May 25th, 2013 at 11:37 PM
By Cody FieldsMike Minor did it all in a 6-0 Atlanta Braves win over the New York Mets on Saturday at Citi Field. Not only did the lefty pick up the win; Minor also hit his first career homer to help the Braves to their seventh straight win.
With two outs in the fifth inning and Chris Johnson on first, Mets starter Dillon Gee served up a 2-1 fastball to Minor that was drilled down the left field line for just the fourth extra-base hit of Minor's career.
The Braves then strung together four more consecutive hits, including doubles by Andrelton Simmons and Justin Upton and RBI-singles by Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman to cap off the five-run inning.
Minor followed the homer with 7 1/3 scoreless innings and a season-high 10 strikeouts. He surrendered three hits to the Mets – all singles.
Minor has continued his tear since the the second half of last season. After his first 15 starts of 2012, Minor had a 6.20 ERA and was a demotion candidate. In the 25 starts he has made since, Minor's ERA has been a cool 2.32.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 25th, 2013 at 4:24 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves could soon get some help in their injury-plagued bullpen. Jordan Walden threw off a mound in a pain-free bullpen session for the first time since being placed on the disabled list last week with shoulder inflammation, braves.com reports.
Walden would likely head to a minor league rehab assignment in the next few days, barring setbacks.
"Everything feels good," Walden said. "I've got to see how I feel tomorrow."
With Eric O'Flaherty out for the year with Tommy John surgery, Walden will probably end up in a left-right combination setup role with Luis Avilan.
Walden had a 1.54 ERA through his first 11 appearances, but he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings over three games when his shoulder started bothering him.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 25th, 2013 at 8:30 AM
By Cody FieldsHeavy rain forced the suspension of the series opener between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets after a wild eighth inning that saw the Braves take the lead, only to give it right back. As it stands, the clubs are tied 5-5 going in to the ninth at Citi Field.
A pinch-hitting Evan Gattis put the Braves in the lead with a two-run single in the top of the eighth. Instead of that being his third game-winning hit in six games, Anthony Varvaro gave up the lead in a nightmare bottom of the inning.
Struggling with the heavy rain, Varvaro walked John Buck to start the frame. Ruben Tejada moved Buck to second on a single two batters later. Daniel Murphy and his two-out single skipped on the grass, causing an error by B.J. Upton that allowed Buck to score and Tejada to move to third. Tejada tied the game on a wild pitch that Brian McCann should have handled.
As soon as Varvaro ended the inning by striking out Rick Ankiel, the umpires called for the tarp and the game was suspended.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 24th, 2013 at 4:11 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves are riding a hot six-game winning streak into Citi Field for a three-game series with the New York Mets this weekend.
The Braves run up against an even 13-13 road record and have lost 10 of their last 14 road games, but swept two straight three-game series on a six-game homestand
The Mets are slumping severely. They've scored three or fewer runs in 12 of their last 16 games. Ike Davis has been one of their biggest problems while in a 1-for-38 mess.
The Mets continue an eight-game homestand that has already seen them suffer a three-game sweep from the Cincinnati Reds. They have lost six in a row.
The Braves and Mets split two games of a rain-shortened series at Turner Field earlier this month, though Atlanta has taken 13 of their last 16 games from the Mets.
Friday, 7:10 on SportSouth: Braves RH Kris Medlen (1-5, 3.02 ERA) vs RH Jeremy Hefner (0-5, 5.00 ERA)
Saturday, 7:15 on SportSouth: LH Mike Minor (5-2, 2.78 ERA) vs RH Dillon Gee (2-5, 6.04 ERA)
Sunday, 8:10 on ESPN: RH Julio Teheran (3-1, 3.99 ERA) vs Shaun Marcum (0-5, 6.59 ERA)
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