Plunker in chief

It's been said many times but is no less true today. Some days you win and some days you lose. Today was our day to lose. In sort of a big way. Largly because of a grand slam by Brian McCann. It was a pretty unremarkable game if you're a Milwaukee fan. It started off well enough--a Rickie Weeks leadoff homerun--but then went to hell as bad Manny Parra showed up (5.1 IP, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO).

Two things of note about this game. First, Lorenzo Cain collected his first major league hit. He actually went 2-2, with a double. (He was robbed of his first hit by Matt Diaz on Friday night.) He was called up when Doug Davis went back on the DL this week. He is a promising outfield prospect. In a game that saw Carlos Gomez hit into two double plays, it's hard not to think about Cain getting some more playing time.

Second, the whole plunking issue isn't going to die. Apparently Bobby Cox made a point to seek out Ken Macha before the game on Sunday to reinterate that none of the beanballs were intentional. The Brewers did hit two Braves on Sunday. Parra hit Jason Heyward in the knee area and David Riske hit Troy Glaus in the mid-section. The umps warned both teams after Heyward was hit but Riske was not ejected. Neither looked particularly intentional. After the game came news that Macha had complained to a MLB official. The Brewers lead the majors with 47 HBPs and Macha says that they need to be protected.

Note to Ken Macha: This is the only reason to bring Doug Davis off the DL--Plunker in chief. Although, with the way that he pitches, who knows if he could successfully bean someone.

Braves 11, Brewers 6
Game played 7-18-10