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Atlanta Braves Take Opener Over Phillies 2-1

By John Buhler

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The Atlanta Braves take the series opener over the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1. In a game where Atlanta didn’t play great small ball, they came out victorious.

So this is what being a fourth place team feels like. The Atlanta Braves were able to win a low scoring game tonight over their division rival and worst team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies.

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Williams Perez gets back to .500 with his 6th win of the season, besting Marietta native Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan. Perez went 5.2 innings allowing only one earned run tonight, a solo shot off the bat of Cameron Rupp in the top of the second inning.

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Perez has looked better of late, essentially throwing a quality start (6 IP, 3 ER) in his last four starts. While Atlanta has not been winning ball games all that often, perhaps Williams Perez has gotten back to good in the Atlanta rotation. Another strong start in his next outing further cements him being back to normal since the DL stint stemming from the Pittsburgh road series.

The bullpen kept it together in some high stress innings, throwing 3.1 scoreless frames. Philadelphia left 12 men on base, including loading the bases in the top of the ninth inning. Arodys Vizcaino earned his 5th save of the season and lowered his ERA on the season to 2.06.

The Atlanta Braves scored their two runs on seven hits tonight, with 1B Freddie Freeman leading the way with a pair of base knocks. Adonis Garcia and Cameron Maybin had the RBIs for the Braves this evening.

Where I believe that game was ultimately decided was with runners in scoring position. Atlanta did well in their limited RISP opportunities, going 1-3. Philadelphia went 0-11 with runners on either second or third base tonight.

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    • Overall I came away impressed with the Atlanta Braves ability to play with composure tonight, despite a handful of mental errors from some players. Adonis Garcia pulled his groin trying to scamper back to the second base bag after driving in Nick Markakis. He had to leave the game, replaced by Michael Bourn in leftfield.

    Christian Bethancourt made to bonehead moves tonight. The first was getting picked off by the catcher after a leadoff double. I could swear I saw Braves Skipper Fredi Gonzalez mouth “you’re an idiot” to a pouting Bethancourt returning to the Braves dugout. He also nearly cost the Atlanta Braves the game by deflecting a bounced ball strikeout from Arodys Vizcaino into the Atlanta grandstand, loading the bases in the process. I thought he outgrew these mental blunders in AAA but I guess not.

    Neither of the two teams who played tonight are any bit good, but hey, at least the Atlanta Braves won, right? Go Braves!

    Next: Chipper Jones: Atlanta Braves' Future Hitting Coach?

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