Mike Minor Leads Atlanta Braves To 5-2 Win Over Cincinnati Reds

Jul 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Minor (36) pitches in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

With a depleted lineup, the Atlanta Braves needed Mike Minor to turn in one of his early 2013-caliber outings. After Zack Cozart and Chris Heisey both scored in the top of the second inning, it seemed like it was going to be another rough day for the Braves. However, Mike Minor got into a groove and went on to shutout the Reds through the rest of the game and lead the team to a 5-2 win.

He ended the day with a great line, going seven full innings while allowing just the two runs on six hits. He also put up a nice strikeout to walk ratio, with seven strikeouts and one free pass. After a few rough outings in a row for Minor, it’s nice to see a performance like this when the team needed it most. Other starters have struggled of late, and with the entire outfield out with injury their’s not a whole lot of wiggle room until after the All-Star break.

The bullpen was as good as you could hope (like the majority of the time) with Craig Kimbrel and Luis Avilan both throwing shutout innings. Avilan let up one hit and one walk but nothing other than that, while Kimbrel  struck out the side.

Brian McCann, Chris Johnson, Dan Uggla, Reed Johnson, and Joey Terdoslavich each scored once to give Atlanta the offensive support they needed. Those five combined to go 7-18 with one walk (McCann) and five strikeouts. Jose Constanza was brought up to bolster the outfield with Heyward and the Upton brothers out and had a good night in the leadoff spot with three hits in four AB’s while also driving in a run.

Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman both went 0-4 on the night with Freeman striking out three times. One of these was a surprise to me. I’ll give you two guess as to which player it was.

All in all it was a pretty awesome night for the Braves given the situation they were put in. The team has one more game to get through before having a four day break that is much needed.