The Atlanta Braves had some extreme emotional highs and lows this week in the series with Cincinnati. Yesterday's Grand Slam by Juan Fransico may or may not offset the disappoinment of the Craig Kimbrel blown save the day before but now Atlanta must truck it on out to the West Coast and refocus for the San Franscio Giants. Many of our favorite music groups have had San Fransico as their old stomping grounds including, Journey, Santana, CCR, Steve Miller, Huey Lewis and The News, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Airplane and the Greatful Dead. Atlanta's offense seems to be back on track scoring 32 Runs with 8 HR's in the past few games compared to a 2.7 Runs Per Gameand a .201 average in the previous seven. Atlanta has chalked up 47 HR's on the season but still ranks first in the NL in K's at 9.2 per game. Simmons continues to produce going 4 for 5 yesterday and 11 for 22 with two HR's four doubles and six RBI's in his last three games. Uggla has also hit safely in six straight going .375 after a 2 for 21 slump. Atlanta's offensive momentum may continue against Vogelsong 1-2 7.20 ERA who has not won since April 11th. Voglesong's ERA and Opponent Average are some of the worst in MLB as the Giant Starting Pitcher has not be able to find any rhythm allowing 46 Hits and 8 HR's in 35 Innings Pitched. Vogelsong has also given up five runs or more in four of six starts this season but has good outings vs Atlanta last year where he was 1-0 2.92 ERA in two starts. Teheran is 1-0 5.08 ERA and make his first starts since April 29 with his last scheduled start a rain out. Opponents have a .333 average vs. Teheran but the young pitcher has avoided big innings in his last two starts although giving up 18 Hits 3 Runs and in 12 Innings Pitched with no HR's compared to 5 HR's in his first three starts. Atlanta has won all of Teheran's starts (5) even though only one was a quailty outing. Posey is .429 on a seven game hitting streak for San Franscio and Scutaro is .484 last overall as well. The Giants rank 1st in the NL at not striking out with only 6.5 per game. This plate discipline may provide San Franscio an advantage over the course of the series at AT&T Park where the Giants are looking for a fifth win in seven games on a ten game homestand. Atlanta however has won five of seven at AT&T and may be able to improve on that record if Vogelsong can't make steps to improve his overall numbers. It will be a late night for Braves Fans as the game has a 10:15 PM EST start time. May be a good day to break out some old music by the great San Fransico artists to kill some time before the late night action gets underway. SOURCE ESPN and CBS MLB Preview.
Teheran has never faced the Giants and may get the full brunt of the San Fransico fans tonight at AT&T Park. Atlanta Coaches and Announcers are still encouraged by Teheran's progress but his long term effectiveness still remains uncertain. Both teams have reached 20 wins so far this season and both teams come into tonight winning one while Atlanta is 5-5 Last 10 and San Fransico is 7-3 Last 10.
Liking Atlanta's lineup with Schafer, Simmons, J. Upton, Freeman, Uggla, McCann before BJ Upton who is 6 for 45 with 20 K's and pitcher Teheran who actually has had a few base knocks this season. Also liking Posey and Scutaro with above .400+ averages. Today the focus will be over 7 -138 fading Vogelsong's numbers vs. Atlanta with emphasis on his season numbers giving up five runs or more in four of six starts and his high Opponent Batting Average. Teheran may regress on any given outing and with his first career apperance vs. Giants in a hostile environment may not avoid that big inning again tonight. BJ Upton No Hits +160 for a small Prop rounds out the evening.
A couple of triples in the fifth inning by Atlanta leads to two more runs and then McCann and Upton deliver with RBI's to make it 6-3 Atlanta. The big inning in the fifth combined with the two two run HR's make the over 7 a winner in the first game of the series. Hate to check out for the day but getting close to my rack time and need the rest. Stay Safe RX Land.
