The Atlanta Braves have been playing solid baseball recently. They’ll see if that can help translate into Kenshin Kawakami’s first victory of the season. After a day off today, Atlanta (23-21) starts a three-game series against the Florida Marlins on Tuesday in Miami.
Kawakami (0-6, 4.98 ERA) will pitch the series opener against Florida’s Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 3.28). In his last outing, Kawakami received a no decision last Wednesday when he didn’t allow any earned runs and recorded five strike outs over six innings against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Braves won the game when rookie Jason Heyward connected on a walk-off double in the ninth inning.
Kawakami took the loss in his first six outings this season, most recently against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 9.
On Wednesday, Tommy Hanson (3-3, 4.18) looks to get back on track against Florida’s Nate Robertson (4-4, 4.56).
In his last outing, Hanson was rocked for eight earned runs last Thursday against Cincinnati. However, he was saved from taking the loss with Brooks Conrad’s walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning for a 10-9 Braves win.
Hanson took the loss in his previous outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 15, allowing five earned runs over seven innings.
GWINNETT BRAVES: The Triple-A G-Braves have struggled of late, losers of four straight games last week, and hope to turn things around as they continue a four-game series at the Indianapolis Indians today. After a day off on Wednesday, Gwinnett visits the Louisville Bats for a three games starting on Thursday.
Last week, the G-Braves dropped five of six games at Coolray Field, with the only win coming by the score of 5-4 against the Columbus Clippers.
AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION: Gainesville High rising senior Will Frankum will be among 77 boys and 18 girls contenders from across the country in the field at the Preseason Junior event starting Saturday at Chateau Elan in Braselton.
The Preseason Junior tournament is one of 85 events held nationwide this year on the AJGA. The Preseason Junior is a 36-hole, stroke play event on the course that plays 6,797 yards at Chateau Elan.
This season for the Red Elephants, Frankum fired a 72 and finished in a tie for fourth place at the Region 7-AAA championships at the Achasta Course in Dahlonega. He also carded a one-under par (71) at the Apple Mountain Invitational.
White County’s John Luna is an alternate for the event.
ATLANTA FALCONS: The Challenged Child and Friends bowling outing with the Atlanta Falcons is Wednesday at the Oasis Bowling Center in Buford. Registered teams are paired with Falcons players, former Falcons and cheerleaders to raise money for the center.