Sports Illustrated

Gattis grand slam leads Braves past Twins 8-3

May 21, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) shakes hands with catcher Evan Gattis (24) after he delivered the game winning hit against the Minnesota Twins during the tenth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Twins 5-4 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Evan Gattis no longer seems amazed by his improbable rookie season.

Yet, there are still times when it’s a bit of an adjustment for the Atlanta Braves catcher.

Like when someone recognizes him in the grocery store.

“It’s a little weird,” the 26-year-old Gattis said. “I’m not used to that yet.”

Gattis did it again Wednesday, hitting his first career grand slam. B.J. Upton and Ramiro Pena also homered for the Braves, who finished off a sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 rout.

The Braves stretched their winning streak to six games with a second straight series sweep, making things easy for starter Paul Maholm (6-4). The left-hander held the Twins to an unearned run in 7 1-3 innings.

Atlanta Bullpen

Braves Bomb Squad Dismantling Opponents

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez affectionately refers to his bench players as his “B-Squad” or “Bomb Squad” and after Tuesday night’s thrilling come from behind victory that finished close to midnight, he stated that they would be playing prominent roles in Wednesday’s early afternoon game, as starters received much deserved rest.

Bench players are usually the guys who are second tier players, not good enough to start, but Gonzalez’s bench guys have played well all season, in some cases better than the regulars.

While the Braves at times struggle to score, the Bomb Squad was once again up to the task Wednesday afternoon against the Twins, as catcher Evan Gattiscrashed a grand slam home run, shortstop Ramiro Pena went 2 for 5 with a homer, third baseman Chris Johnson raised his average to a team-leading .350 with a 2 for 3, and center fielder Jordan Schaferreached base three times with a hit and two walks.

Johnson talked about the Bomb Squad after the game, “We all know that every piece on this team is a big piece, especially in the National League.  Whether you are starting,or on the bench, you are going to get into the game and have to contribute at some point.  We have a good group of guys, everybody has a good head on their shoulders, and wants to compete every time they get in there.”

The Atlanta Braves took on the Minnesota Twins in their second interleague game of the series on a all in all weird game on Tuesday night.  The Braves got the game going in the bottom of the 1st inning when Jason Heyward singled followed by a double by Freddie Freeman, scoring Heyward.  Then Brian McCann drove Freeman in with a single, making the game 2-0 with Tim Hudson on the mound.

May 21, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (24) hits a game tying home run against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Twins 5-4 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Hudson gave up a hit to Justin Morneau in the top of the second that led to an RBI single by Pedro Florimon.  In the top of the third inning, Hudson would face Morneau again with two runners on base and Morneau capitalized.  Tying the game 2-2, Morneau singled in Joe Mauer.

But during the third inning, a strange storm cell popped out of nowhere (the weathermen didn’t call for rain…what’s new, they got it wrong).  The umpires wasted no time calling for the ground crew to put the tarp on the field, but they struggled to get the tarp over the infield because of blinding rain and whipping winds.  Then as the storm was beginning to let up, a power surge knocked out the lights and video board.  The board came back on in a matter of seconds, but the lights took much longer to fire back up.

After over an hour break, everything started to settle back in and the fans made their way back to their seats, Hudson came back in to go 5 innings giving up two runs off five hits and had five strikeouts.

McCann blasted a homerun in the bottom of the 4th inning (he went 3-4 and has raised his batting average to .282).

We went scoreless until the top of the 8th inning when Braves pitcher Luis Avilan gave up two runs.  This put the Twins up 4-3 and by the look of him, a very angry Fredi Gonzalez.

But then the magic happened for the Braves.  In the bottom of the 9th inning, with two outs and facing the Twins closers Glen Perkins who was 8-8 in save chances in 2013, Evan Gattis walks to the plate as a pinch hitter.  After the game Freddie Freeman said “When I saw him going up there to hit, I had a feeling we were going to be playing a little longer.”

Freeman was correct, in the bottom of the 9th inning, Gattis blasts a 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for his third pinch hit home run of the season!  Later Gattis explained his at bat ”I was trying to hit the ball hard, I don’t try to hit home runs. It just happened.”

After Gattis tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning, Freeman singled in Heyward in the 10th to win the game for the Braves!  Freeman went on to say “It wasn’t the prettiest swing, but it got the job done.”

The Braves have won the first of two games in this series and look to go for back to back series sweeps on Wednesday.  The game starts at 12:10PM ET at Tuner Field.

Fox Sports

Braves in market for lefty reliever

March 26, 2013; Lakeland, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jordan Walden (52) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves enjoyed a significant advantage in recent seasons, deploying not one but two premier left-handed relievers. Now Jonny Venters has undergone Tommy John surgery and Eric O’Flaherty is likely to follow.

Huge blows, for sure. But not necessarily crushing.

General manager Frank Wren said Saturday that the trade market has yet to develop, but rest assured, the Braves will actively search for another left-handed specialist. Mike Dunn, whom the Braves sent to Miami in the Dan Uggla trade in November 2010, would be ideal.

For now, the Braves still have one quality lefty, Luis Avilan, who has pitched 6-2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Right-hander Jordan Walden, currently out with right shoulder inflammation, throws a “split change” that neutralizes left-handed hitters. Righty Cory Rasmus, the younger brother of Colby, was recently called up after displaying a good changeup and putting up terrific numbers at Triple-A.

Global Post

Atlanta Braves – PlayerWatch

RHP Brandon Beachy, coming back from Tommy John surgery, had his scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett rained out Sunday and threw a limited simulated game indoors instead. He was slated to pitch three innings after working two innings during an extended spring training game in Florida last Tuesday. Beachy had surgery last June 21 and hopes to return to the Braves during the second part of June. He is slated to pitch four innings for Gwinnett on Friday against Toledo.

Braves 101

Atlanta Braves Bullpen Still Strong with Loss of Eric O’Flaherty

The Atlanta Braves bullpen is riddled with injuries, but if they keep up their current pace, there is nothing to worry about.

Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty are gone for the year with Tommy John surgery. Luis Ayala has been on the disabled list since late April with anxiety disorder. Cristhian Martinez was moved to the DL with shoulder problems to make room for Ayala on the roster. Jordan Walden” href=”http://www.sportsmedia101.com/atlantabraves/tag/jordan-walden/” rel=”tag nofollow”>Jordan Walden, though he should be back soon, has his own shoulder issues.

But still, the Atlanta bullpen leads Major Leagues with a 2.65 ERA, 16 points lower than the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Access Atlanta

Dish Network customers may lose 47 Braves games on Fox Sports South and SportsSouth

Dish Network has declined to pay Fox Sports regional networks for 47 Atlanta Braves games this year so metro Atlanta Dish customers will lose access to games starting this Friday against the Detroit Tigers – unless circumstances change.

FSS added 45 Braves games in February from Peachtree TV and is now the exclusive local provider of 150 Braves games. (Other games are set aside for ESPN, Fox national, TBS and MLB Network.) The games air on either Fox Sports South or SportsSouth.

Dish customers will still be able to view the other 80 or so games remaining in the season, according to FSS.