to second.
M Prado hit for C James. M Prado struck out swinging. K Johnson popped out to
shortstop. M Diaz flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2,
MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 7TH: T Yates relieved C James. C Hart reached on infield single
to shortstop. G Jenkins hit for C Capuano. G Jenkins walked, C Hart to second.
R Weeks sacrificed to catcher, C Hart to third, G Jenkins to second. J Hardy
lined out to first. R Soriano relieved T Yates. R Braun struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1.

ATLANTA 8TH: D Turnbow relieved C Capuano. E Renteria grounded out to
shortstop. A Jones grounded out to pitcher. J Francoeur fouled out to
catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: P Fielder flied out to center. J Estrada flied out to
center. B Hall struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2,
MILWAUKEE 1.

ATLANTA 9TH: F Cordero relieved D Turnbow. T Gwynn Jr in center field.
B McCann flied out to center. C Woodward grounded out to third. S Thorman
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 9TH: B Wickman relieved R Soriano. K Mench popped out to second.
C Hart flied out to left. T Gwynn Jr grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1.</div>

 

James shines as Braves extend Brewers' skid

<h3>ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1</h3>MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Chuck James spoiled the home debut ofRyan Braun.

James worked six impressive innings and Andruw Jones homered asthe Atlanta Braves posted a 2-1 victory over the strugglingMilwaukee Brewers on Monday.

The game marked the Miller Park debut of the 23-year Braun, ahighly touted third base prospect who was recalled from theminors Friday. The youngster went 4-for-11 with a homer andthree RBI in three games over the weekend at San Diego.

But Braun had a hard time putting the bat on the ball, going0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Two of the strikeouts cameagainst James with the other coming against the hard-throwingRafael Soriano.

James (5-4) won for the first time in his last three startsafter allowing one run and five hits. The lefthander walkedtwo, struck out eight and departed after throwing 66 of 93pitches for strikes.

Tyler Yates and Soriano bridged the gap to closer Bob Wickman,who worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Thanks to his club's offense failing to come up with the bighit, Brewers starter Chris Capuano (5-4) endured his fourthstraight loss. The lefthander went seven innings, allowing tworuns and seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

In losing their season-high sixth straight game, the Brewersstranded six baserunners in scoring position and eight overall.

Trailing 2-1, the Brewers had runners on second and third withone out in the bottom of the seventh. But J.J. Hardy lined outto first before Soriano came on to strike out Braun to end thethreat.

In the top of the seventh, the Braves squandered a chance tobreak open the game when they failed to score after loading thebases with none out.

Jones, who has struggled this season, hit his eighth homer ofthe campaign with two out in the fourth to open the scoring.

The Braves added to the lead in the fifth on Kelly Johnson'stwo-out, run-scoring single. His base hit came a batter afterJames had single to keep alive the inning.

James' lone miscue came to start the bottom of the sixth whenPrince Fielder crushed a shot over the right-center field wallfor his National League-leading 16th homer.

 

James shines as Braves extend Brewers' skid

<h3>ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1</h3>MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Chuck James spoiled the home debut ofRyan Braun.

James worked six impressive innings and Andruw Jones homered asthe Atlanta Braves posted a 2-1 victory over the strugglingMilwaukee Brewers on Monday.

The game marked the Miller Park debut of the 23-year-old Braun,a highly touted third base prospect who was recalled from theminors Friday. The youngster went 4-for-11 with a homer andthree RBI in three games over the weekend at San Diego.

But Braun had a hard time putting the bat on the ball, going0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Two of the strikeouts cameagainst James, with the other coming against the hard-throwingRafael Soriano.

James (5-4) won for the first time in his last three startsafter allowing one run and five hits. The lefthander walkedtwo, struck out eight and departed after throwing 66 of 93pitches for strikes.

Tyler Yates and Soriano bridged the gap to closer Bob Wickman,who worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Thanks to his club's offense failing to come up with the bighit, Brewers starter Chris Capuano (5-4) endured his fourthstraight loss. The lefthander went seven innings, allowing tworuns and seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

In losing their season-high sixth straight game, the Brewersstranded six baserunners in scoring position and eight overall.

Trailing 2-1, the Brewers had runners on second and third withone out in the bottom of the seventh. But J.J. Hardy lined outto first before Soriano came on to strike out Braun to end thethreat.

