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| | | June 23 - The Atlanta Braves more than rose to the occasion when they defeated the Chicago Cubs by 2-0 last night at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, which not only secured them the series, but also shattered the visitors' 4-game winning streak. The Braves standout was pitcher, Javier Vazquez.
Monday night's game was a makeup after their previously scheduled game on June 4 was cancelled due to rain. Atlanta supporters were eager to see their team beat Chicago, and thanks largely to the skills of right-handed pitcher Vazquez, they were not disappointed. The MLB pitcher seemed to be on fire.
During his time on the mound, he only gave up nine hits and two walks, while striking out five Cubs. His performance last night ensured that he shattered a five-start streak that saw him going 0-3, despite recording a 3.44 ERA. No doubt he would have been the object of high praise back in the locker room.
In the sixth inning, however, the crowd went quiet when it looked like the pitcher had strained his back as he lunged to catch a single from the Cubs' Micah Hoffpauir. But to their relief, after consulting with Braves' manager Bobby Cox and a trainer on the field, Vazquez looked keen to get pitching again.
Despite letting a single to slip through from Geovany Soto and allowing Mike Fontenot to walk, the pitcher ensured that Andres Blanco's flyout left the bases loaded and the Cubs stranded. Cheered on by thousands of Braves fans, Vazquez seemed to enjoy regaining some of the form that has eluded him of late.
Still hot in the seventh inning, Vazquez swiftly retired the first two Cubs' batters before allowing Kosuke Fukudome to walk and giving Jake Fox the chance to make an infield single. At that point, Cox brought Vazquez back to the bench and sent out another right-hander, Peter Moylan, who denied Derrek Lee's flyout.
Other notable Braves' players in Monday's game included Rafael Soriano, who only gave up a single and a walk, and struck out the side for his sixth save in seven games; Chipper Jones', whose fly in the seventh chased Ryan Dempster; and Nate McLouth, whose RBI single in the third gave the Braves a 1-0 lead.
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| | 6/24/2009 10:33:31 PM |
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