Andrelton Simmons Makes Amazing Play For Atlanta Braves

In the top of the third inning Friday night, Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons did something remarkable that you won’t see every night.

Mets catcher, Travis d’Arnaud hit a hard grounder between Chris Johnson at third and Simmons at short…though most thought it was between them.  Out of nowhere, Andrelton makes a backhanded play and a throw that will take your breathe away.

Chipper Jones was impressed….

The backhanded play was amazing, then the jump throw was right on the money and the stretch by

. What a play!

Simmons didn’t just take away a hit from d’Arnaud, take a look at this collision in the bottom of the second inning.

Could a rivalry be forming between Simmons and d’Arnaud?? If so, Simmons is definitely winning the battle.

Last year, Simmons took away hits on more than one occasion for d’Arnaud…he’s got to learn to hit it elsewhere, well maybe not.

The Braves offense started Friday night’s game early and often. Cameron Maybin opened up the game with a solo leadoff home run and later Jonny Gomes singled in Nick Markakis in the same inning.

In the following inning, you saw the above play at the plate but in the third inning Gomes scored on an infield throwing error by shortstop Wilmer Flores.

Braves starting pitcher, Eric Stults started off the game flawless…until the fourth inning. Then David Wright hit a two-run home run and John Mayberry Jr. followed Wright with a solo homer.

The Braves took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when Chris Johnson led off with a double, followed by Simmons reaching on a fielders choices and an intentional walk to Alberto Callaspo.  That all led to the outstanding at-bat by Phil Gosselin who hits a line drive, two RBI single right up the middle.  This gave the Braves a 5-3 lead!