Atlanta Braves Just Beat the Best Team in Baseball
It wasn’t efficient nor was it pretty at times, but Atlanta takes the first game of the weekend series against the Cubs in Hotlanta.
Oh yeah – there’s still baseball going on, draft or no draft.
Two stars were out in Atlanta Friday night: Bud Norris and Adonis Garcia suddenly stepped up as unlikely heroes while Jace Peterson returned with a vengeance as well.
Norris came through with what was easily his best outing of the year: 7 innings, 4 hits, no walks, 6 punchouts and just 1 earned run against the vaunted* Cubbie offense. Jim Johnson and Arodys Vizcaino backed him up with solid relief as well, with Vizzy getting a little feisty with 100 mph fastballs.
- – yes: that adjective was definitely applied here before Chip Carey used it!
Defensive gem
Garcia had an unbelievable diving play on defense at third base, then went 3 for 3 at the plate – including his first home run since the first game of the year.
The Braves exploited a seriously uncharacteristically poor outing from starter Jason Hammel, torching him for 3 walks, 8 hits, and 3 runs en route to a 12 hit attack. Back-to-back solo homers by Garcia and catcher Tyler Flowers got the party started in the second inning.
5. 17. 1. 9. Final
It could have been a total blowout
Sketchy base-running shortened an inning in one case. Once again, Mallex Smith was one of the participants – failing to re-touch second base on the way back to first during an Ender Inciarte sacrifice fly. Lots of runners were also scattered around on base at the end of multiple innings.
Atlanta was close to blowing it open for good in the 8th, loading the bases with nobody out. A single by Inciarte and a sacrifice flay plated the final pair of runs, but runners were left at second and third.
Jason Heyward added some more fuel to the fire under him by striking out 3 times on the evening. He’s now hitting .222 on the year. Many of his comrades didn’t fare a lot better, though…. 4 hits total on the night.
Next: So Who Did the Braves Draft Today?
That was due mostly to Norris… and for all the grief Braves’ fans have given him, he certainly made them cheers tonight.
Braves win 5-1.