Atlanta Braves Beat Reds 8-1 With Big 5th Inning

Atlanta Braves’ Tyler Flowers launched a rocket in the 5th while Sean Newcomb pitched 5 scoreless innings in big win.

The Atlanta Braves came into the series finale on Sunday looking to avoid a sweep. Since Atlanta reached .500 back on July 16, they have been a totally different team. Prior to Sunday, they had been only 3-7 in their last 10 games, and either lost or split their last 4 series which included this one against the Reds.

Sean Newcomb started out quite promising, making easy work of Billy Hamilton & Jose Peraza. After getting 2 strikes, Newcomb drew a fly out and ground out from them before walking Joey Votto but struck out Adam Duvall to end the inning.

Newcomb did give up a lead-off single to Eugenio Suarez in the 2nd but Suarez was caught stealing for the 1st out. A strikeout and a ground-out later and Newcomb was back to the dugout.

Reds’ young starter Luis Castillo had a good start to his day as well, striking out both Ender Inciarte & Brandon Phillips.  Freddie Freeman then lined out to end the Braves’ 1st.

In the 2nd inning, the Braves got 2 on when Nick Markakis got a walk followed by Tyler Flowers (stop me if you’ve heard this before) getting hit with a pitch. However, Castillo tossed back-to-back swing strikeouts to Matt Adams, Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson, ending the inning.

STRETCHHHH!

There was trouble for Newcomb during the 3rd inning when he loaded the bases with only 1 out. Leading off, Tucker Barnhart singled the first pitch into left field. Castillo then bunted a grounder that got Barnhart out at 2nd. Hamilton singled to right center before Peraza got a walk.

What happened next quite possibly saved Newcomb from having the game busted open. Votto, on a 2-1 count, shot one towards 2nd in which Albies speared out of the air for the 2nd out.

Duvall then grounded one for Newcomb, who managed to get the ball on a diving effort and tossed it to Freeman for the final out. A bit John Smoltz-like.

So with some great defensive plays, Newcomb escaped the inning without giving up a run. Absolutely amazing.

It may have also spurred the offense into gear.

Attack And Destroy

With 2 outs in the Braves’ 3rd, Phillips reached on an infield single to short. Freeman then, beating the shift, singled to right as Phillips moved to 3rd.

Markakis followed with a double to deep right-center to score 2 giving the Braves the lead.

The Reds sent out Drew Storen to pitch the bottom 5th and the Braves absolutely tore him up. Phillips singled to left to start it off. Freeman then hit a ground-rule double, also to left. Markakis was then intentionally walked to load the bases.

Whoo hoo hoo!  On a 79 MPH slider, Tyler “The Flow” Flowers launched a grand slam to left. Mamma mia!

A ground-out from Adams later, Albies shot one to left for a triple. Albies would soon come home on a Swanson single. Swanson then eventually came home himself via a single from Phillips.

Closing It Up

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Matt Wisler took over for Atlanta in the 6th throwing long-relief and wasn’t bad. He gave up only a walk to Barnhart but no damage there. He faced the minimum in the 7th before giving up a single in the 8th but even there he didn’t allow any damage. Maybe Wisler is suited for the bullpen…still a bit early to judge.

In the 7th, Swanson knocked one to deep right-center for a triple to make it another triple-duo day by the Albies &Swanson.

For the final inning, Max Fried came on to pitch. Fried got 2 ground-outs to start it off but could not keep the shut-out intact.

He gave up a single to Peraza and allowed him to get to 2nd on a steal fielder’s indifference. Phillip Ervin got him in on a single to get the Reds’ their first run. Ervin would get on 2nd on a fielder’s indifference before Fried hit Duvall with a pitch. However, Suarez lined out to Markakis to end the game.

Braves win and Newcomb gets his 2nd win!

Next: Should The Braves Extend The Flow

The Braves continue their current home stand taking on the Seattle Mariners. Mike Foltynewicz gets game 1 at 7:35 PM against Andrew Albers, who was recently traded by the Braves.