Atlanta Braves Game Recap: We’ve Seen this Replay Before…though New York did not… BoSox Win 1-0.

Another frustrating game with minimal offensive support sees Braves fall despite gutsy performance from Teheran

As usual when there’s a popular team “from up North”, the attendance at Turner Field tonight was inflated (22,735) to the point that jeering matches erupted between the home Braves’ fans and the squatter Red Sox faithful.  In the end, it can down to one pitch and perhaps one replay… that didn’t actually happen.

Julio Teheran was brilliant – 115 pitches through 7 innings, allowing just 6 hits and walking three while striking out 8.  Many of those numbers added up late in the outing, but regardless of the damage that the Red Sox hitters (or the Braves’ fielders) inflicted, he was equal to the task… save for one pitch to Jackie Bradley Jr. that found the 2nd row of the right field seats.

It’s tempting to say that Sox starter Rick Porcello (4-0, 3.51) matched Teheran (0-3, 4.60) pitch for pitch, but  given the state of the Braves’ offense right now… would it have truly mattered who pitched?  Porcello lasted into the seventh inning, K-ing 6 against 2 walks on 98 pitches.  But the Braves only mustered 4 hits on the night… all against Porcello.

In the end, it was a 1-0 final for the Red Sox (10-9) over the Braves (4-15).  Is the Fredi Watch™ back on again yet?

If there was good news, it was the fact that Freddie Freeman – batting 6th tonight in an attempt to get him going – reached base 3 times:  2 hits (one a bunt against the shift) and 1 walk.  It should have been 4, except that after review, New York decided that some guy named Kimbrel did not plunk him on the right foot in the 9th.  Instead, that AB finished as a game-ending strikeout and 6th save for old friend Kimbrel.

Is it me, or are the Braves really running into trouble with the replay-review process this year?

Oh yes… that replay thing.

In the bottom of the seventh innings, Jeff Francoeur ripped a double to right center with one out.  That took the bat out of Freeman’s hands as they walked him, but now the Braves were in business.  But Drew Stubbs, now hitting against Robbie Ross Jr., grounded a ball to second base.  It was mishandled, and Freeman appeared to beat the shovel throw to second base.  Inexplicably, however, the Braves failed to use their appeal in this key situation.

Local replays appeared to show that Freeman was indeed safe, but Fredi Gonzalez was apparently advised against sending the call to New York for a review.  This could have – should have – resulted in a bases-loaded situation with one out.  Replays are resulting overturned calls approximately 44.5% of the time so far this season… but after tonight, those challenged by Atlanta have all been rejected:  0 for 4 now.

So since that didn’t happen, Erick Aybar – hitting for Mallex Smith – struck out on a full count to end the rally.  The Braves would not threaten again.  It was also the only inning more than one runner was on base for the home team.

Jim Johnson and Arodys Vizcaino both threw excellent follow-ups to Teheran in the 8th and 9th innings:  3 strikeouts between them after Teheran finished helped to keep the game tight… but to no avail.

Next: An Idea for an Offense needing a few hundred volts

We’ll do it again Tuesday night before these teams wing their way to Boston to finish up this stupid 2-and-2 home-and-home season series with our “Natural Interleague Rival”.