If those K’s you see at the top seem like a bunch, it’s because they are. If you’re thinking “that couldn’t have been by one dude”, it was.  Ricky Nolasco wasn’t very good versus the Braves historically, going 2-4 with a 5.02 ERA, including 0-3 with a 10.57 ERA last year when he was almost untouchable. Well, I guess Ricky decided it was time to make up for lost time because he absolutely dominated them last night. Rick had a career high and franchise record 16 strikeouts, at one point striking out 9 straight Braves, just one short of the MLB record and only the 4th pitcher to reach that milestone in baseball history. It’s also the most strikeouts in a game in the majors this year. Noly didn’t give up any runs until he gave up 2 in the 7th and ended up lasting 7.2 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks. Not bad for a guy who was in AAA for parts for May and June. When Nolasco started showing signs of fatigue in the 8th, Fredi called in Dan Meyer, who got Chipper Jones out on 2 pitches to end the inning. Leo Nunez came in to close the game, but due to shoddy defense by Jorge Cantu and Wes Helms, basically inducing 5 outs wasn’t enough. When he walked the bases loaded with 2 outs and a 1 run lead, Fredi pulled him for Brendan Donnelly.

The Don has made two promises since coming to the team. One came when asked what he throws, he answered “I throw outs”. The other was, after a bizarre pitch earlier this year against the Reds when he threw the ball while jumping off the mound, “I’ll show you things you’ve never seen before”. He came through on both of these last night. With the bases juiced and no outs, Donnelly’s first pitch was a wild one that bounced off the ground, off catcher Ronnie Paulino, and to his left. The runner at 3rd, Matt Diaz, ran in about 35 feet, got indecisive, ran back to 3rd and got picked off by Paulino to end the game.

On the hitting side, it wasn’t nearly as exciting. Only Jorge Cantu had a multi-hit game, with Ross Gload continuing his ownership of Javier Vazquez and hitting a 2 run homer off him in the 6th. Chris Coghlan tied the record for most hits by a rookie in a month with 47, of course tying the record he broke last month. Can you say Rookie of the Year? He’s currently 7th in the league in hitting.

Okay, quickly now, the Craig Counsell Hero of the Game Award!

Last night’s winner is…

Ricky Nolasco!

Do you really need a reason?