Atlanta Braves Julio Teheran Pitches Gem, But Late Inning Walks Kill Braves

Braves Lose Close Game One To Brewers

First off, hats off to Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran.  He pitched great on Tuesday night going seven strong innings, giving up three hits, zero walks and 12 strikeouts.  Yes, 12!  That strikeout total for one game is a career high for Teheran.

Teheran even had four strikeouts in one inning!

“He was obviously really good tonight, what 12 strikeouts,” Snitker said after the game.  “Just on the attack and battled his butt off.  Have to hope things start to fall and we score seven or eight runs in a ball game and he gets another win.  Just tough luck”

Ryan Braun was the only one who got to Teheran as he hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the 4th inning.  This put the Brewers on the board and gave them a 1-0 lead.  Teheran left a hanging 80mph slider a little too much over the plate and Braun crushed it.

The Braves answered back in the bottom of the 5th inning when Mallex Smith tripled in Erick Aybar.  Aybar singled with no outs to lead off the 5th and Teheran placed a nicely sacrifice bunt back to the pitch to move Aybar to second base.  Smith’s triple down the line made the game 1-1.

Teheran left the game after the 7th inning and Bud Norris replaced him on the mound.

Norris walked the leadoff man – Ramon Flores.  Then somehow picked him off at first base and stuck out Alex Presley.  Braves are going to avoid any trouble in the 8th, right?

Nope…Norris walks Jonathan Villar who then steals second.  Scooter Gennett then singled on a sharp ball to right field which scored Villar.

Walks freakin’ killed Bud Norris and the Braves on Tuesday.

Neither Teheran nor Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson got the win on Tuesday though both were well deserving of it.  Nelson went six innings, gave up four hits, one run, three walks and eight strikeouts.

Braves lose 2-1

Missed Opportunities

In the second inning, the Braves loaded the bases with no outs.  Aybar was up and lined into an unassisted double play to Aaron Hill at third base.  Teheran was next in the lineup and he grounded out softly to second base.

This raises the question again…where should the pitcher hit?

Braves manager Brian Snitker has picked up where Fredi Gonzalez left off with the lineup – batting their pitcher eighth in the lineup and Mallex Smith ninth.  Mallex hitting here would have been nice.

In the third inning, Ender Inciarte doubled with one out.  Gordon Beckham stuck out, two outs.   Then Inciarte reached third by a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.  Freddie Freeman up, but he strikes out as well.

In the sixth inning, Nick Markakis leadoff the inning with a walk.  Tyler Flowers hit a sharp line drive to deep centerfield, but damn Kirk Nieuwenhuis made a fantastic play.  Kelly Johnson stuck out, two outs.  And fan favorite, Erick Aybar pops out in foul territory to third base.  Wonderful.

In the ninth inning, Kelly Johnson hit a one out single to center field.  Guess who…Erick Aybar grounds into what probably should have been an inning-ending/game-ending double play.  Aybar beat out the throw to first base and pinch-hitting A.J. Pierzynski lined out to right field to end the game.

Positives?

Ooof, had to think about something other than Teheran and Smith’s triple.

Let’s go with Flowers behind the plate.  Though he let a ball to get by him in the 2nd inning, it allowed Teheran to get his fourth strikeout of the inning.

Negatives?

Braves offense only had five hits, four prior to the ninth inning.

Bud Norris walked two hitters in one inning (including the leadoff man)

Erick Aybar allover

Freeman went 0-4 with a strikeout and is batting .265 for the 2016 season and is hitting .156 with runners in scoring position

Mallex Smith gets called out at second base after he steals it.  In the 7th inning, Smith came off the bag after he stole and the tag was held on his leg resulting in an out.

“Maybe we’re going to have to in the minor leagues work on that part of it too,” Snitker said.  “Guys now are holding tags throughout the whole play and if you come off at all and obviously he did.  It’s just a shame that something like that has to deter having a runner in scoring position.”

“Typical to how our season has gone,” Snitker said.  “Guys are busting their tails out there and working hard to get a win.  In this business, a lot of times you make your own luck.  The baseball Gods will hopefully shine on us down the road and turn this thing around for us.”

Braves are now 12-31 and the Brewers are now 18-26