Game 2: Atlanta Braves even series behind dominant Mike Foltynewicz

The Atlanta Braves evened their NLDS series with the St. Louis Cardinals Friday evening, shutting out the Red Birds 3-0.

The Atlanta Braves have been waiting all year for that Mike Foltynewicz.

They have seen glimpses at times, especially over the last six weeks or so.

But Foltynewicz’s performance Friday night was as good of a start as the Braves have had in quite some time.

Squaring off against Jack Flaherty, who was perhaps the best pitcher in the National League since the All-Star Break, Foltynewicz dazzled with his slider and went seven shutout innings.

His final line:  seven innings, three hits, strikeouts and no walks.

This game had a little extra twist for Foltynewicz:

Hit the road, Jack

Flaherty was good minus two pitches.

He left a fastball up on Josh Donaldson in the bottom of the first, which J.D. laced into left field to drive in Ozzie Albies.

Then the backbreaker of sorts came in the bottom of the seventh, when pinch hitter Adam Duvall crushed another fastball to center field for a two-run home run.

Duvall’s at-bat did not come without controversy however, as Foltynewicz was only at 81 pitches and showed no signs of slowing down.

I, like many of you, was screaming at the TV, questioning Brian Snitker’s decision there…

I was wrong and boy, am I proud to admit that.

Much credit goes to Adam Duvall, who spent much of the 2019 season in Triple-A. He got his chance tonight and capitalized.

Tales from the bullpen: dominance and survival

Max Fried, who continues to be an Andrew Miller clone, came in the eighth inning and struck out two batters.

Fried looks like a potent weapon to replace the injured Chris Martin in the bullpen.

Then came the ever stressful ninth inning.

Proving his loyalty yet again, Snitker went to Mark Melancon, who of course was rocked last night.

Melancon got a ground out from Tommy Edman, before everyone’s heart rate jumped to dangerous levels.

Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna hit back-to-back singles, which brought up 63-year-old Yadier Molina, who will be a dangerous hitter even when he is a retirement home in 2051.

But credit goes to Melancon, who was able to strike out Molina for the important second out.

The final hope for the Cardinals was Kolten Wong, who despite still not looking 100 percent, has enough pop in his bat to hit a homer.

However, Melancon was able to get the final out, a strikeout, to give the Braves a 3-0 victory.

Best of three

Now we all can exhale and take confidence in the fact that Mike Soroka is on the mound for Game Three.

If and when this series goes to a Game Five, Mike Foltynewicz will be the starter. And if need be, with either elimination or the series on the line, Foltynewicz will be available out of the bullpen in Game Four.

For the longest time this season, that didn’t provide any comfort.

What a difference a dominating postseason start will do.