Braves Have No Answer For Jake Arrieta

Jul 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher

(17) delivers a pitch to Chicago Cubs center fielder

(24) in the first inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Arrieta hardly broke sweat against a punchless Braves lineup that was noticeably over matched. The Cubs led 3-0 after 6 and  this tweet following that inning summed up the day.

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Braves Defense

A rare Jace Peterson error in the second set the tone for the game when an errant throw to second when a double play was never in order allowed  both runners to reach safely.

Shelby Miller then walked David Ross to load the bases but after Arrieta struck out looking second baseman Jonathan Herrera singled to center driving in two. Jorge Soler homered with two out in the third to give them a three zip lead. The game might as well have ended at that point.

Arrieta held the Braves hitless and retired nine in a row (four on Ks) after giving up a Kelly Johnson walk in the first before AJ Pierzynski doubled. He was stranded n second as Pedro Ciriaco struck out to end the inning.

Miller struggled with control all day and seemed to work himself into and out of trouble in every inning except the first and sixth.He left for a pinch hitter after the sixth but has a real case to for nonsupport. In five of his last six starts the Braves haven’t scored at all and his winless streak now sits at eleven.

Luis Avilan pitched the seventh and after a Dexter Fowler leadoff single and followed by a four pitch walk to Chris Bryant he coaxed Anthony Rizzo hit into a 3-61 double play.  He walked Soler but struck out Chris Coghlan to end the inning.

David Aardsma pitched the eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Castro. He got David Ross to popup to Peterson on a nice running catch behind first and struck out Kyle Schwarber before Herrera singled to left. He ended the threat and the inning by getting Fowler to ground out to first.

Arodys Vizcaino came on to pitch the ninth and struck out Bryant but apparently everyone does that.  Rizzo hit a scorching infield single that Andrelton Simmons nearly turned into an out.  A passed ball allowed Rizzo to get to second but after Soler popped up to Kelly for the second out Chris Coghlan doubled to left center scoring Rizzo.  That gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead.

Braves Bats

As has been the case lately the lineup looked impotent for most of the game. Maybin singled in the bottom of the sixth,  Eury Perez rolled a double down the first base line past Rizzo in the seventh and Peterson led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. But none of that produce anything significant.

In the bottom of the ninth the Braves did mount a two out rally.  Perez walked and went to second on defensive indifference. Simmons followed with a double scoring Perez and preventing the shut out but Jonny Gomes pinch hitting for Vizcaino hit a ground ball to short on the first pitch and Castro threw him out to end the game.

That’s A Wrap

The Braves lineup clicks only when both Peterson and Maybin are both hitting and Jace has been in an awful slump. With Freddie Freeman out for a while there’s no power threat available to make pitchers work hard. The bench is still then and punchless as well.  I know Ciriaco and Perez have had a few hits but on a day to day basis their bats get exposed by good pitching.

AJ is wearing down. Although he doubled early today, he looked weary when trying to block balls in the dirt late in the game. He’s not a good defensive catcher at the best of times and when he’s tired he’s bad. Chris Johnson is personna non grata right now and not getting enough ABs to get a rhythm. There’s just no there there.

The pitching has generally been good. Miller gave up three runs but two of those were due to the error by Peterson. The bullpen bent but didn’t break until Vizcaino gave up the run in the ninth.  Fredi Gonzalez bullpen use continues to be a puzzle.

Three runs down he brought Luis Avilan in to pitch the seventh. This was Avilan’s 47th appearance keeping him at least tied for the major league lead in appearances. With the addition of Ryan Weber, Ross Detwiler and Jason Frasor and the arrival shortly before them of David Aardsma – all but Frasor would have been available – I wonder why Gonzalez continues to ride Avilan like a rented mule.  Is it just habit? If so it’s a bad one.

Tomorrow the Braves welcome the Dodgers who just handed the Nationals their tail. Brandon Beachy returns to Atlanta for the first time wearing Dodger blue.  I know he’ll be welcomed, I hope however the lineup isn’t too friendly.

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