Spring Break
NHL Playoffs Heat Up
Tim Ehrens
Issue date: 4/28/06 Section: Sports
Winner: Washington
Saturday - New York Mets at Atlanta Braves - 7 p.m. - WB 20 (WTXX)
The NL East leading Mets seem to be beating everyone else they have been facing, except their division rival Atlanta. The Mets went 1-2 against the Braves at home in the teams' first of three, three-game series against them. Carlos Delgado has played well for the Mets in his first season on the team, hitting eight home runs - good for third in the NL. The Mets' offense has improved and developed well and is led by three players batting .329 and who have drove in 11 or more runs. Andruw Jones continues to carry the load for the Braves, driving in 23 runs and hitting eight home runs so far, heads and shoulders above any of his teammates in either category. Only two players bat over .300 and other than hit producers Jones and Marcus Giles, the Braves have a tough time getting runs, posting the NL's sixth worst run total with the bases loaded. Victor Zambrano takes the hill for the Mets and Mets fans should be cringing. The Braves handed Zambrano his first loss of the season and in Zambrano's three starts he has pitched a total of 14 innings and has given up 12 runs. With an inflated 9.64 ERA and a 1-2 record at Turner Field, expect Zambrano's troubles to continue. John Thomson will pitch for Atlanta and he just might be the best pitcher no one is talking about. Pitching 17 innings in three starts, Thomson has only allowed one earned run and opponents are hitting .231 against him. However, he is yet to get his first win with the lack of run support he receives. Look for Thomson to get that elusive first win in this one.
Winner: Atlanta
Sunday - Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Devil Rays - 1 p.m. - NESN
For everyone who thinks the Red Sox are strictly an offensive powerhouse, think again. The AL East leading Red Sox have gotten to where they are now as a result of their consistently great starting pitching and their dangerous closer Jonathan Papelbon, who picked up his AL leading ninth save Tuesday. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez continue to hit well, but the surprise of the year has got to be the performance of Kevin Youkilis. The first baseman is tied for second on the team in RBIs with 12 and is tied for the team lead in hits with 23. Don't look now, but the Devil Rays are actually a decent team. Coming off of years of deplorable play, the Devil Rays have a speedy team who hit the ball well. Jonny Gomes leads the AL in home runs with 10 and speed demons Carl Crawford and Joey Gathright have seven combined stolen bases. Ty Wigginton has 20 RBIs on 20 hits and eight home runs and is a defensive force at third base. A can't miss match-up of each team's aces is set for this game as Curt Schilling will take on Scott Kazmir. Although striking out eight and allowing five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in his last start, Schilling got a no decision. In his last start against the Devil Rays, the undefeated ace allowed only one run in six innings. Kazmir's last start against Boston was a good one, allowing one run and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. However, his last start was rocky as the Yankees blasted him with three runs on seven hits. The bad blood between these two teams is thick, but with the way Schilling has been pitching as of late expect the Devil Rays to crumble.
Winner: Boston
Saturday - New York Mets at Atlanta Braves - 7 p.m. - WB 20 (WTXX)
The NL East leading Mets seem to be beating everyone else they have been facing, except their division rival Atlanta. The Mets went 1-2 against the Braves at home in the teams' first of three, three-game series against them. Carlos Delgado has played well for the Mets in his first season on the team, hitting eight home runs - good for third in the NL. The Mets' offense has improved and developed well and is led by three players batting .329 and who have drove in 11 or more runs. Andruw Jones continues to carry the load for the Braves, driving in 23 runs and hitting eight home runs so far, heads and shoulders above any of his teammates in either category. Only two players bat over .300 and other than hit producers Jones and Marcus Giles, the Braves have a tough time getting runs, posting the NL's sixth worst run total with the bases loaded. Victor Zambrano takes the hill for the Mets and Mets fans should be cringing. The Braves handed Zambrano his first loss of the season and in Zambrano's three starts he has pitched a total of 14 innings and has given up 12 runs. With an inflated 9.64 ERA and a 1-2 record at Turner Field, expect Zambrano's troubles to continue. John Thomson will pitch for Atlanta and he just might be the best pitcher no one is talking about. Pitching 17 innings in three starts, Thomson has only allowed one earned run and opponents are hitting .231 against him. However, he is yet to get his first win with the lack of run support he receives. Look for Thomson to get that elusive first win in this one.
Winner: Atlanta
Sunday - Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Devil Rays - 1 p.m. - NESN
For everyone who thinks the Red Sox are strictly an offensive powerhouse, think again. The AL East leading Red Sox have gotten to where they are now as a result of their consistently great starting pitching and their dangerous closer Jonathan Papelbon, who picked up his AL leading ninth save Tuesday. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez continue to hit well, but the surprise of the year has got to be the performance of Kevin Youkilis. The first baseman is tied for second on the team in RBIs with 12 and is tied for the team lead in hits with 23. Don't look now, but the Devil Rays are actually a decent team. Coming off of years of deplorable play, the Devil Rays have a speedy team who hit the ball well. Jonny Gomes leads the AL in home runs with 10 and speed demons Carl Crawford and Joey Gathright have seven combined stolen bases. Ty Wigginton has 20 RBIs on 20 hits and eight home runs and is a defensive force at third base. A can't miss match-up of each team's aces is set for this game as Curt Schilling will take on Scott Kazmir. Although striking out eight and allowing five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in his last start, Schilling got a no decision. In his last start against the Devil Rays, the undefeated ace allowed only one run in six innings. Kazmir's last start against Boston was a good one, allowing one run and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. However, his last start was rocky as the Yankees blasted him with three runs on seven hits. The bad blood between these two teams is thick, but with the way Schilling has been pitching as of late expect the Devil Rays to crumble.
Winner: Boston
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