Unlikely Contributors Lift The Atlanta Braves Past The LA Dodgers In Game One
By Jeff Schafer
Braves Take Care Of Business In Game One
The Atlanta Braves were riding high heading into Tuesday’s match-up with the Los Angeles Dodgers after sweeping the Miami Marlins at their home park over this past weekend. The Braves sat at 0-9 for the 2016 season heading into the series with the Marlins and left with a 3-9 record. Now, they take on the heavy hitters of Los Angeles in a three-game series at the Ted.
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher, Alex Wood, started on the mound for the Dodgers. The 25-year-old lefty from Charlotte, North Carolina hasn’t gotten off to a great season so far. In his first game of the season against the Giants, he gave up five runs off eight hits in five innings. His second game against the Diamondbacks was better as he only allowed one run off five hits and struck out three. Well, things didn’t get better for Wood as he headed back to the ATL.
Bottom of the 1st inning
In the first inning, Nick Markakis singled to center field (next batter Daniel Castro tried to bunt Markakis over, but was thrown out at second), then Freddie Freeman singled and Adonis Garcia walked. Bases loaded for left-handed crusher Jeff Francoeur.
Francoeur has a .279 career batting average against left-handed pitching, but this year he’s had nine plate appearances against lefties and only has one hit. He was due for a big game against Wood!
Frenchy came through! He drove a bat high and deep to right field that scored Castro.
After the Francoeur sac fly, Tyler Flowers stepped to the plate and singled a hot shot to right field. Freeman scores! Braves up 2-0 in the bottom of the 1st inning!
Williams Perez and the oddity that occurred
Perez got the start on Tuesday because he took the place of an ill Julio Teheran. He was pitching on short rest and only lasted just 3 1/3 innings. If you were on Twitter, you saw what happened next. So many commenters about why he was coming out of the game at this point. Though he didn’t last long on Tuesday, he only allowed two hits, zero runs, three walks and had a strikeout.
Ryan Weber came in long-relief of Perez and limited the Dodgers to one run and three hits over 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Called up Monday from Triple-A after the news that Gordon Beckham would have to go on the DL, the 25-year-old is looking for every opportunity he can get his hands on.
More offense from…the Braves?!?
You read that correctly! Already up 2-0 the Braves added more in the 3rd inning. Flowers once again singled and Garcia crossed the plate.
Mallex Smith later walked with the bases loaded which scored Francoeur. Braves up 4-0!!
In the 4th inning, Francoeur and Flowers were at it again. Frenchy singled through the infield and Freeman scored and then Flowers singled past Adrian Gonzalez at first. Garcia scored to put the Braves up 6-0.
In the 7th inning, Smith doubled to left field which plated Francoeur to add on some more insurance runs. Braves lead now 8-1.
Francoeur went 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored
Flowers went 4-4 with three RBIs and one run scored
Smith went 1-3 with three RBIs and a walk
Freeman went 1-4 with two runs scored, but it was great to see him continue to swing the bat well.
How about that bullpen
Because Perez exited the game early, the bullpen was key to any victory on Tuesday. They stepped up to the plate. After Weber’s night was over, Fredi Gonzalez called up a lefty who’s flying under the radar so it seems. Hunter Cervenka has now appeared in five games and hasn’t allowed a run and only one hit.
Chris Withrow and Alexi Ogando closed out the 8th and 9th innings without any issues.
Braves cruisin’
Atlanta wins in Atlanta 8-1 for their fourth win of the 2016 season and their fourth in a row! These teams battle once again tomorrow with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10pm ET. Dodgers will send out right-hander Ross Stripling to the mound and the Braves hope that Teheran will be feeling better to make his start.