Johnson’s Big Hit & Simmons D Lead Braves to Victory
By Harris B Nye
Jul 30, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) runs the ball in a run down against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Braves shouldn’t normally expect to win a game in which Eliot Johnson has the only RBI hit. On Tuesday night, Jonson’s two-run triple was enough to secure the 2-0 victory for Atlanta over the Cleveland Indians. Johnson’s triple with two outs plated Joey Terdoslavich and Brian McCann and was all the support that Alex Wood and the Braves bullpen needed. Wood was inefficient, walking four Cleveland hitters and needing 105 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings, but he was good enough to lead the Braves victory.
Wood faced off against another exciting rookie pitcher in Danny Salazar who was even less efficient than Wood and only lasted four innings. Wood completed the month of August with a 0.90 ERA and has been the Braves best starter since moving to the rotation. On Tuesday night, Wood showed the worst control of his young career and allowed five hits but no runs. If a bad night for Wood is one in which he allows no runs in 5 2/3, then Braves fans have something to be seriously excited about.
Tuesday marked the return of Michael Bourn, who led off the game with a single, to Atlanta, but he was kept off base for the rest of the proceedings. Bourn was one of several victims of Andrelton Simmons, who had another spectacular night in the field. Bourn was robbed of a hit when Simmons made a spectacular stop and a long throw to get Bourn by an inch at first. Simmons was assisted by a leaping catch from Freddie Freeman in which Freeman got back down on the bag a moment before Bourn reached the base. Simmons being spectacular in the field and making it look easy is nothing new and is a major reason why the Braves can shut out teams on nights when their starter doesn’t have his best stuff.
The Braves magic number to clinch the East is down to 19 with August not even over yet. Paul Maholm will make his second start since coming off the DL on Wednesday night.