Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Box Score, Dustin Peterson and Kris Medlen Return
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves defeated the Washington Nationals!!! Yes, you read that correctly! In a 4-4 tie heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, the Braves put three runs on the board off Nationals relief pitcher Enny Romero.
With one out, Brandon Phillips walked and then stole second base. Nick Markakis singled to right field which scored Phillips. After Matt Kemp lined out, Kurt Suzuki hit a home run to left and made it a 7-4 game. It seems as though the Braves need to find a way
It seems as though the Braves need to find a way to keep both Suzuki’s and Tyler Flowers’ bats in the lineup. Flowers to play first base?
Braves had 12 hits on Friday night, Kemp went 3-4, Ender Inciarte went 2-5, Suzuki went 2-4, Dansby Swanson went 2-2.
R.A. Dickey had a solid night going 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits, four runs (two earned), three walks and had four strikeouts.
Braves WIN 7-4!
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ender Inciarte CF | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .265 | .317 | .400 | .717 |
| Brandon Phillips 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .283 | .336 | .394 | .729 |
| Nick Markakis RF | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .311 | .386 | .397 | .783 |
| Matt Kemp LF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .350 | .389 | .618 | 1.007 |
| Kurt Suzuki C | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .250 | .380 | .464 | .845 |
| Johan Camargo 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .182 | .182 | .182 | .364 |
| Jace Peterson 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .202 | .309 | .274 | .583 |
| Dansby Swanson SS | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .201 | .280 | .309 | .590 |
| R.A. Dickey P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .125 | .125 | .125 | .250 |
| Jason Motte P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Emilio Bonifacio PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .167 | .188 | .267 | .454 |
| Jose Ramirez P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Rio Ruiz PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Arodys Vizcaino P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Jim Johnson P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Team Totals | 34 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 42 | .353 | .463 | .676 | 1.140 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.A. Dickey | 5.1 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4.13 |
| Jason Motte | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.93 |
| Jose Ramirez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.45 |
| Arodys Vizcaino, W (2-1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.76 |
| Jim Johnson, S (7) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.18 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2.00 |
Medlen set for first start in comeback attempt with Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Kris Medlen is still only 31-years-old which seems crazy. The former Braves pitcher is back with the Braves and trying to make another comeback. Medlen was drafted by the Braves in 2006 in the 10th round and made his debut with the team on May 21, 2009.
From 2009 to 2013, Medlen was a part of either the Braves bullpen or rotation. In 2013, he made 31 starts and had a 3.11 ERA. He was our ace heading into the 2014 season, but then he tore the elbow ligament in Spring Training and needed to have Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2014 season and then signed as a free agent with the Royals in the offseason.
If he can perform in Florida, he’ll move up the latter and possible to ATL by the end of the year!
"Kris Medlen’s comeback attempt with the Braves will move to the next stage Saturday when the veteran pitcher starts for the Florida Fire Frogs in a high Single-A game at Jupiter, Fla., his first official game since signing a minor league deal in late January."
"Medlen, 31, has been working out and pitching in the Braves’ extended spring training program for three months, rebuilding arm strength and working on adjustments in his delivery after shoulder problems limited him to six starts in 2016 with the Kansas City Royals."
"“I’m really excited,” said Medlen, who came back from two Tommy John elbow surgeries that he had during his years with the Braves and considered retirement after last year’s shoulder issues led the Royals to decline his 2017 option. “The time I took this offseason to really gather my thoughts on whether or not I wanted to continue playing did a lot of good.”"
Next: Braves Sign James Loney, Hope for Rebound Year
Bulls’ Big Fourth Inning Downs G-Braves
Tomahawk Take Editors’ Note: Braves outfielder Dustin Peterson returns to action after being on the disabled list for over two months. Early May, Peterson injured his wrist while batting in a Spring Training game. He then had surgery to “remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand.”
Many thought Peterson could compete for a bench job in Atlanta prior to the injury. He could definitely provide some pop off the bench and a great fill-in if something happens to one of our starters.
While we’re here, I’ll throw this out there…move Nick Markakis to first base and bring up Peterson to play the outfield. Or, if Markakis gets traded at some point this year, Peterson could fill the role.
Last night he went 1-2 at the plate with a double and two walks.
"The Durham Bulls (26-14) scored five times in the fourth inning to snap a 1-1 tie and hand the Gwinnett Braves (21-19) a 6-1 loss on Friday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Johnny Field’s grand slam to left field opened a four-run lead for Durham, and Jake Hager went back-to-back with a solo home run to raise the lead to five runs. Both blasts came off right-hander Lucas Sims, who also allowed a game-tying leadoff homer to former teammate Mallex Smith in the bottom of the first inning. Sims (L, 4-1) worked a season-low 3.1 innings, allowing six runs – five earned – on seven hits while walking two and striking out five."