GaryMrMets
05-28-2004, 04:12 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/8780980.htm
Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2004
It's a Brave, old world for Millwood
Pitcher still winless against his former team
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
KEVIN MILLWOOD was not alone. Now, he is.
It used to be that Mets starter Tom Glavine couldn't touch Atlanta, either, and the former Brave probably will wind up in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Glavine was 0-4 with a 10.35 earned run average against Atlanta since leaving the team after the 2002 season. Then he won this season's opener.
Millwood also left Atlanta after 2002, via trade. He also foundered against the Braves last season. Redemption eluded him last night.
He dropped his fifth game in five chances to the team that nurtured him through his first five seasons. In last night's 6-1 loss, Millwood (4-3) gave up six earned runs in four innings, walked a season-high six and hit a batter.
"I've seen Kevin pitch some of the greatest games under intense pressure," Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone said. "The only thing I can say is maybe he's trying too hard."
After giving up two in the first, he gave up two two-out walks in the fourth to load the bases for Andruw Jones, who smacked an 0-1 fastball over the rightfield wall, his second career grand slam and the first in Citizens Bank Park history. The 38,802 in attendance did not scream with delight at the moment. Jones, too, was unimpressed.
"I really didn't hit the ball that well," acknowledged Jones, who also lacked a reason why Millwood struggles against his form-er teammates. "Probably he's trying to do too well. He's probably not relaxing out there."
Kevin?
"I don't feel like I was trying very hard at all out there," Millwood said.
Don't snicker.
He meant, of course, that he was relaxed and felt comfortable. He just couldn't locate his fastball. He now has given up 13 walks and, not coincidentally, 15 earned runs in his last 15 innings. He gave up nine walks in his first 45 2/3 innings. Neither he nor pitching coach Joe Kerrigan cared to specify his current mechanical issues last night, promising more elucidation after video review today.
"Let's sleep on it," Kerrigan said.
Jaret Wright (3-5) and Mazzone will sleep like babes, because Wright's cutting fastballs were an absolute nightmare to the Phillies' inconsistent offensive. Millwood's slapped single was the only thing between Wright and a no-hitter through the first 5 2/3 innings. He lasted 7 1/3 and gave up six hits and only one run, to his final batter, in the eighth, on a botched fielding play.
"By the way," Mazzone insisted, changing the subject from Millwood, "Jaret Wright threw pretty [darned] good tonight."
"Best stuff I've seen all year," agreed Phillies slugger Jim Thome, a former Indians teammate of Wright. The Phillies generally have seen good stuff lately, if you check the box scores.
Mets starters Steve Trachsel and Matt Ginter helped shut them out for the first 15 innings of their two-game series. The Phils won the second game only thanks to three unearned runs.
The Braves have earned every one of the 25 runs they've scored in 26 innings against Millwood. At least last year, Millwood faced the league's best offense, featuring MVP candidates Javy Lopez and Gary Sheffield.
Both are gone this season, free agents sliced from a fat-trimmed roster. The Braves now rank in the bottom third offensively. Sure, they've suffered spates of injuries to key hitters...but then, they hadn't played the Phillies until last night, either.
After Jones' homer, Millwood got Mark DeRosa out and stalked off the field, much in the glum manner he ended last season in Veterans Stadium's final game, when, trailing 4-2 into the fifth inning and facing free agency, he threw his cap and glove into the stands.
This time, back on a 1-year deal after avoiding arbitration, Millwood held on to his gear.
"I've only got one extra [glove]," he explained, smiling. He made no promises about holding on to the glove past June 6. That's when he's scheduled to face the Braves again.
All alone.
Posted on Fri, May. 28, 2004
It's a Brave, old world for Millwood
Pitcher still winless against his former team
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
KEVIN MILLWOOD was not alone. Now, he is.
It used to be that Mets starter Tom Glavine couldn't touch Atlanta, either, and the former Brave probably will wind up in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Glavine was 0-4 with a 10.35 earned run average against Atlanta since leaving the team after the 2002 season. Then he won this season's opener.
Millwood also left Atlanta after 2002, via trade. He also foundered against the Braves last season. Redemption eluded him last night.
He dropped his fifth game in five chances to the team that nurtured him through his first five seasons. In last night's 6-1 loss, Millwood (4-3) gave up six earned runs in four innings, walked a season-high six and hit a batter.
"I've seen Kevin pitch some of the greatest games under intense pressure," Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone said. "The only thing I can say is maybe he's trying too hard."
After giving up two in the first, he gave up two two-out walks in the fourth to load the bases for Andruw Jones, who smacked an 0-1 fastball over the rightfield wall, his second career grand slam and the first in Citizens Bank Park history. The 38,802 in attendance did not scream with delight at the moment. Jones, too, was unimpressed.
"I really didn't hit the ball that well," acknowledged Jones, who also lacked a reason why Millwood struggles against his form-er teammates. "Probably he's trying to do too well. He's probably not relaxing out there."
Kevin?
"I don't feel like I was trying very hard at all out there," Millwood said.
Don't snicker.
He meant, of course, that he was relaxed and felt comfortable. He just couldn't locate his fastball. He now has given up 13 walks and, not coincidentally, 15 earned runs in his last 15 innings. He gave up nine walks in his first 45 2/3 innings. Neither he nor pitching coach Joe Kerrigan cared to specify his current mechanical issues last night, promising more elucidation after video review today.
"Let's sleep on it," Kerrigan said.
Jaret Wright (3-5) and Mazzone will sleep like babes, because Wright's cutting fastballs were an absolute nightmare to the Phillies' inconsistent offensive. Millwood's slapped single was the only thing between Wright and a no-hitter through the first 5 2/3 innings. He lasted 7 1/3 and gave up six hits and only one run, to his final batter, in the eighth, on a botched fielding play.
"By the way," Mazzone insisted, changing the subject from Millwood, "Jaret Wright threw pretty [darned] good tonight."
"Best stuff I've seen all year," agreed Phillies slugger Jim Thome, a former Indians teammate of Wright. The Phillies generally have seen good stuff lately, if you check the box scores.
Mets starters Steve Trachsel and Matt Ginter helped shut them out for the first 15 innings of their two-game series. The Phils won the second game only thanks to three unearned runs.
The Braves have earned every one of the 25 runs they've scored in 26 innings against Millwood. At least last year, Millwood faced the league's best offense, featuring MVP candidates Javy Lopez and Gary Sheffield.
Both are gone this season, free agents sliced from a fat-trimmed roster. The Braves now rank in the bottom third offensively. Sure, they've suffered spates of injuries to key hitters...but then, they hadn't played the Phillies until last night, either.
After Jones' homer, Millwood got Mark DeRosa out and stalked off the field, much in the glum manner he ended last season in Veterans Stadium's final game, when, trailing 4-2 into the fifth inning and facing free agency, he threw his cap and glove into the stands.
This time, back on a 1-year deal after avoiding arbitration, Millwood held on to his gear.
"I've only got one extra [glove]," he explained, smiling. He made no promises about holding on to the glove past June 6. That's when he's scheduled to face the Braves again.
All alone.