Atlanta Braves Take Series From Jays
By Fred Owens
After a long first inning Braves Shelby Miller settled down and controlled the Jays potent offense as the Braves took the rubber game of the series 5-2.
This was a less volatile game than the first two and in the end it came down to pitching and defense; the good pitching from the Braves and slack defense by the Jays. The Braves first three runs came as a result on awful throws from the Jays outfield.
Cameron Maybin singled but was erased in a strike out – throw out double play with Alberto Callaspo swung at a change that dropped out of the zone. At the point it looked like Jays starter Daniel Norris would get out of the inning but a single by Nick Markakis was followed by a double from Freddie Freeman and a walk to Chris Johnson.
Jonny Gomes followed the walk with a line drive to center that was badly misplayed by Dalton Pompey who fell backwards trying to correct his route then compounded the Jays’ problems by throwing wide of third base and allow Johnson to follow Markakis and Freeman home.
Miller started the Braves half by hitting Devon Travis with his fifth pitch of the game;Travis would eventually leave the game with a severe contusion (bruise) of the ribs. After Josh Donaldson hit a lazy fly ball to center, Jose Bautista walked but Miller encouraged Edwin Encarnacion to hit into an inning ending double play.
Atlanta Braves
Norris continued to struggle against the Braves lineup while Martin settled in to a nice rhythm. After a one out single by Justin Smoak in the second Miller retired the next 10 batters – the last four on strikeouts – before Pompey singled in the fifth. Martin finished the fifth and got the first two hitters in the sixth before he started nibbling instead of going after Bautista and walked him.
Encarnacion followed that walk with a single and Russell Martin backed that up with a double scoring the two runners but after a walk to Justin Smoak, Miller coaxed Kevin Pillar to fly out to left ending the threat ending the inning and the Jays’ scoring for the day.
The Braves pen had been stretched a bit over the first two games so skipper Fredi Gonzalez brought in Andrew McKirahan who quickly retired the first two Jays hitters. He was replaced by Cody Martin who finished the seventh and threw an uneventful eighth. Jason Grilli came in to close the game out and record his sixth save.
That’s A Wrap
So the Braves continue to amaze everyone but themselves and are now 8-4 on the season. The bullpen remains solid though the series does bring into question whether Jim Johnson’s return to effectiveness is real. Markakis stayed hot going 2-4 today and finishing the series 7-10 with 4 walks
We also found out that Freddie Freeman – like all real baseball players – detests being a DH. He had a good day at the plate but in the dugout was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers.
Next up we get the Mets at Citi Field and as the Braves hope for better outings from Trevor Cahill on Tuesday and Eric Stults on Wednesday.