Teheran and Freeman Sharp, But Bullpen Blows Game For Atlanta Braves

Julio Teheran went 7 innings, while Freddie Freeman was 4-5 with 2 home-runs, but the Pirates beat the Atlanta Braves in extra innings.

In the series finale, the Atlanta Braves were looking to not get swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was quickly proven as Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson connected with a home run to get the early lead.  Freddie Freeman then got a single and a steal to kick-start to what would be a very strong performance by him. A single from Nick Markakis brought Freeman home for Atlanta’s second run.  2-zip after 1 inning.

Where Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole failed, Brave’s Julio Teheran succeeded. Teheran cruised through the 1st inning with just the minimum, even getting Andrew McCutchen to strike out. Teheran wasn’t throwing high speed stuff but kept a good command all day. This proved to be enough as he gave up six hits but only two runs, both unearned.

Freddie Freeman is Good

The Pirates were quiet until the 4th inning where Starling Marte hit a single and then moved to 2nd on a failed attempt to pick him off. Josh Bell would eventually hit a double that gave the Pirates their first run of the day. Prior to this, Dansby Swanson showed off his fielding skills by making a dive to catch Gregory Polanco‘s pop-up.

Freddie Freeman connected a solo shot to left for his first home-run of the season putting the Braves up 3-2. On the very first pitch, Freeman sent it just enough to go over the wall and miss Polanco’s glove. In the bottom of the inning, Adam Frazier hit a 2-out single but would be caught stealing with a near-perfect toss by Tyler Flowers.

In the 7th inning, Freeman hit another home-run that almost left the stadium, going deep center.

The Fall of the Braves’ Bullpen

In Teheran’s final inning, he got Bell to fly out, Jordy Mercer to line out and John Jaso – who was pinch-hitting for Phil Gosselin – to strike out.

The next inning, Arodys Vizcaino took over for Atlanta and it was not pretty.

After inducing a fly out from Chris Stewart, he hit Josh Harrison on the right leg with a 99 MPH pitch. Two consecutive singles from Frazier and Marte and an error by Jace Peterson allowing Harrison to score, putting the Pirates within one run. McCutchen would ground into a double play to end the inning.

In the 9th, Trevor Williams entered for the Bucs and struck out Swanson and Freeman before getting Garcia to ground out.

What happened next was just a mess. Jim Johnson entered in an attempt to close it out for the Braves, and did the exact opposite. A single from Polanco, followed by walks to Bell and David Freese loaded the bases with one out.

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This was where it got hectic and became a moment of “how things could’ve been totally different.”

Francisco Cervelli came in to hit for Stewart and grounded to third. Adonis Garcia scooped up the ball and tossed it to Brandon Phillips at second to get Freese out.

Freese, in sequence, made a slide which caused Phillips to make a high jump and not be able to make a play for first, which could’ve been another out, ending the game. Instead, Braves only got one out and that allowed for Polanco to score, tying the game.

The Braves challenged the call for an illegal slide but to no success. Vizcaino then got Harrison to hit a ground ball to finally end the inning.

In overtime, the Braves wanted to get revenge. Nick Markakis lead off with a single. He would reach 3rd base with a single from Phillips. Flowers grounded a ball where Frazier tried to pick up and throw home but couldn’t come up with it at first, allowing Markakis to score.

However, the lead was short lived as the bullpen failed again.

Jose Ramirez, in his first save attempt (I’ll give him a little leeway since he was probably tense), gave up a double to Frazier that Inciarte just couldn’t run down. At that moment, you could just feel like it was over for the Braves. One way or another, it seemed impossible for the Braves to survive this inning and if that’s what you were thinking, you were right. Starling Marte came up to bat and on the very first pitch, launched a 2-run homer to center for the Pirates’ walk-off win.

Wrap-Up

This was another tough loss for the Braves, especially for the offense. Julio Teheran’s strong performance was wasted, as the bullpen continues to be inconsistent. Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson proved to critics that they are the real deal. Prior to the game, Kelsey Wingert said Swanson had promised a kid that he would hit a home-run and he kept his promise in his first at-bat.

Inciarte, however, went hit-less as he is still stuck in his slump. The Braves also needs to do something about the bullpen if they want to do well.

Next: Why Can't We See The Frogs?

At least 2 of their losses can be narrowed to the bullpen. The Braves have an off-day tomorrow before taking on the Marlins in Miami for a 2-game series. Hopefully, they can end their road trip strong before heading home for the opening series at SunTrust Park.