News
Next up for Hanson: Coors Field
Atlanta (41-43) at Colorado (45-39), 8:40 p.m. ET
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
07/08/09 6:38 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson has already dominated the Yankees and Red Sox. Now before heading into the All-Star break, the heralded rookie will be asked to conquer the challenges presented by Coors Field. "Yeah, I guess I'm going to have to put a little extra emphasis on keeping the ball low," Hanson said with a confident laugh. Fortunately for Hanson, he's introduced himself to the Major League scene at a time when Coors Field is no longer as intimidating as it previously had been to pitchers. But based on the way he's pitched through the first month of his career, the 22-year-old certainly wouldn't have been opposed to experiencing the great challenge pitchers used to face in the thin Rocky Mountain air. Hanson will make his Coors Field debut on Thursday night, when the Braves open a four-game series against the Rockies. He'll be looking to make one more solid impression before heading into the second half of a season that has already proven to be memorable. "It's just been awesome," Hanson said. "I think having so much early success has made it a lot more fun." Undefeated through his first six starts, Hanson enters this start having allowed one run over his past 27 innings. That lone run occurred on Saturday, when Adam Dunn dented his start with a seventh-inning solo homer. Having blanked the Yankees and Red Sox in his two previous starts, Hanson had completed 26 consecutive scoreless innings before Dunn took him deep. "That streak was going to end some time," Hanson said. "You don't ever want to give up runs. So from that sense, it wasn't good. But I didn't want to go out there and think about the streak and not do the things that have gotten me here. I just want to go out there and continue to be aggressive." Before blowing the lead he exited with on Saturday, the Braves had won each of the previous five games that Hanson had started. As they continue to fight to stay in the thick of the National League East race, they'll look for him to provide yet another strong performance. While they were stalled by the three-game losing streak they incurred at the beginning of this week, the Braves have won seven of their past 10 games and provided some indication that they might be able to turn things around -- like the Rockies have since splitting a four-game series at Turner Field in May. With 25 wins in their last 32 games, the Rockies have put themselves in thick of the NL Wild Card race. Pitching matchupATL: RHP Tommy Hanson (4-0, 2.25 ERA)
On Independence Day in Washington, D.C., Hanson was spectacular for the fourth successive outing. He pounded the plate, throwing over 70 percent strikes, giving up three hits and one walk in seven innings. The rookie did not earn a victory, as Atlanta's bullpen blew the lead upon entering the game in the eighth. COL: RHP Aaron Cook (8-3, 3.76 ERA)
It just wasn't Cook's night in his last start against the D-backs. The sinkerballer left the game after getting his wind knocked out diving for a ground ball, and then lost a chance to get the win when the bullpen could not protect the lead. He gave up three runs, two earned, on nine hits in five-plus innings. Despite the unlucky performance, Cook has won his last five decisions and sports a 1.98 ERA in his past six starts. He will attempt, again, to win his sixth consecutive decision -- a personal and club record -- when he faces the Braves. On May 21, Cook pitched a four-hit shutout against the Braves at Turner Field. Tidbits
There still seems to be a chance that Jordan Schafer will miss the rest of this season. An MRI exam performed on Tuesday didn't provide clear indication of why he's had trouble with his left wrist dating back to the season's first week. The Braves are now awaiting results from a CAT scan that was performed on his wrist on Wednesday. ... Garret Anderson has batted .500 (15-for-30) with three doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs in his career at Coors Field. ... During his current nine-game hitting streak, Nate McLouth has hit .343 (12-for-35) with three doubles and two homers. Tickets
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• 640 WGST, Project 9-6-1 Up next
• Friday: Braves (Derek Lowe, 7-7, 4.56) at Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez, 6-8, 3.86), 9:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Braves (Jair Jurrjens, 6-7, 2.91) at Rockies (Jason Marquis, 11-5, 3.61), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Braves (Javier Vazquez, 6-7, 2.95) at Rockies (TBD), 3:10 p.m. ET
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
