Atlanta Braves Hang On, Beat Marlins Again

Apr 10, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jason Grilli (39) celebrates after a strikeout to end the game against the New York Mets in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Two rain delays, a rally, then a late Marlins rally made for a long night, but the Braves managed to keep the Fish at bay, winning 3-2 on Monday night, pushing their record to a National League best 6-1.

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Mat Latos wasn’t exactly back to form after Atlanta hammered him early and often last week, but he was effective enough through 4 innings and the delays.

In the fifth, with the game tied at 1, Jace Peterson singled to start the festivities, then Eric Young tomahawked a line drive off the center field wall for a double. Alberto Callaspo knocked Peterson in with a single – one that normally would have scored Young, but he slipped around third base and wisely played it safe. No matter, for Nick Markakis drove him in with another hit.

Once again, small ball prevailed, and truth be told, Atlanta could have have more runs last night except for an incredible catch by left fielder Christian Yelich in the second inning. Not often that somebody catches a ball there while diving toward the wall, but that’s exactly what happened. But the Braves continued to get base-runners: 7 hits, 7 walks while strikeouts were up a tick to 8 last night.

Starter Shelby Miller gets his first W as a Brave: 5 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 1 K, and 1 earned run. That’ll work most nights. Cody Martin… you just can’t say enough about his efforts thus far: 2 more scoreless innings with 2 K’s and 1 hit. Jim Johnson had an uneventful 8th inning, sans 1 walk.

Saved in the 9th

Last night was also exactly the kind of scenario that I had feared when Craig Kimbrel headed west to San Diego. Jason Grilli pitched well, but had difficulty putting away the last few hitters.

Martin Prado opened the inning with a gapper to left-center for a double. No matter – 2 run lead, but the tying run did come to the plate… a lot. Grilli got Michael Morse and Marcell Ozuna to strike out… they were the biggest home run threats, so certainly that helped.

But then he almost couldn’t finish it up.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: 2 balls, strike, ball, strike (full count), then a walk.
Adeiny Hechavarria: 2 quick strikes, then a foul, a ball, and then a single to left field – scoring Prado and putting their pinch-runner in scoring position… the tying run.

Fortunately, Jeff Baker failed to foul off pitches… or swing the bat at all, for that matter… and Grilli finally got the last strikeout to finish the game after 29 pitches. Jim Johnson could be called on to close tonight, if the situation arises, since he threw just 18.

Nonetheless: 6-1. Amazing.

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