Braves Bats Dominate, Cruise to 13-4 Victory

As poorly as things started on Friday night for the Braves, they could not have asked for a better start to Saturday’s game. Andrelton Simmons homered to lead off the game and things only got better from there as the Atlanta Braves clobbered the Philadelphia Phillies 13-4. The top of the second saw Brian McCann reach on an infield single, followed up by a first pitch Dan Uggla two run home run. Up 3-0 the Braves would load the bases with nobody out but fail to score again after an Andrelton Simmons double play ball and Jason Heyward pop out. The Braves struggles with runners in scoring position looked like they might haunt Atlanta again after they failed to bring home runners in the third and were only up 3-1 going into the fourth. A Justin Upton two out RBI made it 4-1 in the 4th and comically bad defense from Michael Young helped the Braves blow the game open in the fifth as the Braves pushed their lead to 6-1.

Saturday’s game was the perfect way for the Braves to end their three game losing streak as seemingly everything went right. Tim Hudson turned in one of his best starts of the season after being pushed back a day, pitching seven innings of one run ball. Hudson walked zero batters and his only stressful inning was the third when three straight Phillies singles plated a run cutting the lead to 3-1. This was as close as the Phillies would get though as the Braves piled on in the later innings, highlighted by a Jason Heyward three run homer in the 7th. Heyward had a strong day for Atlanta going 2-5 at the plate, stealing a base, and making several good defensive plays including a diving catch to rob Chase Utley of a hit in the 6th inning.

Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick was hittable all night leaving pitches over the plate that Braves hitters didn’t miss. Hendrick gave up six runs, all earned including two scored in the fifth on misplays by Michael Young that were ruled hits. Hudson cruised through seven before being replaced by Alex Wood in the eighth. Wood pitched one inning, giving up a run before giving way to Carpenter in the 9th. Carpenter allowed a meaningless two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to Michael Young. The Braves won 13-4 to move to 50-37 on the season. The Braves maintained their five game lead in the NL East and are the third National League team to fifty wins. Despite having only their closer selected to the All-Star game the Braves are playing well, with several hitters seeing the ball well highlighted by Brian McCann who had a four hit night. Andrelton Simmon finished a double short of the cycle and Uggla homered in his second straight game. The Braves conclude the series with Philadelphia tomorrow, with Kris Medlen facing Phillies rookies Jonathan Pettibone.