Tim Hudson's dominant two-month run was snapped courtesy of the fortune-filled five-run fifth inning that the Cardinals used to claim a 5-4 win over the Braves at Busch Stadium on Saturday night.
"Huddy had the worst luck I've ever seen of any pitcher in one inning," said Braves manager Bobby Cox, who has seen plenty of misfortune while watching his team win just two of the first six games they've played on this current 10-game road trip.
Reviewing the play-by-play recap of the decisive fifth inning will show that Hudson surrendered five straight singles before surrendering an out. What won't be evident is the that the first one came courtesy of a well-placed bunt and that the next two came off of shattered bats. The string concluded with a Jim Edmonds single that was deemed a hit courtesy o####enerous official scorer and the inability of Braves shortstop Yunel Esobar to get an unobstructed view of the sharp grounder that found its way to center field.
Hudson, who patted Escobar on the back after the game to let him know he understood the situation, was charged with five earned runs and nine hits in just five innings. All of the runs and six of those hits came during that fateful fifth inning, during which the Cardinals' only extra-base hit was Scott Rolen's RBI double.
"It's one of those nights; it's going to happen," said Hudson, whose bid to win a 10th consecutive decision for just the second time in his career was ended with what is his first loss in 12 starts -- dating back to June 19.
Throughout the course of a 12-inning game, there's inevitably going to be a multitude of potentially game-changing moments. For the Braves, they had to wonder how things might have differed had Buddy Carlyle not been indecisive during a pickoff attempt in Cincinnati's five-run second.
After Chipper Jones' first-inning RBI double provided him a lead, Carlyle came unglued in the Reds' five-run second inning. But with some assistance from himself and possibly home-plate umpire Jerry Layne, he might have at least minimized the damage to two runs.
When Reds starter Elizardo Ramirez ran toward second when he was fooled on a pickoff attempt, Carlyle was afraid a throw to second would allow EdwinEncarnacion, who was bluffing a rush to the plate, to score. The indecision resulted in no outs and runners at second and third.
During this same Josh Hamilton at-bat, Carlyle and Braves manager Bobby Cox felt Layne missed a 1-2 pitch. Unfortunately for them, Hamilton didn't miss the 3-2 pitch that he belted over the left-center-field wall for a two-out, three-run homer.
CINCINNATI -- Optimism about Edgar Renteria's return to the Braves' lineup lasted just one pitch. Now there's definite reason to believe that Renteria's right ankle is once again going to sideline him for another couple of weeks.
Renteria was activated from the disabled list in time to start Wednesday night's game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. But while shifting his weight during the first pitch he saw from Bronson Arroyo in the first inning, the veteran shortstop reacted in obvious pain.
Without even taking a swing, Renteria aggravated the high right ankle sprain that had sidelined him since Aug. 2. The Braves say that he'll be re-evaluated on Thursday.
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