Eleven days ago, Jon Niese made his big league debut in Milwaukee and promptly blew a five-run lead that had been handed to him. He lasted only three-plus innings and exited with a 15.00 ERA to his credit. This time around things went a lot smoother, as Niese shut out the Braves through eight innings, allowing just eight baserunners (six hits, two walks) and striking out seven. He threw his fastball in the 89 MPH range, touching 92 at times. His curveball came in at a knee-bending 73 MPH, which he threw for a strike 75% of the time. He mixed in just three changeups.

The only regret about Niese's performance was that Jerry Manuel did his best Dusty Baker impression by leaving his young lefty out there for 116 pitches. Niese has now thrown 175 innings this season, well beyond the 134.1 he threw in 2007. The Verducci Effect dictates that young pitchers shouldn't exceed by more than thirty innings their prior season's pitching workload. Niese has thrown 40 more innings, and is just 21 years old. The good news is that, barring any more rainouts, Niese is probably done for the year.

Big winners: Jon Niese, +28.0% WPA, David Wright, +16.1% WPA
Big losers: Luis Castillo, -4.6% WPA, Carlos Delgado, -3.3% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Wright two-run bomb, +16.4% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Sammons leadoff walk in 5th, 3.0% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +28.7%
Total batter WPA: +21.3%
GWRBI: David Wright

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by pingel; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.