Braves @ Dodgers 4/4/09

Johnny B. Good.....Real Good

Opening Day performance has Braves Fans Singin'

Chuck Berry classic as Huizar delivers in 5-0

Braves Victory.

Tell most Ribbons fans that the Braves vs Dodger game ended in a 5-0 shutout and you won't get too many shocked expressions staring back at you. Inform them that a pitcher in the same game had 9 strikeouts in that game and it might raise a couple eyebrows. Explain how the guy with the 9k's also walked only two and gave up zero hits and you may finally have peaked someones interest enough for them to ask " Was it Saxon or Eric?"

Saturday's season opener between the Dodgers and Braves involved ,without question one of the better pitching performances in recent memory. In fact, when looking at the score book, you can make the case that it was a very good pitching performance on the part of both teams; a combined 6 hits given up, double-digit strike outs for both squads and a total of only 5 runs scored in the whole game.

"Guess Saxon's in mid year form huh?" or else" Eric has made some huge pitching improvements in the offseason." Umm, yeah both those things are true and I can see how it could get misunderstood , but uhhh we're talking about the other pitcher.

Johnny Huizar, the big lefty on the Braves is the guy we were speaking of. Huizar took command Saturday from the first inning by using a combination of varying speeds as well as multiple locations. Johnny finally took the attitude he carries when at school or around friends, on to the mound with him . The self proclaimed coolest cat in the league was dealing as he kept hitters off balance just enough to enjoy one of his best outings ever.

Huizar also contributed with the bat adding an RBI double to an already full stat line. Not wanting to see Huizar get all THE REPORTS attention, catcher Brett Woods added three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Justin Tarato added the fifth and final hit for the Braves, an RBI single to right field.

Jose Martinez came on in the fifth and pitched scoreless ball over the final two innings striking out three, walking one and yielding the only Dodger hit of the afternoon, a clean single up the middle by Christian Moore.

The Dodgers looked to be poised for a big sixth inning, but with two on and two outs, Eric Turners long fly ball to center was tracked down by Ricky Rivera for the final out.

Next up a showdown with the Padres, a club who also benefited from a one hit shutout by their pitching staff as they won 10-0. That game will take place Thursday at 5:30 pm at Hook Park. The Dodgers travel to Center Street for their Thursday game, a match up with the Yankees, also taking place at 5:30. For that game we will be welcoming Jason McDivitt, making his first appearance, exclusively on THE REPORT.