FRI: Atlanta Braves are Smylying after winning a third straight game

The Atlanta Braves continue their hot streak as they defeat the Miami Marlins with a score of 1-0 thanks to great pitching. However, there were other theatrics that took the headlines.

Drew Smyly continued his hot stretch for the Atlanta Braves, going 5.2 innings, allowing three hits, two walks, striking out seven, and not allowing a run. His ERA on the season is now down to 4.42.

While Smyly pitched great, there was another incident that draws the most attention from tonight’s game.

Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit by a Marlins pitcher again. This time on the first pitch by Pablo López, who would be ejected along with manager Don Mattingly.

I am not sure if Lopez intentionally hit Acuña or not, but I can understand Acuña, and the Braves being upset about it. This is not the first time this has happened, and it was nice to see the entire team get fired up to stand up for their superstar.

Acuña would go first to third on a single by Freddie Freeman and would be brought home by Ozzie Albies to provide the only score of the ball game in the first inning.

That means that Pablo Lopez threw one pitch, got ejected, and suffered the loss because the one runner he allowed scored the only run of the game. Baseball is fun.

The Marlins did give the Braves a scare as they loaded the bases on Will Smith in the 9th inning with one out. With things looking bleak, Smith managed to get Jon Berti to foul out and Sandy Léon to fly out to left field to win the game.

Notes

Drew Smyly has been really really good lately. In his last four starts, he has a 1.21 ERA and since May has a 3.16 ERA. The terrible first month has his overall numbers inflated, but over the last 2 months, Smyly has been well worth the free-agent signing.

The Marlins bullpen covered eight innings brilliantly tonight, allowing only four base runners and striking out eight Braves batters. While they did pitch well tonight, will this burn them out for the rest of the series and give the Braves an edge?

If the Braves can chase the Marlins starter early tomorrow, the Marlins bullpen is going to be asked to handle a heavy workload this series. It even makes one wonder if the Marlins will consider throwing Pablo Lopez again this weekend since he only threw one pitch.

The win got the Braves to 40-41 and gives them a chance to get to that pesky .500 mark this series. They can even find a way to finally get over the .500 mark for the first time this year on July 4th!