Atlanta Braves Take Game 2, May Have Lost R.A. Dickey

Braves Win Game 2…Sweep The Mets, Kinda!

The Atlanta Braves show that yesterday’s offensive outburst was no fluke!  Atlanta put seven runs on the board on their Thursday afternoon game against the New York Mets.  Yesterday, they had eight runs.

A win is always great, a win against the Mets is fabulous, but sweeping the Mets is just amazing!

Walks killed the Mets yesterday and that’s exactly how we got things going on Thursday.

Top of the 2nd Inning

With one out, Nick Markakis and Kurt Suzuki both walked.  Jace Peterson followed that with a single up the middle which scored Markakis from second.

Another walk to Dansby Swanson, loaded the bases for the Braves with starting pitcher R.A. Dickey at the plate.  On a 1-1 pitch, Dickey grounds softly to third.  Instead of throwing out the runner at home, Jose Reyes throws out Dickey at first base.  Thank you, Jose!

Braves up 2-0, but this is where Dickey’s injury happened.

Dickey’s quad seemed to have bothered him when running down the first base line during this play.  He continued to pitch, but had to leave the game after the bottom of the 5th inning.  The cause for his exit was a little shocking at first.  Dickey had given up five hits, two earned runs (three runs), two walks and three strikeouts.  He had thrown only 67 pitches.

The Braves social media page updated us with the injury around the 8th inning.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Dickey hit a little dribbler down the third base line.  This scored Kurt Suzuki, but as Dickey was hustling down the line it looked as though he did something to the quad.  Watch the play with this link.

The replay showed Dickey grabbing the left quad area after he crossed first base.

The 43-year-old battled through the spasms for a few innings, but maybe it got worse.

No timetable for his return, but it’s possible he could miss his next start.  Dickey’s left leg is his landing leg…though he doesn’t throw particularly hard, it could still give him issues.

Suzuki said after the game that he could notice Dickey’s knuckleballs weren’t as sharp as they were earlier in the game.  Hope this doesn’t linger, but it’s definitely possible.

“He doesn’t think he’ll miss his next start,” Brian Snitker said in his post game interview.

Middle Parts of the Game

The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the 4th inning…ugh.  Here’s how.

Yoenis Cespedes led off the inning with a  double to center field.  When getting about half way to second base, Cespedes began to hobble.  He exited the game with what’s being called a left hamstring pull.

Two batters later, Neil Walker doubled and the Mets add a run to the scoreboard.  Walker then moved to third base after Curtis Granderson grounded out.  The Mets tacked on another run when Dickey’s pitch got by Suzuki.

Game tied 2-2

The Braves got a few runs back in the top of the 5th inning though.

Adonis Garica singled to lead off the inning.  Freddie Freeman drove him in when he ropped a broken bat double down the right field line.

After a Nick Markakis intentional walk, Suzuki basted a three-run homer — his first homer of the season — to left field.

“We’re all just trying to battle and help the team win anyway we can,” Suzuki said after the game. “I was seeing the ball really well of him and got a good pitch.  Thank goodness it went out.”

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Braves lead 6-2

Mets added another run when Jose Reyes hits a solo homer in the bottom of the 5th inning.

Braves lead 6-3

Crazy 9th Inning at Citi Field

Braves loaded the bases in the top of the 9th inning after an Ender Inciarte single and two walks of Freeman and Matt Kemp.  Markakis hit a sac fly to left field to score Inciarte.  Though we couldn’t get more runs there, it was nice to tack on an insurance run.

Jim Johnson came into the game in the 9th for the Braves in a non-save appearance…because of the top of the 9th run scored.  He allowed a one out single and then a double.  A fielders choice from Travis d’Arnaud scored a run and a single by Reyes scored another run.

Next: 5 Braves minor leaguers who could surprise in 2017

Tense few moments in the 9th, but Johnson was able to get the three outs he needed.

Braves win 7-5!!