Morning Chop: Braves News 4/30
By Jeff Schafer
Atlanta Braves: Fredi Gonzalez Gets Decisions Right inWin over Nationals
"The Atlanta Braves did not have any chance to rest after ending their 10-game road trip in Detroit on Sunday night as the Washington Nationals came to town on Monday night for a NL East showdown.The Braves won the game 3-2 and the reason why they won the game was the decision making of manager Fredi Gonzalez.The three biggest decisions of the one-run game came in a fairly short time span but they were crucial to the result of the ball game.…Gonzalez let starting pitcher Julio Teheran go out and pitch in the top of the sixth inning after he stood on second base for an extended period of time in the bottom of the fifth inning.…With Gerald Laird on first base, Pastornicky was sent up to the plate to bunt over the Braves catcher.…In the final two innings, Eric O’Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel took care of business to give the Braves their eighth consecutive win over the Nationals, a win that would not have been possible had Gonzalez made not made the right calls from the dugout."
Atlanta Braves – TeamReport
Apr 24, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher
Tim Hudson(15) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
"RECORD: 16-9STREAK: Won onePAST 10 GAMES: 3-7NEXT: Nationals (Gio Gonzalez, 2-1, 4.50) at Braves (Tim Hudson, 2-1, 4.50)PLAYER NOTES:–OF Justin Upton has the club-record 12 home runs in April, breaking the old mark shared by Andres Galarraga and Ryan Klesko. He is two home runs shy of the major league record shared by Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols. Upton didn’t hit his 12th home run last season until Sept. 1, his 122nd game and 441st at-bat."
Struggling Braves Handle Nationals Again
"Slumping teams always need to find a formula to start winning again, and the Atlanta Braves may have found one in the form of their division rivals. The Braves recovered from a rough 10 game road trip to beat the Washington Nationals, 3-2 on Monday.Fresh off a four game losing streak and seven of nine during a brutal run away from Turner Field, Atlanta returned home to face Washington, a team entering Monday with a 13-12 record, supremely disappointing as defending division champs and winners of 98 games in 2012.In a game featuring two highly touted young pitchers, phenom, Steven Strausberg, faced off against rookie Julio Teheran. Both pitchers departed with the score tied, 2-2. While Jordan Walden held it down from the Braves bullpen eventually leading to aCraig Kimbrel save, Tyler Clippard blew the game in the seventh for the Nats."
MLB Prospect Rankings: Breaking Down the Top Slugger from Each Organization
"Joey Terdoslavich, Atlanta BravesTerdoslavich is transitioning to the outfield at Triple-A Gwinnett after being drafted as a first baseman back in 2010. After an outstanding season at Advanced Single-A Lynchburg in 2011, the Braves sent him directly to Triple-A last year.Terdoslavich took a step back, eventually making his way to Double-A and finishing the season with just nine home runs and a .394 slugging percentage.He’s back at Triple-A Gwinnett and seems more well-adjusted, hitting three home runs with 13 RBI and a .592 slugging percentage in his first 17 games."