Another 2 game recap

Tuesday: Atlanta Braves 5, Cincinnati Reds 4

John Thomson (13-8) continued his outstanding pitching and Julio Franco added 3 hits to help the Braves hold off the Cincinnati Reds 5-4.

Thomson pitched 7 innings allowing just one run on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 9 strikeouts. Chris Reitsma struggled through the 8th giving up 2 runs, and John Smoltz nearly blew the save allowing one run in the 9th but he held on for his 40th save of the season, the 150th of his career, and his 57th game finished this season to vest his option for next season.

Hitting Stars: Julio Franco was 3 for 5; Marcus Giles, Eli Marrero, and Eddie Perez were all 2 for 4.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20040921_CIN@ATL

Wednesday: Cincinnati Reds 11, Atlanta Braves 8

I'm sort of glad I couldn't watch this game, because if I had I might be throwing things. Paul Byrd went just 4 innings, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. The bullpen did a good job from the 5th inning through the 8th inning, with Juan Cruz, Antonio Alfonseca, Tom Martin, Roman Colon, and Chris Reitsma each having scoreless appearances. However, John Smoltz had a terrible outing and was only able to get one out while allowing 5 runs to score in the 9th inning and it cost the Braves the game.

The Braves rallied from a 6-2 deficit scoring 3 times in both the 6th and 7th innings, highlighted by Chipper Jones' 30th homer of the year, a 3 run shot that gave the Braves a 8-6 lead in the 7th inning. However, with the Braves holding on to the lead in the 9th, Smoltz (0-1) came on to attempt the save and had the meltdown, and he had his first decision of the year: a loss. It's tough to stage a big rally and then allow the other team to win the game. Travis Smith came on to get the last 2 outs in the 9th, but it was too late.

Hitting Stars: Chipper Jones had just one hit but it was his 30th homer. It added 3 RBIs to his total, which is now at 91. JD Drew reached base 4 times; he was 1 for 2 and walked 3 times. Marcus Giles was 2 for 3.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20040922_CIN@ATL