Another man comes around twice. A week after Josh Donaldson accounted for all the Braves runs with a pair of solo homers, Freddie Freeman countered with a pair of 2-run homers, and threw in an RBI single for good measure. Both Freddie’s homers came off Lucas Giolito, opening the scoring in the bottom of the first, and breaking a 2 – 2 tie in the 6th.
The Braves managed to follow neither homer with a shutdown inning. With 2 out in the 2nd, Julio Teheran walked Yolmer Sanchez and Adam Engel, then watched as the Sox 7th and 8th place hitters scored on a gap single by Giolito. Chicago concluded their scoring in the 7th off Luke Jackson, who allowed a couple of hits, a walk, and threw a wild pitch.
Freeman’s second homer gave the win to Teheran, who allowed 3 hits, walked 4, and struck out 5 in his 6 innings. Shane Greene and Mark Melancon threw perfect innings apiece; Melancon with the shutdown inning after Freddie’s 8th inning RBI, and his 8th save.
Ronald Acuna Jr. stole his 32nd and 33rd bases and scored 2 runs, and Johan Camargo, just recalled from Gwinnett, doubled as a pinch hitter for Teheran. The Braves also activated Brian McCann, who went 0 – 3. Chad Sobotka and Jeremy Walker round out the first wave of September additions.
September is kicked off with the conclusion of a 3 game sweep, and the Braves maintain a 5.5 game lead over the Nationals. The month’s highlights include 7 games with the Nationals and 7 games with the Phillies (and 0 with the Marlins.) Both the Braves and Nationals are playing .700 ball the last 20 games, so brace yourself for an almost inevitable decline at some point in the month.
Toronto comes to town Monday riding an 11 inning hitless streak; the Labor Day game has a 1:20 start. Mike Soroka vs. Jacob Waguespack scheduled.
Steve Aoki concert is on and Sliderman is here as well.
@1 – I’m glad your long trip is rewarded with a great weekend.
Thanks, Rusty. It’s been a blast. Mike will finish it off in style tomorrow. Go Braves!
It was really good to see Camargo rip a double in his only at-bat and build off of what he was doing at AAA. I hope he gets a few starts this next week.
The Ortega magic seems to be running low and it could be time for him to make his way back to AAA to help them in the playoff run.
Make no mistake, the Braves are having a tryout for a left-handed relief option in the playoffs down at Gwinnett with AJ Minter, Tucker Davidson, Grant Dayton, Tyler Matzek, and newly acquired Caleb Thielbar. However, the one leading the charge might be Phil Pfeifer. He has turned into a strikeout machine and, while he was a starter the majority of the season, he’s with Gwinnett as a multi-inning reliever and thus far he’s putting up video game strikeout numbers with 13 in 7.1 innings pitched. The same stipulation where Drew Waters plays in the playoffs (highly unlikely) could be the same thing that pushes a new lefty on the roster. Anthopoulos would have to petition the commissioner’s office. Here’s rule:
“A player who doesn’t meet said criteria for postseason eligibility can still be added to a team’s roster in the postseason via petition to the Commissioner’s Office if the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum amount of time required for activation. (For example, a player on the 10-day injured list who has been on it for at least 10 days, or a player who has been on the 60-day injured list for at least 60 days.) Players who are acquired in September or after are ineligible.”
Like Ender and Markakis, Braves have an avenue with someone like Grant Dayton if they wanted to add LH relief.
Thank you, Rusty. That Freddie guy had a good game.
Good info, Ryan C. Thanks.
Ortega is out of options.
Bowman talks about the likely September call ups here:
https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/brian-mccann-tops-braves-sept-reinforcements
You’re right. Totally forgot that.
I am stuck on Game Cast. Anybody understand how Soroka caught a foul pop up and the runner at first advanced?
No mulleted scamp post? Is Eephus well?
Wow, Bobby is sitting a few rows behind me!
Can I insert photos here? Does anyone know?
JOSH DONALDSON, YOU MULLETED SCAMP
I’m sorry I was watching the end of the Osaka match >_<
Can I insert photos here?
That’s wild, Timo!!!!
@15 Big John Schuerholz just visited him. And I think it’s Terry McGuirk next to Bobby. Not sure though.
@16 Tell them to re-sign JD
Ha. Will do. All the money.
Ronald missing a middle-middle 92 MPH fastball.
@19 Acuna is batting .091 the last seven days and has looked horrible on easy to hit pitches. He doesn’t seem to be keeping his eye on the ball. Somebody’s got to get him out of his bad habits. He has really not been the same since the benching.
I wish someone would talk about getting him fixed.
Thanks Jays!
“I wish someone would talk about getting him fixed”
Yikes, he doesn’t have to be neutered
Mike should never pitch against the Jays.
We really do not need hibernation mode right now.
Yes. Time to add some runs.
I’ve seen enough of Mr. Ortega. Thanks for winning the game against the Dodgers though.
What are they reviewing?
Would have loved to see Hamilton pinch run here.
Ronald probably needs a few more days off. He’s all out of whack.
Acuña is tired, physically and mentally. The plan to rest players never happened and it’s hitting Acuña first.
CLAUDE!!!
Camargo is BACK!!!!
I see you, Johan Camargo
Camargo looks locked in and with Culberson struggling, Braves need him.
Timo, Bobby looks good. Thank you.
@28 I don’t disagree with you, but the timing is going to make it hard to work that out going into Nats and Phillies week here. They probably should rest him tomorrow, though. Even if it means “punting” one against the Jays with a Bobby Sunday special line up.
I think Acuna will be ok pretty soon. Everybody has a week or two.
@36 Over the past few weeks, Billy’s not that much of a dip from Ronald’s production. We’d be giving up defense, but unless he were to pick tomorrow to turn it around, I think it’s a risk they can afford for his long term betterment.
MELANCON!!!!! LET’S GO
Braves win and Nats lose!
Great day to be a Braves fan.
recapped.