CaPPiNg TiGeRz
08-27-2007, 10:52 AM
The Atlanta Braves entered their 10-game road trip against three teams with losing records with hopes of narrowing their deficit in the NL wild card race. Through seven games, things aren't going according to plan.
The Braves look to start turning things around as they visit the struggling Florida Marlins for the opener of a three-game series on Monday.
Atlanta (67-64) entered its trip trailing the wild card leaders by 1 1/2 games. Despite playing two sub-.500 teams in Cincinnati and St. Louis, the Braves have failed to capitalize, losing five of seven to fall four games behind San Diego.
"It's real simple when you get right down to it," Braves manager Bobby Cox said after a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. "You have to win some ballgames and some other teams have to lose some, and you keep grinding."
Sunday's loss came as the Braves were playing without two of their most productive offensive players. Chipper Jones, batting .332 with 21 home runs and 75 RBIs, missed the game with a groin injury.
"I'm just hopefully trying to miss one day, so that I don't miss seven," Jones told the Braves' official Web site.
Andruw Jones, leading the team with 24 homers and 83 RBIs, rested his sore left knee. He will likely return Monday.
While the Braves are struggling, no team has fared worse lately than the Marlins (57-74). Florida has lost 11 of its last 12 games, including three in a row to Cincinnati by a combined score of 25-13. The Marlins were swept for the second time in their last three series after a 9-3 defeat Sunday and fell a season-high 17 games under .500.
"I think a week has gone by and we haven't done but one or two things that's quality," reliever Lee Gardner said. "We're not playing the game. It's one inning here or there. We've got the ability to do it. We talk a great game."
Florida, however, has fared well against Atlanta. Though the Braves are 10 games ahead of the Marlins in the division, the Marlins have won seven of the teams' 12 meetings this year. The clubs have split six games at Dolphin Stadium, where the Braves are averaging 7.3 runs and batting .302.
The Marlins will turn to Scott Olsen (9-11, 5.39 ERA) to try to snap their slide. Olsen is the team leader in wins, but he has just one victory in six starts since he was arrested July 21 for driving under the influence and resisting an officer. In that stretch, the left-hander is 1-4 with a 6.63 ERA. He lost 6-4 at St. Louis on Wednesday after yielding six runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings.
"This is the worst I've felt after a loss," said Olsen, who is 7-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 14 home starts. "They gave me four runs and I shouldn't lose."
Olsen is 1-3 with a 7.85 ERA in seven career games against the Braves, including 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts this year.
Chipper Jones is 5-for-10 with two homers, a triple and a double in his career against Olsen.
Atlanta will counter with right-hander Lance Cormier (0-4, 9.00), who will try again for his first victory of the year.
On Wednesday, Cormier allowed four runs in five innings to suffer a 4-2 loss at Cincinnati. He gave up two home runs in that game and has allowed 12 in just 25 innings.
Cormier is 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA in five career games -- three starts -- against the Marlins. Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-8 with a home run and two doubles against him.
The Braves look to start turning things around as they visit the struggling Florida Marlins for the opener of a three-game series on Monday.
Atlanta (67-64) entered its trip trailing the wild card leaders by 1 1/2 games. Despite playing two sub-.500 teams in Cincinnati and St. Louis, the Braves have failed to capitalize, losing five of seven to fall four games behind San Diego.
"It's real simple when you get right down to it," Braves manager Bobby Cox said after a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. "You have to win some ballgames and some other teams have to lose some, and you keep grinding."
Sunday's loss came as the Braves were playing without two of their most productive offensive players. Chipper Jones, batting .332 with 21 home runs and 75 RBIs, missed the game with a groin injury.
"I'm just hopefully trying to miss one day, so that I don't miss seven," Jones told the Braves' official Web site.
Andruw Jones, leading the team with 24 homers and 83 RBIs, rested his sore left knee. He will likely return Monday.
While the Braves are struggling, no team has fared worse lately than the Marlins (57-74). Florida has lost 11 of its last 12 games, including three in a row to Cincinnati by a combined score of 25-13. The Marlins were swept for the second time in their last three series after a 9-3 defeat Sunday and fell a season-high 17 games under .500.
"I think a week has gone by and we haven't done but one or two things that's quality," reliever Lee Gardner said. "We're not playing the game. It's one inning here or there. We've got the ability to do it. We talk a great game."
Florida, however, has fared well against Atlanta. Though the Braves are 10 games ahead of the Marlins in the division, the Marlins have won seven of the teams' 12 meetings this year. The clubs have split six games at Dolphin Stadium, where the Braves are averaging 7.3 runs and batting .302.
The Marlins will turn to Scott Olsen (9-11, 5.39 ERA) to try to snap their slide. Olsen is the team leader in wins, but he has just one victory in six starts since he was arrested July 21 for driving under the influence and resisting an officer. In that stretch, the left-hander is 1-4 with a 6.63 ERA. He lost 6-4 at St. Louis on Wednesday after yielding six runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings.
"This is the worst I've felt after a loss," said Olsen, who is 7-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 14 home starts. "They gave me four runs and I shouldn't lose."
Olsen is 1-3 with a 7.85 ERA in seven career games against the Braves, including 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts this year.
Chipper Jones is 5-for-10 with two homers, a triple and a double in his career against Olsen.
Atlanta will counter with right-hander Lance Cormier (0-4, 9.00), who will try again for his first victory of the year.
On Wednesday, Cormier allowed four runs in five innings to suffer a 4-2 loss at Cincinnati. He gave up two home runs in that game and has allowed 12 in just 25 innings.
Cormier is 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA in five career games -- three starts -- against the Marlins. Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-8 with a home run and two doubles against him.