New Season, Same Problems

So after the 2008 Season filled with injuries to NL batting champion Chipper Jones as well as poor bullpen performances, the braves first loss of 2009 was a result of Chipper Jones being unavailable with a thumb injury and a horrific 7th inning from the bullpen. The Braves wasted 6 innings from the newly acquired Javier Vazquez en route to a 12-11 loss at the hands of the Phillies. For the Braves, Brian McCann and Rookie Jordan Schafer both hit their 2nd homer of the season, while Matt Diaz added his first. Yunel Escobar and Omar Infante added 2 hits and Jeff Francoeur came through with a bases loaded 2-run single. Vazquez went 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 4 walks, 3 earned runs and struck out 5. It wasn't until the 7th inning when the problems started. In his first appearance since Tommy John surgery, Peter Moylan gave up 4 earned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks without recording an out. Blaine Boyer earned his first loss of the season when he walked in 2 more runs without recording an out. After comfortably leading 10-3 and cruising toward as sweep of the defending champs, the same thing happened that plagued the Braves all last season struck again, and his name is Blaine Boyer.