19 Sunday Jul 2015
Posted in Boston Braves (1912 - 1935)
Tom Hughes
On April 5, 1916, Boston Braves pitcher Tom Hughes hurls a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Braves Field. Hughes strikes out seven and walks two.
For the Braves, Rabbit Maranville walks three times and scores both of the Braves’ runs. (The box score is unclear on how the runs were scored, since there were no RBIs; Maranville may have stolen home for one of the runs.)
The Braves win 2-0.
16 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in Boston Beaneaters (1883 - 1906)
South End Grounds
On April 5, 1902, in a game at the South End Grounds in Boston, the Boston Beaneaters are trailing the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in the top of the 5th when it begins to rain.
The Beaneaters complain to umpire Joe Cantillon that the game should be stopped, but the ump refuses. The Braves then began delaying the game, making unnecessary throws and drops, to try to get the game called; since it has not gone five innings, a possible Pirates victory will be wiped off the books if the game is called.
However, because of the delaying tactics, Cantillon orders the game forfeited to Pittsburgh.
14 Tuesday Jul 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Matt Wisler
Braves rookie Matt Wisler made his second career road start on July 6, 2015. He fared much better this time around against the hottest team in the majors. Wisler allowed three runs and seven hits while pitching into the sixth inning, and Atlanta ended the Milwaukee Brewers’ eight-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory.
On April 5, 2015, Wisler was traded to the Atlanta Braves, along with Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, Jordan Paroubeck, and a draft pick, in exchange for Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton, Jr. He was then sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.
On June 19, 2015, Wisler was called up to the major leagues, and that night he made his major league debut as the starting pitcher against New York Mets, a game in which he earned the win. He pitched 8.0 innings to pick up the win, the first time a Braves pitcher had accomplished that in his debut since John Smoltz’s debut performance
Wisler had pitched well in two home starts since being called up in mid-June, allowing one run over 15 1/3 innings. In his only other start on the road, he gave up four earned runs and nine hits over four innings at Washington.
Staked to an early lead on Kelly Johnson’s two-run homer in the first, Wisler served up a leadoff shot in the bottom half to Gerardo Parra but then got into a groove.
I just missed my location but after that I settled in for the most part. Early on my slider wasn’t as good as it was last game. I had to battle a bit in the fifth and sixth innings and make some pitches. ~Matt Wisler
Source: Braves win 5-3 to end Brewers’ 8-game winning streak.
17 Tuesday Mar 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
1896, 2010, April 5, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Hank Aaron, Jason Heyward, Jermaine Dye, Joe Harrington, Johnny Bates, Jordan Schafer, Lou Piniella, Opening Day, Turner Field
Jason Heyward – Opening Day 2010
Opening day is a special day for those of us who love baseball. It is a day of hope. The slate of the last season has been wiped away.
115 years is a long time. But when you are the Braves, history is on your side. As the oldest, most continuous playing team in baseball, you have lots of history.
The 16-5 romp on April 5, 2010 was the Braves’ biggest Opening Day romp in 115 years, since a 21-6 pasting of the Baltimore Orioles in 1896. On April 5, 2010, the Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 16-5 at Turner Field.
It was a great day for Jason Howard. He caught the ceremonial first pitch from Hank Aaron. For most of us, that would been enough. But not for Jason. In his first major league at-bat, he crushed a three-run homer. He also had a run-scoring single in the eight and went 2-5 for the day. The 20-year-old Heyward became the sixth Braves player to homer in his debut, the fourth to do so in his first plate appearance. Jordan Schafer also did it last season. The other Braves to homer in their first plate appearances were Joe Harrington (1895); Johnny Bates (1906) and Jermaine Dye (1996).
“It was something of an embarrassing loss. Never did I anticipate we’d give up 16 runs on opening day, not in my wildest dreams.” ~~Cubs manager Lou Piniella
And so, it was a historic opening day in 2010. And the Braves continue on. Read the game recap here.
15 Sunday Feb 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
After the Braves completed their convincing Opening Day win on April 5, 2010, Chipper Jones challenged the Atlanta fans to continue bringing energy to the ballpark.
Two days later, the veteran third baseman electrified the faithful with a homer that proved he still had the ability to thrive in clutch situations. It also said the Braves could come back late in the game. While it wasn’t a walk off home, it came late when they were behind. Very important.
Chipper interrupted a pitching-dominated affair with a two-run, eighth-inning homer that allowed the Braves to overcome Troy Glaus‘ woes and claim a 3-2 win over the Cubs at Turner Field. “You could definitely feel the wind go out of their sails,” Jones said in reference to the reaction he felt from the Cubs after he directed left-handed reliever John Grabow‘s changeup over the left-center-field wall.
06 Monday Oct 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Braves opening day 2012
Tommy Hanson’s first opening day on April 5, 2012 start was pretty good. Unfortunately Johan Santana, the Mets starter, did better as the Braves lost 1-0.
Santana was making his first start since September 2010 and as usual, he was stingy, allowing only one hit through the first four innings. The Braves threatened to score in the fifth, loading the bases on a double and two walks, but Santana escaped. They also put two on base in the sixth, but again failed to score.
The Braves were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
That pretty much sums it up for the day. Great pitching, no hitting.
20 Sunday Jul 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Jason Heyward – Opening Day 2010
Jason Heyward had a great Spring Training in 2010. Lots of promise but he had not played in the Big Leagues yet. Jason Heyward’s legend grew even larger on April 5, 2010 when the Braves phenom drilled a three-run homer on the first swing of his Major League career. After looking at two fastballs from Carlos Zambrano, Heyward mashed a 2-0 sinker deep into the Braves bullpen beyond the right-center field wall for a three-run homer. The 20-year-old made his way around the bases to the sound of a thunderous applause provided by a sold-out crowd at Turner Field. As Heyward made his way back to the dugout after providing his club a 6-3 lead, he was greeted by Chipper Jones, who stretched his arms out and gave the young outfielder a hug.
Heyward, was drafted out of suburban Atlanta’s Henry County High School with the 14th overall selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, had the hometown faithful stirring as he made his way to the plate. Before slugging his monstrous home run he was serenaded with boisterous chants of “Jason Heyward.” After becoming the sixth player in Atlanta history and just the 11th player in Braves franchise history to homer in his Major League debut, Heyward took his position and found the fans beyond the right-field wall applauding him even louder than they had when he took the field to start the game.
