Inciarte 5-for-5, Bullpen Solid in Atlanta Braves win over Pirates
Ender Inciarte stole the show Monday night as the Braves hosted the Pirates at SunTrust Park, in a game packed full of good things for the home team.
The Atlanta Braves (19-23) were fresh off a series win against the first place Washington Nationals, and kept the momentum going Monday night with a 5-2 victory over visiting Pittsburgh.
Mike Foltynewicz got the start for the Braves, and threw five solid innings, giving up a pair of runs (one earned) on eight hits. He struck out five and walked two batters.
Atlanta’s bullpen followed Folty with four scoreless, hitless innings of work out of Motte, Ramirez, Vizcaiano and Johnson. All threw an inning each, only allowing one baserunner on a walk.
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
Inciarte was perfect with five hits in as many at bats. He drove in a run and scored once himself.
New Blood
The newest Braves player got in on the action as well in place of injured Freddie Freeman. Matt Adams went 2-for-4 with a pair or RBI and a run, including a fifth inning homer.
Meanwhile, the Pirates, though 6-4 now over their last 10 outings, are continuing to struggle to find wins.
Last night, their young stud Gerrit Cole was stymied from the outset as both Inciarte and Brandon Phillips worked him for nearly two dozen pitches. He ended up leaving the game after 100 pitches while still in the 5th inning – his shortest outing of the year.
All 5 of the Braves’ runs were charged to Cole, a number not seen on his record since opening day.
Atlanta took Pittsburgh pitching for 13 hits overall, including a pair from Flowers and another pair from Phillips. A streaking Dansby Swanson stayed active with a hit of his own.
Next: The Trade Not Made; The Contract Not Signed
The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates are back at it on Tuesday night at 7:35 p.m. at SunTrust Park in game two of four in the series that runs through Thursday.