In the top of the seventh, the Braves squandered a chance tobreak open the game when they failed to score after loading thebases with none out.

Jones, who has struggled this season, hit his eighth homer ofthe campaign with two out in the fourth to open the scoring.

The Braves added to the lead in the fifth on Kelly Johnson'stwo-out, run-scoring single. His base hit came a batter afterJames had single to keep alive the inning.

An emerging player at second base, Johnson has hit safely in sixof his last nine games.

James' lone miscue came to start the bottom of the sixth whenPrince Fielder crushed a shot over the right-center field wallfor his National League-leading 16th homer.

Corey Hart added two hits for the Brewers, who have lost 12 oftheir last 16 games. Despite their National League-best 17-7home mark, Milwaukee could not rebound in its home park.

 

James shines as Braves extend Brewers' skid

<h3>ATLANTA 2, MILWAUKEE 1</h3>MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Chuck James spoiled the home debut ofRyan Braun.

James worked six impressive innings and Andruw Jones homered asthe Atlanta Braves posted a 2-1 victory over the strugglingMilwaukee Brewers on Monday.

The game marked the Miller Park debut of the 23-year-old Braun,a highly touted third base prospect who was recalled from theminors Friday. The youngster went 4-for-11 with a homer andthree RBI in three games over the weekend at San Diego.

But Braun had a hard time putting the bat on the ball, going0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Two of the strikeouts cameagainst James, with the other coming against the hard-throwingRafael Soriano.

"Obviously I had some opportunities and didn't come throughtoday. But it was a lot of fun playing my first thome game hereand I'm looking forward to contributing to a lot of wins in thefuture," Braun said. "I think I was definitely trying too hardtoday and came out of my approach a little bit and swung at somepitches I shouldn't have swung at. My strength this year hasbeen my plate discipline and I think I was trying a little bittoo hard today."

James (5-4) won for the first time in his last three startsafter allowing one run and five hits. The lefthander walkedtwo, struck out eight and departed after throwing 66 of 93pitches for strikes.

"It's definitely huge for me." James said. "I've been strugglinga little bit with mechanics. This was the first day I felt likeI could just throw the ball and I knew I could throw strikes. Iwas just trying to make the best pitches I could.

"I was throwing across my body real bad and we tried tostraighten that out my last side session. I went out there todayand tried to be more fundamentally sound and it worked out. Ithink I got a lot more deception when I'm more in line with homeplate."

Tyler Yates and Soriano bridged the gap to closer Bob Wickman,who worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Thanks to his club's offense failing to come up with the bighit, Brewers starter Chris Capuano (5-4) endured his fourthstraight loss. The lefthander went seven innings, allowing tworuns and seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

"For the most part he was on the attack, making pitches that hewanted to make, and he got us through a big seventh inning andkept the score 2-1," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said of Capuano.

In losing their season-high sixth straight game, the Brewersstranded six baserunners in scoring position and eight overall.

Trailing 2-1, the Brewers had runners on second and third withone out in the bottom of the seventh. But J.J. Hardy lined outto first before Soriano came on to strike out Braun to end thethreat.

In the top of the seventh, the Braves squandered a chance tobreak open the game when they failed to score after loading thebases with none out.

Jones, who has struggled this season, hit his eighth homer ofthe campaign with two out in the fourth to open the scoring.

"Last homestand, I really worked on my balance," Jones said."It's only a couple days, and I'm still working on my balanceand everything will be fine. You just wait for guys to makemistakes like they did today and take advantage of them."

The Braves added to the lead in the fifth on Kelly Johnson'stwo-out, run-scoring single. His base hit came a batter afterJames had single to keep alive the inning.

An emerging player at second base, Johnson has hit safely in sixof his last nine games.

James' lone miscue came to start the bottom of the sixth whenPrince Fielder crushed a shot over the right-center field wallfor his National League-leading 16th homer.

Corey Hart added two hits for the Brewers, who have lost 12 oftheir last 16 games. Despite their National League-best 17-7home mark, Milwaukee could not rebound in its home park.

"Obviously every team goes through slumps from time to time andI guess it's our time," Milwaukee center fielder Bill Hall said."What you've got to do is just keep playing hard and keepswinging the bats. I think everybody's still full of confidence.We're still in first place. There's no reason in panicking."