Atlanta Braves Game 2 Recap: Late runs spoil Norris’ debut

Second verse, same as the first—Braves go toe-to-toe with Washington, fall late on Day Two of 2016

On paper, Bud Norris vs. Stephen Strasburg looks like a match-up that falls squarely in the favor of the Washington Nationals.

Fortunately, they make you play the games anyway, and Norris marched right out and tossed seven sterling innings, spotting his fastball exceptionally well to put the Braves in the w—

(Record scratches to a halt)

A series of unfortunate events saw Norris’ chance at a victory in his Atlanta debut evaporate in the seventh inning, as he would lose his shutout and the game after looking like 2014 Bud Norris for his first six innings of work as a Brave. After entering the seventh leading 1-0, Norris and the Braves fell, 3-1, with Strasburg and Co. holding the Braves bats silent for a large part of Wednesday evening.

A pair of walks led to Atlanta’s only scoring salvo, as Nick Markakis and Hector Olivera coaxed back-to-back free passes out of Stephen Strasburg. The next man up, A.J. Pierzynski lined a single to center to score Markakis, but was thrown out trying to advance—a crucial second out, with Jace Peterson’s ensuing strikeout saw the inning end with Olivera stranded on third.

Norris sailed right along for most of the night, with only Danny Espinosa advancing past first over the game’s opening six innings—and Norris made a heads-up play on a fielder’s choice to nail him at third as well. But in the seventh, disaster struck.

Ryan Zimmerman knocked a leadoff single into right, advancing to second on a Jayson Werth groundout. With two away, Wilson Ramos’ chopper up the middle was snared by Erick Aybar. With the slow-footed Ramos hustling down the line, Aybar’s off-line throw was not the issue—Freeman’s throw to the plate was off the mark, although whether he or Pierzynski should have been saddled with the error seemed to be a matter of debate.

Regardless, Zimmerman and Washington had found the tying run and the trouble didn’t stop there. After Espinosa got a free pass, pinch-hitter Matt den Dekker – called up earlier in the day after Ben Revere hit the disabled list – smoked a double to right-center to bring home Ramos and Espinosa.

Some nice things happened—Alexi Ogando and John Gant looked pretty sharp in their debuts, for instance—but the story is Bud Norris, and it ends with Bud Norris getting the 2015 Shelby Miller Hard-Luck Award. Using a steady diet of well-located four-seamers mixed with the occasional slider, Norris scattered six hits and three earned over seven complete, walking two and striking out four. You couldn’t have asked for a better debut.

The offense awoke in the ninth, putting two on against Jonathan Papelbon thanks to back-to-back singles from Adonis Garcia (capping a 3-for-4 night for him) and Markakis. Olivera stepped in and went after the first pitch he saw, grounding to short but beating it out to keep the game alive with two down and runners on the corners.

In stepped Pierzynski, but it was not to be on this night. He battled Papelbon but Washington’s closer reached back for a little extra on a 2-2 fastball to snuff out the Braves comeback hopes.

Next: Reviewing the High-A Carolina Mudcats Roster

The Braves have Thursday off before a weekend series with the Cardinals. Matt Wisler is scheduled to make his season debut against Jaime Garcia, set for a 7:35 p.m. (ET) first pitch.