Before the Braves took on the New York Mets in Atlanta (after only one game played in the series), the home-team (Braves) had yet to score a run at home, but that was put to rest as Atlanta went on to win 4-3.
After getting off to an early lead with a Jason Heyward leadoff homerun to start the game, the Braves never looked back. Heyward also went 3-3 with two runs and two RBIs, but before Wednesday, Heyward was on a very poor 0-22 streak at the plate.
Ervin Santana made his debut in a Braves uniform after being signed along with Aaron Harang and Pedro Beato to improve the depth of pitching staff. He actually didn't think his command would be that spectacular like it was though.
"Honestly, no. In the bullpen I was all over the place," Santana said. "I just stepped over the line and focused and threw strikes."
"This is better than a no-hitter," he said. "When you throw strikes all the time, that means you're in control of the game."
During the ninth inning of the ball game, relief pitcher Jordan Walden struggled and allowed runners on first and second base with only one out. In danger of giving up a big inning to the Mets, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez sent all-star closer Craig Kimbrel out of the bullpen and into the fire to get a win in front of the home fun. After that, three runs were scored (with only one counting against Kimbrel obviously because Walden let two of those three runners on-base). With two outs and runners on the corners Kimbrel was able to keep his compusure and inch even closer to John Smoltz's Braves all-time career save record.
There were also a pair of great defensive plays made by the Braves during the nine innings of play. Right fielder Jason Heyward once again made a dazzling diving catch to possibly save a run from being scored and shortstop Andrelton Simmons retrieved a ball where he had to make a throw across the field to firstbase on one knee.
The final game of the series will take place Thursday afternoon when Braves right-handed pitcher David Hale faces Mets right-handed pitcher Jenry Mejia.
[Box Score]
Batters:
Jason Heyward, RF (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, .188 AVG)
Andrelton Simmons, SS (2-4, .321 AVG)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, .407 AVG)
Chris Johnson, 3B (0-4, .258 AVG)
Justin Upton, LF (0-4, 1 K, .200 AVG)
Dan Uggla, 2B (0-4, 2 K, .194)
Evan Gattis, C (1-3, 1 R, 1 K, .211 AVG)
Jordan Schafer, CF (0-3, 1 K, .000 AVG)
Ervin Santana, P (1-3, 1 R, 2 K, .333 AVG)
Pitchers:
Ervin Santana, SP (8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA)
Jordan Walden, RP (0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 9.00 ERA)
Craig Kimbrel, CL (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR, 2.45 ERA)
After getting off to an early lead with a Jason Heyward leadoff homerun to start the game, the Braves never looked back. Heyward also went 3-3 with two runs and two RBIs, but before Wednesday, Heyward was on a very poor 0-22 streak at the plate.
Ervin Santana made his debut in a Braves uniform after being signed along with Aaron Harang and Pedro Beato to improve the depth of pitching staff. He actually didn't think his command would be that spectacular like it was though.
"Honestly, no. In the bullpen I was all over the place," Santana said. "I just stepped over the line and focused and threw strikes."
"This is better than a no-hitter," he said. "When you throw strikes all the time, that means you're in control of the game."
During the ninth inning of the ball game, relief pitcher Jordan Walden struggled and allowed runners on first and second base with only one out. In danger of giving up a big inning to the Mets, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez sent all-star closer Craig Kimbrel out of the bullpen and into the fire to get a win in front of the home fun. After that, three runs were scored (with only one counting against Kimbrel obviously because Walden let two of those three runners on-base). With two outs and runners on the corners Kimbrel was able to keep his compusure and inch even closer to John Smoltz's Braves all-time career save record.
There were also a pair of great defensive plays made by the Braves during the nine innings of play. Right fielder Jason Heyward once again made a dazzling diving catch to possibly save a run from being scored and shortstop Andrelton Simmons retrieved a ball where he had to make a throw across the field to firstbase on one knee.
The final game of the series will take place Thursday afternoon when Braves right-handed pitcher David Hale faces Mets right-handed pitcher Jenry Mejia.
[Box Score]
Batters:
Jason Heyward, RF (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, .188 AVG)
Andrelton Simmons, SS (2-4, .321 AVG)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, .407 AVG)
Chris Johnson, 3B (0-4, .258 AVG)
Justin Upton, LF (0-4, 1 K, .200 AVG)
Dan Uggla, 2B (0-4, 2 K, .194)
Evan Gattis, C (1-3, 1 R, 1 K, .211 AVG)
Jordan Schafer, CF (0-3, 1 K, .000 AVG)
Ervin Santana, P (1-3, 1 R, 2 K, .333 AVG)
Pitchers:
Ervin Santana, SP (8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA)
Jordan Walden, RP (0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 9.00 ERA)
Craig Kimbrel, CL (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR, 2.45 ERA)