Atlanta Braves Spoil Boston Red Sox’s Clam Chowder, WIN 5-3

Braves Spoil Sox’s Chowder On Thursday

The Atlanta Braves WIN, let me repeat that…the Atlanta Braves WIN!!!  We won’t be able to write this often over the course of the 2016 season so please allow me to write it twice.  Braves take the victory Thursday night as they beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3.

Atlanta has now won five games (5-17) in the 2016 season while the Red Sox fall to 12-10.

Not So Pretty 1st

Braves starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin picked up the victory on Thursday, but he got off to a rocky start in the first inning.  After striking out Mookie Betts, Chacin gave up a double to Dustin Pedroia, a walk to Xander Bogaerts.  At the plate with runners on first and second, David Ortiz.  Big Papi hit a ball to Erick Aybar at short and Bogaerts misread the ball and over ran second.  Lucky for the Braves, it would have been bases loaded, one out.

Atlanta doesn’t avoid all damage though as Hanley Ramirez was next at the plate and drove a single to right field which scored Pedroia.

Braves down 1-0

Bottom Of The Order Answers In 2nd

Down 1-0, the Braves answered big in the top of the 2nd inning.  With one out, Jace Peterson walks and Aybar single on a bunt ground ball to the left side of the field.  Runners on first and second, youngster Mallex Smith hit a ground-rule double to right-field!  Braves tied the game.

After Smith, Nick Markakis line a ball to center which scored Aybar and Smith!

“He’s fun to watch, he’s an exciting player,” Markakis said after the game about Smith.  “Any time he gets on base he’s going to try and look to go (steal).  He’s got a little pop in his bat too.  Hopefully we get him going, the rest of the team going, Freddie (Freeman) is starting to swing the bat well and just get a chain reaction of getting comfortable and consistent at the plate.”

Braves up 3-1

Chacin Taking No Prisoners, Except Ramirez

Chacin rolled through the 2nd inning, but faltered again in the 3rd inning…again to Hanley.  After Bogaerts hit a one out double, Ramirez hit a sharp line drive to left to score Bogaerts.

Following this run, Chacin flew through the 4th and 5th innings.  He struck out four Red Sox hitters, gave up two walks, two runs and six hits.  The sixth hit he gave up was to start the bottom of the 6th inning.  Guess who…yup, Ramirez hit a sharp line drive up the middle.

Eric O’Flaherty came in to relieve Chacin and got Travis Shaw to ground into a double play and later strike out Jackie Bradley Jr.

Blocking Not Catching

I’ll mention this briefly, but it probably deserves it’s own piece.  A.J. Pierzynski is struggling to catch and hit the base ball.  His age looked like it caught up to him behind the plate and at the plate on Thursday.  He’s swinging at too many bad pitches early in the counts and just rolling over on them.

Second Leadoff and Leadoff Leading The Way

The ninth batter in interleague ball games or AL games is always known for your second leadoff hitter.  Tonight, we had this in Mallex Smith.

Smith went 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored.  He swung the bat very well on Thursday and tracked down many balls in center field, BUT he was caught stealing twice!  TWICE!  The first one was ridiculous.  It was in the 6th inning with Smith trying to steal second base.  Joe West called Smith safe originally, but after the Red Sox challenged it, the play was overturned.  Take a look at the videos below.

His second was at third with one out in the 8th inning with Nick Markakis at the plate.  Though the golden rule is to not make the first or third out at third base, Smith shouldn’t have made the second out here.

“Who knows what the replays stuff is, we could have had a couple more stolen bases,” Fredi Gonzalez told reporters after the game.  “You know, whatever.  You didn’t ask that question so I wouldn’t answer it.”

WHY DIDN’T A REPORTER ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THIS?!?!?

Markakis went 4-5 at the plate on Thursday with three RBIs in the game – a double and three singles

Braves All-Star first baseman, Freeman finally had a good night at the plate as he went 3-4 – three singles.

Braves Bullpen Heats Up Chowder

O’Flaherty pitched a solid 6th inning and has now lowered his ERA to 5.06.  Hopefully he has figured out his stuff as the last couple outings have been good.

Alexi Ogando and Hunter Cervenka pitched a great 7th inning.  Cervenka was able to get Ortiz to ground out to Daniel Castro and continues to pitch fantastically for the Braves – still has a 0.00 ERA.

Jim Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th and struck out Shaw with a nasty off-speed pitch.

Braves brought in Arodys Vizcaino for the 9th inning and to try to pick up his second save of the season.  He got two quick strike outs, but then a little damage came.

Betts singled, then stole second and Pedroia single off the green monster to score Betts.

Viz was able to get Bogaerts to ground out to Aybar and complete the victory for the Braves!

Who’s Next

Braves now go from one historic ball park to the next – leaving Fenway and heading to Wrigley.  Jon Lester will take the mound for the Cubs and Braves will send Aaron Blair to the hill.  Game starts at 2:20PM ET on Friday.