Atlanta Braves Play Long/Small Ball to Outlast Toronto, 8-7
Small ball met large ball tonight, and in the end it was large ball that broke open a back-and-forth contest as the Braves out-bashed the homes-standing Blue Jays on Friday night by a score of 8-7.
The Braves trailed by scores of 1-0, 2-1, and 4-2 at three different junctions tonight, yet kept coming back time and time again. Three-spots in the fifth and eighth innings finally turned momentum toward the Braves, though Toronto kept after them the whole way.
The curious thing is just how differently the Braves scored in those decisive innings:
- 5th: Nick Markakis single, Chris Johnson walk, Andrelton Simmons double, Jace Peterson triple.
- 8th: Jonny Gomes pinch-hit homer to straightaway center, Nick Markakis single (there’s a theme here), Freddie Freeman monster homer to the second deck in right field.
All That Despite…
How do you characterize the start by Julio Teheran? 7 hits over 5 innings… that’s not so horrible. Four balls flying out of the park? That’s horrible.
Part of me wants to assign much of the credit to the potent Toronto offense… but Teheran really didn’t have it tonight: pitches were way too hittable. He managed 4 strikeouts against 2 walks in those 5 innings, but 94 pitches (54 strikes) were hit very hard by everyone. Home runs came from most of the infield: Travis once, Martin once (and again off of Jim Johnson later), and Donaldson twice. Encarnacion added a double.
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Teheran did get credit for a phantom HBP against CF Dalton Pompey. In reality, it was a breaker that hit the dirt beside home plate… and Pompey stuck his foot out of the batter’s box to receive the free pass. A protest from A.J. Pierzynski and Fredi Gonzalez fell on deaf ears.
Cody Martin picked up his first major league win thanks to being in the game at the right time. He and Luis Avilan pitched well enough to hold the Jays at bay for a while. Jim Johnson did yield two runs in the 8th to get them close – and it could have been worse. A rundown play went the Braves’ way to nail LF Kevin Pillar with the umpire being the correct position to rule that Pillar went out of his way to put a body block on Alberto Callaspo in an attempt to lure an interference call. Another step to his left, though, and Callaspo might have lost that call… putting the Braves in deep trouble as Pillar was the tying run.
Jason Grilli came in and had an impressive 3 batter, 3 out save to finish the deed.
All About That Offense
The Braves mustered twelve hits and 5 walks, thus generating threats in a bunch of innings. That said, the home runs were nice, too. Nick Markakis was putting on a hitting clinic, though: 4 for 4, scoring 3 runs in the process and getting on base five times.
With runners in scoring position – that stat we love to watch a lot: 4 for 12… that’ll work. Even guys like Eric Young – only 1 for 5 on the night – got into that act for an RBI.
DAY GAME ON SATURDAY that begins at 1pm Eastern! Alex Wood takes the mound vs. R.A. Dickey… hopefully that knuckleball doesn’t mess up the hitters.