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Atlanta Braves Take 5: 5 thoughts about Mike’s big night

By Alan Carpenter

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves takes the ball from starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #26 taking Foltynewicz out of the game against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 30, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves takes the ball from starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #26 taking Foltynewicz out of the game against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 30, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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TAKE 5, Gents!  20th July 1935: Police take a breather from an inspection by King George V, in Hyde Park, London. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
TAKE 5, Gents!  20th July 1935: Police take a breather from an inspection by King George V, in Hyde Park, London. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) /

There was late night excitement as Folty took a no-no to the 9th inning last night.  While one pitch might have derailed that quest, there were a lot more good things going on.

The pitching line for the Atlanta Braves‘ young pitching star says a lot:

  • 8 innings (plus 1 batter)
  • 1 hit – a 9th inning lead-off homer
  • 1 run, earned
  • 4 walks
  • 8 strikeouts
  • 29 batters faced
  • Game score:  80

It was a dominating performance – sure, it wasn’t against the strongest of opponents (Oakland having the 2nd lowest team batting average; 3rd lowest fWAR, but fifth highest homer count in the AL) – any time you take a major league team hitless this deep into a game, you’ve done well.

But here are 5 thoughts that hit after the game:

TAKE 1.  Folty Strong

It was 118 pitches that he threw last night.  The “not laboring” part is a bit remarkable, given that we hear more of ‘stressful situations’ that wear on pitchers more.

Given that the Braves had just a 1-0 lead for most of the game, you would have thought that virtually the entire outing constituted a ‘stressful situation’, but that’s not how Snitker saw it.

The innings with runners on base – not counting the 9th inning round-tripper or the double that followed when Jim Johnson came in – came via a leadoff pass to Khris Davis in the fifth, a pair of 1 out walks in the 6th, and another leadoff walk in the 8th.

Oakland had runner in scoring position twice – the 6th inning (thanks to the 2 walks) and the 8th after a Rajai Davis steal.

Each time, though, Foltynewicz worked through the situation methodically and got out of it.

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