Center Field Gate

Hopes for a ninth straight win were dashed by Tommy Hanson and the Atlanta Braves on Monday night, as the Chops prevailed over the Washington Nationals, 8-1. The normally effective John Lannan struggled with the strike zone early and left the game in the fourth after giving up five runs. Lannan’s lack of command was unusual for the lefty who, even on his off days, regularly goes beyond the fifth. Matching Lannan’s ineffectiveness was Braves’ phenom, Tommy Hanson, who gave up a single run in nearly seven innings pitched. Hanson showed why the Braves, who need to surge in the NL East to catch the Phillies, have so much confidence in him. Hanson fanned nine in his nearly seven innings of work, while giving up seven hits. Hanson dampened the Nats’ red hot bats: while the Anacostia nine threatened to undo Hanson’s early innings handiwork — particularly in the first inning — the team could never put together a real threat. “That’s the most fun I’ve had since I’ve been up here,” Hanson said after the game.

The highly touted Hanson appears to be everything the Braves hoped he would be: the number one prospect in the Braves’ system going into 2009 Hanson (once rumored to be headed to San Diego as a package for Jake Peavy), was called up to the big club after the legendary Tom Glavine was released. Hanson was not always a phenom: he was drafted by the Braves in the 22nd round of the 2005 draft — pick number 677 overall. Nor was Hanson necessarily always slated as a starter. In 2006 and 2007, Hanson was used often as a reliever and, while he compiled impressive numbers, there was no guarantee that he was on the fast track to the majors. In 2006, Hanson pitched for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (a Braves single-A affiliate), compiling a 3-3 record with a 4.20 ERA. Even so, many in the Braves’ organization knew that Hanson could be something special. Hanson was fast-tracked out of Myrtle Beach in 2008 and began the 2009 season in triple-A Gwinnett. At the age of 22, Hanson is 7-2 with a 3.05 ERA.