Braves' lose again, Cards move into tie
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Derek Lowe works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Atlanta. (Sept. 27, 2011) Credit: AP
Dan Uggla drop-kicked his bat after striking out on three pitches. Chipper Jones slammed his bat into the dirt after popping up. Derek Lowe just trudged off the mound to another round of boos from the home crowd, wondering how it all went wrong.
The Braves are mad and frustrated heading to the 162nd game. Their season is on the brink after a potentially historic collapse.
Lowe (9-17) had another miserable outing, surrendering five runs in four-plus innings, and the Braves took another step toward giving away a playoff berth that seemed certain just a few weeks ago with an ugly 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday night.
They lost their fourth in a row and eighth in 11 games, sending them to the final day of the regular season tied with the Cardinals. Atlanta had an 8 1/2-game lead three weeks ago.
In Houston, St. Louis pulled even with the Braves, rallying from an early 5-0 deficit as Ryan Theriot hit a two-run triple in seventh inning to beat the Astros, 13-6.
Brewers 6, Pirates 4: Prince Fielder homered three times in a game for the first time in his career, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning that lifted host Milwaukee.
Tigers 9, Indians 6: Wilson Betemit hit a 423-foot home run in his first game back from left knee soreness for host Detroit. The Tigers entered one game behind AL West champion Texas, which played at Los Angeles late. Detroit needs to finish at least even with the Rangers to have home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Ozzie going to Marlins?
Ozzie Guillen tweeted yesterday that he was in town "ready to go" with the Florida Marlins, and the clubhouse buzz was all about the new manager. One minor holdup: The Marlins had yet to confirm a deal.
Pitching coach Don Cooper will take over for Guillen for the final two games of the season. -- AP Johnson sitting out
Ernie Johnson, Turner Sports' lead baseball play-by-play announcer, will miss the postseason to be with his son, Michael, who has been seriously ill, the network announced.
Brian Anderson, the Brewers' play-by-play man, will replace Johnson alongside analysts Ron Darling and John Smoltz for the Yankees series in the ALDS and for the NLCS.
Johnson said in a news release that Michael, 23, has muscular dystrophy and has been in intensive care for two weeks, and is expected to remain hospitalized.
"At this time, my job is to be with Michael and my family," he said.
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