Atlanta Braves Win 2-1 Over Reds After Rain Delay

After a lengthy rain delay that pushed first pitch back nearly two hours, the Atlanta Braves take the first game of the series with a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.  Shelby Miller continues to flourish in Braves uniform.  He went seven innings allowing just three hits, two walks, and one earned run while striking out eight batters.  Outside of an errant pickoff attempt Miller did everything right tonight but come away with the victory.  A lack of run support led to Miller’s no decision.

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As well as the Braves offense has been clicking of late, I was surprised that Atlanta only managed two runs tonight in diminutive Great American Ball Park.  Andrelton Simmons’ solo shot in the fourth inning and Phil Gosselin’s slide at home on a Aroldis Chapman wild pitch were the only two runs for the Braves in the ball game.  While the Atlanta Braves had eleven hits tonight, the team left just as many men on base.  That’s odd for this Braves team as it leads baseball in most hitting with Runners In Scoring Position (RISP) categories.

In relief Luis Avilan pitched a scoreless eighth and Jim Johnson got the save in the ninth as Braves closer Jason Grilli is still recovering from a bout with back spasms.  The close ball game came down to the which bullpen would falter first.  Fate would have it that the one reliable Reds reliever would fail them tonight.

Aroldis Chapman came into tonight’s game with a 0.68 ERA and six saves in as many opportunities.  Chapman throws over 100 MPH regularly.  When he can locate his fastball and get bite on his slider, he is virtually unhittable.  But Atlanta strung together three hits off Chapman in the top of the ninth.  Phil Gosselin lead off the inning with a pinch hit single up the middle.  Nick Markakis did the same thing in his at bat.  While Simmons was in the batter’s box, Gosselin stole third on Chapman who wasn’t paying attention to the winning run on second for some reason.  With Freddie Freeman at bat, Chapman threw one well past C Tucker Barnhart and Gosselin scored easily from third.

This was a good win for the Braves to have after getting swept in DC by the Nationals.  Any time your on the winning side of a one-run game, the clubhouse has to feel great going into the next day’s game.  Mike Foltynewicz gets the start tomorrow night for the Braves.  First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.  Go Braves!