Arizona Diamondbacks Shutout Braves To Win Game 2, 2-0
Apr. 28, 2013; Phoenix AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin (46) throws a pitch during the first inning against Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports Images
The Braves were shutout for game two in Arizona and the Diamondbacks needed only two runs in the third inning to get the win.
With one runner on and one out in the third inning, Gerardo Parra hit a double that rolled slowly to the outfield grass behind Freddie Freeman. Didi Gregorious then came up and hit a two run single to give the Diamondbacks a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Parra’s ball seemed to be a routine fielder’s choice to Freeman at first, but Julio Teheran ran over to try and field the ball, as well. Neither player managed to come up with the ball, and Dan Uggla was unable to field it either, as he was moving over to cover the bag at first. It was definitely an unlucky way to give up runs, but that must make up for all of the homers that Julio Teheran managed to barely avoid.
Tonight was the first night I have seen Teheran pitch live (his entire outing) this season, and I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. He rarely used the change-up, and gave up a ton of very hard-hit balls. Fortunately for him, a lot were hit right at the defense, and at least three were caught on the warning track. A lot of people will say Teheran got unlucky, because of the scoring sequence in the third inning, but he was grooving a lot of mid-nineties fastballs over the heart of the plate. If he wants to be successful over the course of a season, he is going to need to hit his corners more, and either develop a good breaking ball or start to rely on an excellent change-up more often than he has been.
However, I will have to give him credit for throwing six innings and keeping the team in the game. He ended the night after six full innings of work while striking out three, walking none, and allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
Unfortunately, the Braves offense wasn’t too impressive against Patrick Corbin, who has been an extremely effective starter so far this season. Coming into the game he was 5-0 with a 1.55 ERA. Corbin threw seven shutout innings and gave up just three hits. He also struck out 5 batters and walked 5. It was a bit disappointing that the Braves didn’t capitalize on all of those walks. A few double plays (one of which was a shot by Freeman straight at Paul Goldschmidt) ended any hopes of starting a rally for the Braves.
Reed Johnson managed to get two hits and a walk, Chris Johnson got a hit and a walk, and Justin Upton tallied two walks. Other than that, there was pretty much nothing happening out of the Atlanta hats. You just have to tip your cap to the opposing pitcher and defense on a night like this. Gregorious had some nice plays at shortstop and they didn’t have any mishaps like Atlanta did in the third. That’s what wins baseball games, and unfortunately, the Braves were on the wrong side of things last night.
During the ninth inning, it looked like the D-Backs might have given the Braves a chance, after Paul Goldschmidt dropped a throw at first to let Freddie Freeman reach first. However, Heath Bell proceeded to strike out Evan Gattis and Dan Uggla, and then get Chris Johnson to pop up and end the game.
The team will look to win the series and end a 10-game road trip with a .500 winning percentage today against the Diamondbacks in the rubber game. Tim Hudson (4-2, 4.70 ERA) will look to bounce back from his worst start of the year against Ian Kennedy (1-3, 4.83).
The good news is, the Nationals lost as well. On to the next one.