GaryMrMets
05-28-2004, 04:28 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s052804h.htm
Millwood no mystery to Braves
Friday, May 28, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
Ever since Kevin Millwood was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Phillies, he has reunited with his teammates five times. None of them have been happy ones - at least for him, anyway.
All four times Millwood faced the Braves last season, he was knocked around and suffered the loss. A new season and a vastly changed Atlanta lineup did little to change Millwood's fortunes on Thursday. The right-hander gave up six runs in four innings as the Phillies dropped a 6-1 decision to the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
Millwood wasn't helped by a bout of wildness - he issued six walks and allowed the Braves to load the bases in three of his four innings. In his last 15 innings, he has given up 13 bases on balls.
"That's just not him," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "We've got to look at some film to see what's going wrong. He's just not throwing strikes right now."
Bowa had more on his mind than just the game. His daughter, Tori, was involved in a car accident outside Citizens Bank Park some three hours before game time, causing Bowa to skip batting practice. Tori, a Phillies staff employee, was released from Methodist Hospital on Thursday evening with a concussion and whiplash symptoms. Her car was totaled.
"When somebody that close to you gets in an accident, and you see what happened to the car, it's tough," Bowa said. "Hopefully everything turns out all right. I think she's lucky she's alive."
As for the game, Millwood escaped the first inning with only two runs allowed, but in the fourth the walks haunted him. After a pair of free passes loaded the bases, center fielder Andruw Jones launched a grand slam to right field, increasing the Braves' lead to 6-0 and effectively ending Millwood's evening.
"It's just not being able to locate my fastball," Millwood said. "I'm not really sure what it is. Any time you can't locate your fastball, no matter who you are, you're in trouble."
The Phillies (25-20) fell out of a virtual first-place tie with Florida atop the National League East by dropping their first of 19 meetings with the Braves, their long-time divisional nemesis. Atlanta arrived at Citizens a game under .500 and its run of 12 consecutive division titles looking very much in jeopardy. But Millwood now owns an 8.65 ERA in five starts against his former team.
For the second straight time, he failed to pitch past the fifth inning.
"I'm just frustrated I'm not really doing a whole lot to help this team right now," Millwood said.
"I don't care who's on the other side."
The Phillies' offense managed little against Braves starter Jaret Wright, who limited them to one hit through the first five innings. Their only run came in the eighth, when shortstop Rafael Furcal and left fielder Chipper Jones miscommunicated on a Chase Utley pop-up that fell between them, allowing Jimmy Rollins to score from third.
It was an unlikely gift on a bad night all around for the Phillies.
Millwood no mystery to Braves
Friday, May 28, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
Ever since Kevin Millwood was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Phillies, he has reunited with his teammates five times. None of them have been happy ones - at least for him, anyway.
All four times Millwood faced the Braves last season, he was knocked around and suffered the loss. A new season and a vastly changed Atlanta lineup did little to change Millwood's fortunes on Thursday. The right-hander gave up six runs in four innings as the Phillies dropped a 6-1 decision to the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
Millwood wasn't helped by a bout of wildness - he issued six walks and allowed the Braves to load the bases in three of his four innings. In his last 15 innings, he has given up 13 bases on balls.
"That's just not him," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "We've got to look at some film to see what's going wrong. He's just not throwing strikes right now."
Bowa had more on his mind than just the game. His daughter, Tori, was involved in a car accident outside Citizens Bank Park some three hours before game time, causing Bowa to skip batting practice. Tori, a Phillies staff employee, was released from Methodist Hospital on Thursday evening with a concussion and whiplash symptoms. Her car was totaled.
"When somebody that close to you gets in an accident, and you see what happened to the car, it's tough," Bowa said. "Hopefully everything turns out all right. I think she's lucky she's alive."
As for the game, Millwood escaped the first inning with only two runs allowed, but in the fourth the walks haunted him. After a pair of free passes loaded the bases, center fielder Andruw Jones launched a grand slam to right field, increasing the Braves' lead to 6-0 and effectively ending Millwood's evening.
"It's just not being able to locate my fastball," Millwood said. "I'm not really sure what it is. Any time you can't locate your fastball, no matter who you are, you're in trouble."
The Phillies (25-20) fell out of a virtual first-place tie with Florida atop the National League East by dropping their first of 19 meetings with the Braves, their long-time divisional nemesis. Atlanta arrived at Citizens a game under .500 and its run of 12 consecutive division titles looking very much in jeopardy. But Millwood now owns an 8.65 ERA in five starts against his former team.
For the second straight time, he failed to pitch past the fifth inning.
"I'm just frustrated I'm not really doing a whole lot to help this team right now," Millwood said.
"I don't care who's on the other side."
The Phillies' offense managed little against Braves starter Jaret Wright, who limited them to one hit through the first five innings. Their only run came in the eighth, when shortstop Rafael Furcal and left fielder Chipper Jones miscommunicated on a Chase Utley pop-up that fell between them, allowing Jimmy Rollins to score from third.
It was an unlikely gift on a bad night all around for the Phillies.