May 19th, 2013 at 12:26 AM
By Cody FieldsIn what looked like another shutout loss by the Atlanta Braves, Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to propel the Atlanta Braves past the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 3-1 final Saturday at Turner Field.
Down 1-0 going into the eighth inning, Gattis hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen. Simmons followed on the very next pitch drive the nail further into the proverbial coffin.
With one out in the eighth inning, B.J. Upton snapped an 0-for-16 streak with a single off starter Chris Capuano, ending his night with Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly bringing in Jansen to face Gattis, who was pinch-hitting for Cory Gearrin. Gattis fouled off three straight 2-2 pitches before hammering a 94 mile-per-hour fastball into the left field bleachers.
Kris Medlen took a tough-luck no decision, going seven innings and giving up just two hits and an unearned run with a short-handed bullpen.
That lone Dodgers run came after Adrian Gonzalez drew a one-out walk in the fourth inning. Gonzalez would have stopped at third base if Justin Upton didn't bobble Skip Schumaker's double to left, but he ended up scoring on the error.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 18th, 2013 at 7:33 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves have had a pretty horrid time keeping their bullpen healthy this season, and it just got worse. Eric O'Flaherty has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and is likely going to have Tommy John surgery, ajc.com reports.
O'Flaherty was placed on the disabled list Saturday after complaining of elbow pain following Friday's game. O'Flaherty pitched one inning in Friday's win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and gave up a homer. He will visit Dr. James Andrews, though the appointment hasn't been officially set.
“We don’t know (if he’ll have surgery),” Frank Wren said. “Until we take the next step, we’ll wait and see….Obviously you’re hoping that it’s just a sprain and a short DL stint, and you can come back fairly quickly. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case.”
The Braves have already lost Jonny Venters to Tommy John surgery this season and have Cristhian Martinez and Jordan Walden on the DL as well.
To fill O'Flaherty's spot, Atlanta called up Cory Rasmus from Triple-A Gwinnett. Rasmus was perfect in seven save opportunities and has a 0.93 ERA in 19 appearances.
photo credit: Keith Allison via photopin cc
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 18th, 2013 at 9:08 AM
By Cody FieldsJason Heyward played for the first time in nearly a month on Friday for the Atlanta Braves, but Justin Upton stole the show with a go-ahead grand slam in an 8-5 win in the series opener with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field.
Upton's mammo homer was his Major League-leading 14th of the season, and was probably his most majestic shot of the year and definitely the most clutch.
"As soon as he took a swing, you knew that ball was going to be out of the ballpark," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said on braves.com. "It was one of the prettiest swings I've seen him put on a baseball."
Down 4-2 in the sixth inning, Jordan Schafer deliver a pinch-hit bloop single with one out off reliever Matt Guerrier. Andrelton Simmons followed with a line drive that bounced off Luis Cruz's glove. Don Mattingly responded by yanking Guerrier for left-hander Paco Rodriguez, who immediately walked Heyward to load the bases.
Rodriguez, who had held righties under .200 entering Friday, grooved a 1-1 fastball to Upton that he belted to left-center. It was the third grand slam of Upton's career.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 17th, 2013 at 11:15 PM
By Cody FieldsJust a day after having the second Tommy John surgery of his career, Jonny Venters was back in the Atlanta Braves clubhouse, albeit with a splint on his left arm.
Obviously, Venters was frustrated in the midst of yet another 12-month rehab.
“I feel like this team has a chance to do something special, and I’m not going to be able to contribute – that’s disappointing,” Venters said on ajc.com. “The whole thing is disappointing. All the work I’ve put in to try to stay healthy, but it’s nothing I have control over. Now I’ll go work as hard as I can and try to come back. I feel pretty confident about it. The surgery went well.”
Venters was also adamant that the 230 appearances he made from 2010-12 is not what led to his torn ulnar collateral ligament.
“I think it’s one of those things that if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen,” Venters said. “I think it’s just the way I throw. I put a lot of stress on that ligament….I don’t think (workload) had anything to do with it. I wouldn’t change anything about those two years that I pitched so much for anything.”
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 17th, 2013 at 7:00 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves finally have their lineup healthy as they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the series opener at Turner Field.
Dodgers:
1. Carl Crawford, LF
2. Nick Punto, 2B
3. Matt Kemp, CF
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. A.J. Ellis, C
6. Scott Van Slyke, RF
7. Luis Cruz, 3B
8. Dee Gordon, SS
9. Hyun-Jin Ryu, P
Braves:
1. Andrelton Simmons, SS
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Justin Upton, LF
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Chris Johnson, 3B
6. Brian McCann, C
7. Dan Uggla, 2B
8. B.J. Upton, CF
9. Paul Maholm, P
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