Atlanta Braves Manage to Get Enough Happening Together, Beat Miami 4-2

Some Bright Spots for Atlanta, but offense finally came through late to support Perez

One of these days, Williams Perez might start getting some credit as a decent starting pitcher. For the fifth time in his last six outings, Perez yielded 3 runs or less during an outing. During the past 4 starts, he’s gone at least 6 innings.

Tonight it was exactly six innings: 7 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 lone walk, and 3 strikeouts over a Marlins offense that was often frustrated themselves.

Perez induced 11 groundouts, including 1 double play. One groundout led to a Marlins run; a booming Marcel Ozuna double accounted for the other – one of the few well-hit balls.

Bud Norris followed him with another useful bullpen outing: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk. Ian Krol took the 8th inning, getting two groundouts and picking off the runner that Norris left for him.

Finally, a Breakthrough

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Meanwhile, the Braves’ offense continued to frustrate. Tons of base-runners, few results. 13 hits and 3 walks, yet few results.

In the fifth inning, though, things started to change: Freddie Freeman singled sharply, and Tyler Flowers rapped a double that actually scored him from first. Nick Markakis single, then Jeff Francoeur, who had four hits on the night, then knocked in Flowers. Alas, a groundout and lineout ended the rally, but the game was tied.

It remained that way until the eighth, despite multiple opportunities. But finally… at last… things bounced the Braves’ way.

Kelly Johnson – double
IBB to Ender Inciarte
Beckham bunted, but the Marlins caught Johnson at third… and at this point we fans were thinking “here we go again”
But Freeman actually got a hit with a runner in scoring position. unfortunately, he hit it so hard that Inciarte didn’t dare try and score against Ichiro’s arm

Then the play of the night

Tyler Flowers nubbed one to the pitcher’s right. It was pounced on and Inciarte was forced at home. The throw was redirected to first base and Flowers was called out.

But a miracle happened. The Braves successfully challenged the call, and Flowers was ruled safe (he actually was).

But that merely gave Atlanta another chance. It was cashed in via a single from Markakis (originally ruled an error on Prado, but that would have been a tough-ish error). That plated two runs – the margin of victory.

It wasn’t a lot of line drives, but for a change, it worked. It actually worked.

4. 17. 2. 82. Final

From that point, Arodys Vizcaino came in and shut it down in the 9th. Braves win.

Next: Brignac DFA'd

At home. Finally. That makes Atlanta a still-crazy 3-20 at Turner Field.

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