Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Box Score, Andrelton Simmons Injury
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves had to send Shelby Miller out to the mound on Monday even though going into the day he wasn’t expecting to pitch. Mike Foltynewciz was originally the Braves starter, but wasn’t feeling well and had to miss his start. Miller pitched fantastically (again), but the Braves offense wasn’t able to give him any run support (again). With the loss on Monday, Atlanta falls to 54-77…and if you’re interested in it, only 2.5 games from the 2016 #1 draft pick.
Braves lose 4-0
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .298 | .368 | .374 |
| Pedro Ciriaco SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .262 | .268 | .369 |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .279 | .356 | .480 |
| Jonny Gomes LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .221 | .325 | .364 |
| Nick Swisher LF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .209 | .296 | .351 |
| Adonis Garcia 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .260 | .269 | .481 |
| Jace Peterson 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .241 | .316 | .340 |
| Christian Bethancourt C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .192 | .218 | .267 |
| Michael Bourn CF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .227 | .301 | .271 |
| Shelby Miller P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .065 | .122 | .109 |
| Matt Marksberry P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Cameron Maybin PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .271 | .336 | .388 |
| Peter Moylan P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Ryan Kelly P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Team Totals | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 32 | .111 | .250 | .111 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Miller, L (5-12) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2.56 |
| Matt Marksberry | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.63 |
| Peter Moylan | 0.2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.23 |
| Ryan Kelly | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.10 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4.00 |
Simmons dealing with right ankle discomfort
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: On Monday, first we heard about Mike Foltynewciz having to miss his scheduled start because he was sick. Then we got the news about Cameron Maybin dealing with nagging aches and pains. Then the news came in about Andrelton Simmons having s sore right ankle. And later on during the game, we heard about Jonny Gomes being traded to the Kansas City Royals. It was a busy day on Monday for the Braves.
"Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was walking up the dugout stairs preparing to complete his normal pregame running exercises before he felt some familiar right ankle discomfort that caused him to miss Monday night’s 4-0 loss to the Marlins.The Braves scratched Simmons from the starting lineup less than 10 minutes before the first pitch. If this ailment reacts like it has in the past, the Gold Glove shortstop could return to action within the next couple days."
"“He’s had this before,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Every couple months it just grabs him and bites on him. It’s nothing serious. It’s day to day and hopefully, he can get back in there in a couple days.”"
Royals acquire Jonny Gomes and cash from Braves for Luis Valenzuela
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves sent Gomes to Kansas City on Monday evening for 22-year-old infielder Valenzuela. The 5’10” / 150 shortstop, second basemen and third basemen will probably be assigned to the Rome Braves (Atlanta’s Single-A affiliate). This guy probably won’t blow up the Braves prospect list, but he could be a solid minor leaguer.
"As for Luis Valenzuela–the prospect headed to Atlanta–the middle-infielder logged most of his time at short this season for the Lexington Legends, Kansas City’s low-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. With eight games in Rookie ball factored into his season’s line, the barely-22-year-old Valenzuela played 55 games with 221 plate appearances slashing .364/.385/.502. He has just 184 plate appearances above a rookie-level. In his career in the low minors, he hit .291/.330/.410 while spending about 60% of his time at second base.Nearly all of his playing time was accrued over the past two seasons, totaling 112 of his 126 career affiliated games. In the past two years, he stroked 19 doubles, eight triples, and six homers while successfully stealing on 14 of 16 attempts. His 22 walks to his 75 strikeouts do not speak to a batter who possesses the patience at the plate."