MVN - Most Valuable Network

Peavy Provides Padre Victory Over Braves

Jake Peavy looked like the 2007 version tonight, going seven strong innings to help shutout the Braves as the Padres opened the series with a 4-0 win.  Scott Hairston continued his red hot streak with a triple and a double and two runs scored.

The game also contained something so very rare for these Padres that it served as a reminder of tomorrow’s gathering of the 1998 team: a strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out double play.  Luke Carlin made up for a passed ball on strike three in the first inning by erasing Gregor Blanco after Kelly Johnson struck out swinging.  The pitch was down and slightly in, and Carlin had to reach across his body to snag it, then pop the throw in a hurry.  Khalil Greene snapped the throw up and applied the tag. Carlin is still struggling offensively, but he has the best arm behind the plate we’ve seen since Carlos Hernandez.

Peavy pitched seven innings of  shutout baseball for the second straight outing, fanning seven Braves while allowing only four hits and walking only a single Atlanta batter.  The Braves never really threatened until he left the game, but Heath Bell fought through a night where his command seemed off with the help of a double play and Trevor Hoffman came in to get the last out after the Braves managed two runners in the ninth.

Hairston led off the game with a triple and was promptly brought home on a ground ball.  It was nice to see that kind of execution, as one of the reasons I consider strikeouts to be more damaging than many do is the apparent propensity of hitters to post a K  right after a man moves into scoring position.  With a lead triple, the approach of any hitter coming up second should be to make solid contact.  Almost any ball in play will score that run.  No one draws the infield for the second batter of the game, not even Bobby Cox.

In addition to the Peavy/Carlin/Greene combo, three other double plays made a huge difference in this game.  Twice the Braves escaped further damage due to turning two in the second and third and then Greene waited for a bouncer at second and threw to first to get Bell out of a jam in the eighth.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 10:23 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.