After a disappointing weekend (remember, Meat Loaf said it best, (“two out of three ain’t bad,” which can infer that one out of three is bad), We got back on track.

Part of this was a good (not actually great, but headed in the right direction) performance by A. J. Smith Shawver. I forget who on this site first ascribed to young A. J. the nickname (itself a great baseball tradition) the “Shover.” However, it certainly reaches a near rhyming status. That is in modern times a way to describe good baseball pitching. However, it seems a little odd to me. You “shove” when “putting a shot” (Like Owen Cantwell). If you actually try to throw the shot like a baseball, it feels like your shoulder is about to explode (yes, I have done it, but not at full exertion, MANY years ago). Remember Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.

First inning Shawver had ground out, walk, ground out, walk, strike out. so, he wobbled. But no runs. It kind of went like that most of the game except that, despite 4 walks in 8 innings (yes, he got through 8), he only through 99 pitches. That is just over 12 pitches per inning. Remaining stats in his line, No R, 5 K, 1 H. Yeah, sounds pretty good. He also didn’t give up the one hit until the 8th.

I am reminded of someone (almost had to be Pete Van Wieren) commenting to the dominance of pitchers based on how many 1 hitters they threw in their careers. The list of pitchers by numbers of no hitters contains a lot of “no hit wonders” that don’t come to mind as the dominant pitchers of their day. But, when you expand the criteria to be those with one hit or less in a game, the list that comes back is a list of the excellent pitchers with long careers.

This Continued as a 0 to 0 game into the bottom half of inning 3. Then Eli White got things started with a fly out. Well, it is what happened. Then Nick Allen Singled and the “2025 Reclamation Project” (otherwise known as Alex Verdugo) doubled and it was 1 to 0. Hooray for our side. Then Austin Riley singled. 2 to 0 and more hooray for our side. Then Marcel Ozuna flied out. With 2 outs, Matt Olson sent a ball down the left field line. The “all plays” listing from the “official Braves site” does not do it justice. It says “Reds challenged (catch or drop), call on the field was upheld: Matt Olson hits an inside-the-park home run (6) on a fly ball down the left-field line. Austin Riley scores.” Well, it was more like Tyler Callihan hit the ball with his glove inches fair and slid into the wall and a visible snap appeared in the radius, ulna, or both, and the ball came out. Even the worst of Braves “Homers” wish a full and quick recovery for Mr. Callihan.

After Mr. Shover finished the 8th, Aunt Matilda came in to finish. (Aunt Matilda is the first family member mentioned in the first verse of When the Saints Go Marching In, for those of you who are culturally underprivileged). Enyel De Los Santos (of the saints, get it). Matilda gave up 1 BB, got 1 K and held the “Reitsma Room.”

Interestingly, this is a 4 game series extending to Thursday. Also, the Thursday game is scheduled for 7:15. Strong chances of rain on Wednesday and Thursday, so who knows.