Recap: Atlanta Braves down Brewers On Walk-Off In 11
By Dan Horton
The Atlanta Braves, as always, opened up the pre-game festivities by honoring the men and women of the U.S. Military. On this Memorial Day weekend, when pay homage to those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice, the Braves wore their military appreciation red jerseys with the field of blue and white stars in the lettering of “Braves” on the front.
As an active duty member of the military, I appreciate the efforts the Braves, and many other teams, who make it a priority to honor those who serve(d) our Nation throughout the year. I always love seeing those jerseys.
The game saw limited scoring as it appeared as both teams used up most of the runs for this series in the first two games. Both of which were blowouts, one for each team.
Coming off his near no-hit bid in his last start in Miami, Shelby Miller got off to sluggish start Saturday afternoon and would labor through six grueling innings. Miller racked up 22 pitches in the 1st, 11 of those to Brewers 2nd man Gerardo Parra.
After a lead off double by Carlos Gomez, Parra would move him to 3rd on a ground out to Freddie Freeman. Brewer hot hitter Ryan Braun would single in Gomez to start the scoring for Milwaukee.
Miller was not his recently normal, effective self today. The pitches piled up quickly for Miller. After three innings he was over 50 pitches. Brewer batters were taking Miller deep into counts and fighting off good pitches.
Miller would would run into some trouble in the 4th. The Brewers would add another run after a walk and base hit. Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado would line a base hit past Alberto Callaspo at 3rd. Aramis Ramirez would be sent home from 2nd.
Jonny Gomes would throw home to try and get the runner, but one-hopped the throw to A.J. Pierzynski. Pierzynski was unable to pick the throw and Ramirez would score Milwaukee’s 2nd run to push the lead to 2-0.
The Braves would get something going in the bottom of the 4th. Nick Markakis, with 2 out, would get a rally started. Markakis sent a 3-2 pitch to the gap in right-center for his 8th double of the year. Gomes would follow-up that by beating out a grounder to Ramirez at 3rd. Pierzynski then leaned in to a slow curve that hit him in the left knee to load the bases.
Unfortunately, the Braves would leave the bases loaded as Callaspo would pop out to 2nd to end the threat. Sure would have been nice to have a Philip Gosselin, Kelly Johnson, or even a Chris Johnson healthy there in that spot.
Atlanta finally got on the board in the 5th, getting to Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers, and tie it up. Fiers had been on cruise control to that point. Miller would lead of the inning with a double down the left field line. After 2 quick outs, Cameron Maybin would double home Miller.
Freddie Freeman then came up and beat the shift with a double, the 3rd of the inning for the Braves. Maybin would score to tie it at 2. All this with 2 out, where the Braves have been much improved this year.
The pesky Brewers would threaten again in the 6th, loading the bases with only one out. Miller would give up a couple of hits and a walk. New Brewers manager Craig Counsell would send up pinch hitter Kris Davis. On the first pitch, Davis would check swing a dribbler back to Miller. Miller would get Ramirez at the plate and the Pierzynski would fire to first to get Davis on 1-2-3 double play.
Deadlocked at 2, in the top half of the 9th, the Brewers would get a man on after a two out walk from Braves closer Jason Grilli. Brewer lead off man Luis Sardinas would hit a single to right field. As Markakis came up throwing toward third, Andrelton Simmons would cut the ball off. Simmons then fired a bullet back to Freeman at first. What would have been a 1st and 3rd situation for the Brewers, ended the inning on the rookie Sardinas under-estimation of Andrelton Simmons’ arm.
The Braves would go quietly in the 9th and free baseball ensued in Atlanta. Only Atlanta’s second extra-inning game of the season.
In the top of the 10th, Braves reliever Nick Masset would give up a lead off double to Gomez. Masset would get an out and then Gomez would advance to 3rd on a wild pitch. The Braves then intentionally put Ryan Braun on 1st. Luis Avilan would then come, throw one pitch, and get Adam Lind to ground out on 3-6-3 double play to end the inning for Milwaukee. A huge double play in a bigger situation.
Freddie Freeman would start the 10th for the Braves with a walk. He would be erased by a strike ’em out throw ’em out double play on a Markakis foul tip. Gomes would go down on strikes to end the 10th.
Alberto Callaspo would draw a walk in the 11th after a Pierzynski ground out. Then the Braves catch an unlucky break. With Andrelton up, he shoot a screaming liner down the third base line. However, it would end up hitting the 3rd base umpire. That would keep runners at 1st and 2nd instead of 3rd and 2nd.
Now with two outs after an Eric Young, Jr. ground out, both Callaspo and Simmons would move up 90 feet putting runners at 2nd and 3rd anyway. Now it was time for Braves rookie Jace Peterson to shine. On the first pitch of the at bat, Peterson would send the game winner to the gap in left-center on a pitch away. A very mature at bat from a young kid.
Peterson would give the Braves their first win in extra frames this year.
The pitchers of record were Avilan for the Braves. The loss goes to Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler. Both teams are back at it tomorrow afternoon in the 4th game of the series. The Braves look to earn a series win before heading off on a long west coast road trip.
Starters for tomorrow will be Mike Foltynewicz (2-1) for the Braves against Jimmy Nelson (2-4). First pitch is slated for 1:35 PM EST.
Good win for the good guys today/tonight. They gain a game on both the Mets and Nats. Both the Mets and the Nationals went down big time.