Saturday, August 10, 2013

Marlins End Braves Win Streak in 1-0 Win

Be smart and keep your mouth shut. That was the lesson that Atlanta Braves third basemen Chris Johnson learned today in the Braves 1-0 loss to the Miami Marlins ending their 14-game win streak. After Marlins pitcher Nathan Eovaldi struck out Johnson to end the first inning, he spiked his bat and helmet before staying some words to home plate umpire Jim Joyce. Joyce pointed to him and seemed to be asking Johnson if he was talking to him. Joyce followed by pointing at him and tossing him out of the game. Little did Johnson know that if he stayed in the game he would be up in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on first and two outs.

Earlier in the ninth inning Braves reliever Jordan Walden, who had been fairly solid all season, allowed a triple to Adeiny Hechavarria on a line drive to left-center field. Braves center-fielder BJ Upton never seemed to be at a full sprint on Hechavarria's triple. He probably figured that the ball would bounce nicely off the wall and go straight to him. The ball hit the wall and bounced only slightly off the wall giving Hechavarria a couple more steps toward his triple. Upton threw the ball in well hitting his cutoff man, Andrelton Simmons who turned and fired offline to third base. The skipped past third basemen Paul Janish but, fortunately for the Braves, rolled straight to Jordan Walden, who was backing up third on the play.

The triple tired out to be the decider in the game after Walden threw a wild pitch in the dirt past catcher Evan Gattis. Hechavarria was able to score standing giving the Marlins the lead 1-0 in the top of the ninth. Walden was able to get two outs of the inning without any more damage but had to leave after taking a line drive to the back of his throwing hand. The Braves were able to get out of the inning and went into the bottom of the ninth seeking at least one run.

Marlins closer Steve Cishek came into the ninth and retired BJ Upton and Freddie Freeman before Evan Gattis singled. Paul Janish came to the plate with Gattis on first, the tying run, and two outs. Janish had come into the game to replace the ejected Chris Johnson. The importance of Johnson's ejection really came into play when Janish stepped up to the plate. Johnson has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball for the past month. He batted .381 in July and is batting .303 in August while leading the National League with a .339 average. Instead of having a spectacular hitter up in a situation where the Braves really need a hit, they had Janish, who was 0 for is last 23 at bats. Janish was called out of a borderline strike to end the game and the win streak for the Atlanta Braves.

For the Marlins, Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) threw a complete gem against the Braves tossing seven inning of one hit ball while striking out eight. After the Braves left a runner on first and second in the first inning, Eovaldi never allowed a runner to reach second base. Freddie Freeman's single in the first inning turned out to be the only hit allowed for Eovaldi in his no-decision gem.

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