ATLANTA - Jerad Eickhoff, with his hands on his hips, stood just off the mound on Wednesday night and watched a challenge go unfulfilled. Fireworks rocketed over the SunTrust Park scoreboard and a fountain shot like a geyser as the pitcher's night unraveled in a 14-1 loss to the Braves. Eickhoff could only watch.
Eickhoff lasted just five innings in his first start since manager Pete Mackanin and pitching coach Bob McClure summoned him and Aaron Nola into a meeting and demanded that they pitch better. The pitchers, who both have struggled this season, felt a meeting was near.