Apr. 14, 2009 (Sun Sentinel delivered by Newstex ) --
Chris Volstad had a tremendous game, holding the Braves to a run on three hits through seven innings in the 5-1 Marlins victory. The most impressive thing he did tonight in my estimation: Retiring Chipper Jones three times.
We all know Jones chews up everyone's pitching, but he's had ridiculous numbers against the Marlins in particular. Didn't realize just how ridiculous until I started looking for the last time the Marlins held him hitless, which morphed into?a search for the last time they kept him off base altogether.
Jones went 0 for 4 Tuesday with no walks after reaching via hit or base on balls in 29 straight games spanning two full seasons against the Marlins . Manager Fredi Gonzalez afterward?joked he was going to ask Jones to sign his lineup card.
In Jones' 29?games against the Marlins in 2007-08 he reached safely?in all but three?and hit .420 with a 1.272 on-base plus slugging percentage. The Braves went 18-11 in those games. Don't know about you guys, but he's in my top five hitters of this era.
If the Marlins starters keep performing as they have through these?opening seven?games, tough to imagine Jones?putting together a similar streak.
Some other thoughts...
Nice job by the maligned bullpen. Leo Nunez allowed a single during a scoreless eighth and Matt Lindstrom, albeit not in a save situation, tossed a perfect ninth. The first out came on a Jones grounder to second.
It doesn't appear the Marlins lose much defensively with Ross Gload at first base.
Dan Uggla is a monster with the bases loaded. He had two chances with the bags full, singled twice and knocked in three runs. He's now a career .425 hitter with the bases loaded (17 for 40) with 41 RBI.
Garret Anderson is a disaster in left field. Two errors on dropped balls in foul territory. It took him an enternity to dig out a John Baker double from the corner, allowing Emilio Bonifacio to score easily from first in the eighth. Wonder if the Braves would have been better off signing Luis Gonzalez?
Before the game, we learned Taylor Tankersley is out indefinitely with a elbow injury. Might want to keep tabs to Carlos Vasquez at Double-A Jacksonville. He might get an early promotion if he's performing and Marlins have a need for left-handed bullpen help.
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