Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Box Score, Gwinnett Braves, Hector Olivera
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves missed out on sweeping the Marlins on Sunday losing 4-1 in a game where the Braves just couldn’t figure out Brad Hand. Shelby Miller was on the mound again for the Braves and the offense was unable to find any run support once again. Miller has been given 1.38 runs per game by the offense and is MLB’s worst during his winless streak. His winless streak has now reached 15 games.
Braves lose 4-1
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jace Peterson 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .248 | .324 | .351 |
| Cameron Maybin CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .269 | .330 | .376 |
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .300 | .372 | .377 |
| A.J. Pierzynski C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .300 | .338 | .440 |
| Jonny Gomes LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .211 | .314 | .337 |
| Nick Swisher 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .194 | .261 | .296 |
| Adonis Garcia 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .230 | .254 | .492 |
| Andrelton Simmons SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .255 | .321 | .332 |
| Shelby Miller P | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .077 | .122 | .128 |
| Eury Perez PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .286 | .350 | .321 |
| Ryan Kelly P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Ross Detwiler P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Jake Brigham P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Michael Bourn PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .244 | .311 | .292 |
| Matt Marksberry P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| David Aardsma P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Team Totals | 30 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 33 | .100 | .182 | .233 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Miller, L (5-9) | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2.48 |
| Ryan Kelly | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Ross Detwiler | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.57 |
| Jake Brigham | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.60 |
| Matt Marksberry | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.42 |
| David Aardsma | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4.50 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 4.00 |
Atlanta Braves unable to complete sweep, fall to Marlins 4-1
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves just can not figure out Brad Hand. Earlier this season, he pitched eight innings in relief and only allowed one run. On Sunday, Hand only gave up one hit and that was to the pitcher, Shelby Miller. The Braves were going for the four-game sweep of the Marlins, but came up short. Atlanta is now 51-61 for the season.
"Brad Hand threw seven strong innings and drove in two runs with sacrifice bunts and the Miami Marlins ended a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.In the second inning, Hand (2-2) was retired at first base as Cole Gillespie scored from third. In the fifth, he drove home J.T. Realmuto with another good bunt. Braves first baseman Nick Swisher tried to scoop the bunt and shovel it to catcher A.J. Pierzynski, but it wasn’t a clean play and Realmuto scored.Hand had two career RBIs in 63 plate appearances entering the game. Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich had the other RBIs for the Marlins."
Gwinnett Braves head into critical stretch against fellow playoff contenders
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Gwinnett Braves are currently four games behind the Norfolk Tides in the International League South divisional race and 1.5 games behind the Columbus Clippers in the Wild Card race. Starting on Monday, Gwinnett will be on a 10-game road trip that begins in Charlotte…a team that is only one game behind them in the standings. Since the Braves are all but eliminated from the 2015 MLB playoffs, might as well follow the Gwinnett Braves!
"Gwinnett couldn’t complete a weekend sweep of Buffalo on Sunday at Coolray Field, going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position during a 2-0 loss.The G-Braves (61-53) finished 5-2 on the homestand and have won 13 of their past 16 games to move into second place in the South Division of the International League.Gwinnett made the postseason just once in its first six seasons, qualifying as the wild card in the inaugural year of 2009."
.
It’s Time to Stash Hector Olivera
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves dealt starting pitcher Alex Wood (and others) to the Dodgers for prized Cuban star, Hector Olivera. Though the Braves were very high on Olivera, they lost the battle earlier this year when the Dodgers signed him to a very lucrative deal. The money talked then, but the Braves finally got their guy. The Dodgers are paying his $30 million signing bonus so that also helps the Braves.
"A focal point of the three-team deal between the Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves was Hector Olivera, a 30-year-old slugging corner infielder who defected from Cuba last year.Considered to be the most coveted prospect to leave the country since Jose Abreu, several teams (namely the Dodgers, Braves, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics) fought to secure the free agent despite rumors that he was dealing with damage to his UCL earlier this spring.Ultimately signed to a six-year $62.5 million contract in late March, it was widely assumed by most experts that Olivera would take over either second or third base duties for the team, replacing either Howie Kendrick or then third baseman Juan Uribe.A combination of hamstring injuries to Olivera, and strong play by both Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero, forced his timetable back and ultimately allowed the club to realize that he could be used as a trade chip to secure other positions of need, mainly in their pitching staff."