Atlanta Braves Have Bad Hair Day, Shutout by Friars 9-0

The Atlanta Braves entered Tuesday night’s game having lost 8 consecutive games at Petco Park in San Diego, and the streak continued as Melvin Upton Jr. haunted his former team with 5-RBI’s, including two separate 2-run homers, shutting out the Braves 9-0.

Rookie Matt Wisler pitched well, leaving the game after throwing 5 innings, allowing 2 runs (both earned) off 6 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 2. During the 4th inning, Wisler was struck on his right arm by a line drive off the bat of James Shields, but was seemingly unfazed following the at bat. Wisler remained in the game.

The Padres drew first blood in the bottom of the 3rd inning, as Cory Spangenberg tripled to deep right centerfield. In the ensuing at-bat, Matt Kemp hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Spangenberg and giving the Padres an early 1-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves. In the bottom of the 4th, following a Derek Norris double, Melvin Upton Jr. earned his first of 3 RBI’s against his former team, singling home his younger brother to make the score 2-0.

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The Atlanta Braves had a chance to open the game wide open in the top of the 4th inning, as they loaded the bases against James Shields with no one out. Joey Terdoslavich struck out for the first out in the inning, and then Andrelton Simmons grounded into an inning ending double play. The Atlanta Braves offensive futility seems to have no end in sight.

Atlanta Braves were haunted by both Uptons on this night. Justin Upton hit a double in the bottom of the 6th inning, setting the stage for a scenario that will infuriate Braves fans for days to come. Melvin Upton Jr. continued to punish the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, as he hit a long home-run deep into the left-field bleachers off of David Aardsma, giving the Friars a 4-0 lead.

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The Friars weren’t done in the 6th, as Yangervis Solarte hit a 3-run homer off of Atlanta Braves reliever Ross Detwiler, giving the Padres a 7-0 lead. Of course, Melvin Upton Jr. was not finished tormenting the Braves in this contest, as he hit his second homer of the night — a two run shot — in the bottom of the 7th to increase the lead to 9-0 in favor of the Padres. There seems to be a trend with former maligned Braves players bedeviling their former club this year, as Dan Uggla and Upton Jr. both have hit better against their former club than during their tenure in Atlanta. If only both players were as productive as members of the Atlanta Braves than as opponents.

This was another night where the Atlanta Braves bullpen spoiled a good start by a starter, giving up 5 earned runs in 4 innings pitched. The Atlanta Braves will attempt to salvage a win in the rubber game of the series against the Padres. Julio Teheran gets the call for the Bravos and will be opposed by Tyson Ross. First pitch set for 3:40 PM. Oh, and some guy named Freddie Freeman returns to the Braves tomorrow, so there’s that. And for those wondering, the answer is yes, the title is an Anchorman reference; because we all need something to laugh about after this monstrosity of a game.

Next: Matt Wisler: Experiencing Some Control Issues?

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