Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop
By Jeff Schafer
Chase Anderson wins again, Arizona Diamondbacks beat Atlanta Braves 6-5
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: Chase Anderson, Arizona’s starting pitcher on Sunday, threw seven innings with only allowing two runs and picked up the win. He became the third pitcher since 1998 to win their first five major league starts. His this kid for real or have hitters just not figured him out yet? Other than the home run by Justin Upton, the Braves made him look like an All-Star.
"Anderson (5-0) had a career-best eight strikeouts. He allowed two runs and five hits on his way to becoming the first player to open his career with five straight wins since Jered Weaver won seven straight in 2006.Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman and Ramiro Pena homered for the Braves, who lost two of three in Arizona. Aaron Harang (4-5) issued six walks in six-plus innings, matching a season high, and was charged with three runs and four hits."
Lenny Dykstra‘s son Luke chosen by Atlanta Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: The Braves selected one of the most hated players in the National League East history son, Luke Dykstra, son of former Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets All-Star Lenny Dykstra. Luke was picked by the Braves in the seventh round of the 2014 Major League Draft.
"Luke Dykstra, a 6-foot-1,190 pound shortstop from Thousand Oaks, CA who attends Westlake High School was the 223rd player selected in the draft.In 99 games, Dykstra is a .403 hitter with 54 RBIs 87 runs scored.“He’s just like his dad,” Braves scouting director Tony DeMacio told MLB.com, referring to Luke Dykstra. “He plays with his hair on fire.”“I’m very excited that he’s with the Atlanta Braves,” Lenny Dykstra said. “They’re a great organization. I know they don’t like me very much because I kicked their [butt] all the time. But they’re a first-class organization. They win. They are obviously doing a lot of things right there. They keep bringing players up there like the Cardinals. It’s almost like the Braves and Cardinals have some kind of factory where they clone these [players].”"
Cameron University’s Codey McElroy Drafted By The Atlanta Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: The Atlanta Braves walked away from the 2014 MLB draft with 40 new players. Drafting 40 guys isn’t usually the norm but that’s what happened. The Braves picked up Codey McElroy from Cameron University in the 19th round. In 2011, the Braves selected Chase Larsson in the 9th round from the same university.
"Cameron University shortstop Codey McElroy was selected in the nineteenth round, 583rd overall by the Atlanta Braves in the Major League Baseball draft on Saturday afternoon.McElroy completed his junior season with a .318 batting average, while leading the Aggies with 31 RBI, and seven homers in 45 starts. On the field, he fielded 121 assists, 101 putouts, and a had a .941 fielding percentage. For his efforts this last year, McElroy earned a Lone Star Conference First Team selection, and was awarded a Gold Glove in the South Central Region by the ABCA."
Gwinnett Doubles Up Rochester, 4-2
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: The Gwinnett Braves took down the top team in Triple-A on Sunday as they try to complete for the top spot in 2014. Christian Bethancourt and Phil Gosselin each had RBIs and Ian Thomas came in to pick up his first save of the season.
"The Gwinnett Braves (32-30) scored three runs in the first two innings and held off the Rochester Red Wings (36-27) late to win 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field.Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Jordan Walden made the start for the G-Braves, hurling 1.0 innings, allowing one walk and striking out two. He threw 19 pitches, 12 for strikes in his second rehab appearance with Gwinnett.“I felt good out there, hamstring felt good. I didn’t have any issues with it again, so that was a positive,” said Walden. “I walked the first guy and I wasn’t very happy with that. I didn’t feel like the command was there, but I battled through and got a couple strikeouts.”"