For this was the Braves' window of opportunity. Johnson shut them out in Game 1, Schilling will go in Game 3. Miguel Batista, then, was the starter who had to be beaten Wednesday. In this case it's probably magnified. We certainly didn't want to go home down 2-0 with the prospects of facing Curt.
Every pitcher wants a wide strike zone.
Few use one as well as Braves LHP Tom Glavine. Umpire Jeff Kellogg works the plate in Game 2 and gives no extra outside inches for Glavine to nibble. Glavine adjusts and keeps working the outside part of the plate. Lopez's seventh-inning home run proved they were right. I think they knew they weren't going to sweep us.