“Not Gonna Win Playoffs If Can’t Win Road Games”

The Atlanta Braves were cruising through the innings last night doing the same thing we’ve seen lately…get runners on base but not being able to get them across the plate.  But than in the 7th inning, something magical happened….Justin Upton was able to get a base hit WITH runners on base!

Jun 26, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) connects for a two run single in the seventh inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Minor gave up early runners to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night when Alex Gordon lead off the bottom of the 1st inning with a solo home run to right center field.  Than Salvador Perez singled in Billy Butler who got a double prior.  Making the game 2-0 before Freddie Freeman and the rest of the lineup that follows even had the chance to walk to the plate.  The Gordon-Butler team was able to knock in another run in the bottom of the 3rd when Gordon singled and later Butler drove him in with a single.

Then the game went silent, in a pitching duel of the ages…………..

After their cat nap, starting at 8:10 and waking up roughly 9:45, the Braves were able to put something together.  Braves had back to back singles from the bats of Dan Uggla and Chris Johnson.  Then Reed Johnson singled in Uggla to make the game 3-1.  After Jason Heyward walked, Justin Upton drove in two runners when he blasted a single up the middle. 3-3 YAY!

We wouldn’t see another run until the bottom of the 10th inning when, what do you know, Alex Gordon singled in David Lough to win the game.  Braves youngster Alex Wood recorded the loss, as Aaron Crow picked up the win.

After the game Gerald Laird talked to the media after his 1-5 night “We definitely got to step it up on the road, because you’re not going to win in the playoffs if you can’t win games on the road.  We’re too good of a team to play like we do on the road, we give ourselves opportunities…but it seems like we’ve just got to bring a little more energy.”

If your mind still remembers the last few games from this road trip, the Braves lost 3 of 5 since their last game at Turner Field.  23 of their past 36 games on the road, they’ve lost.

Julio Teheran (5-4) will take on former prospect and Braves pitcher Randall Delgado (0-1) on Friday night.  Delgado hasn’t had the start of 2013 like he wanted to as he’s supporting a 4.50 ERA and opponent batting average up to .321.

Jordan Schafer took a ball off the ankle bone last night…after he swung the ball went straight down to his ankle and he showed the pain.  Schafer limped around for a while and still showed signs of discomfort when he was in the outfield.

Post game, Fredi Gonzalez spoke on Schafer “He had x-rays and they came back negative.  We pinched hit with Reed Johnson because it was a left handed pitcher.”