Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
By Deke Lloyd
The Atlanta Braves fell to the Boston Red Sox in a game that featured great pitching from both sides. Kyle Wright, in particular for the Braves, was the standout of yesterday’s game.
The Atlanta Braves were at Fenway Park South to take on the Boston Red Sox and Nathan Eovaldi. For the Braves, Mike Foltynewicz was on the mound to make his second start of Grapefruit League play. Between Eovaldi and Foltynewicz, the Red Sox pitcher clearly got the best of Folty and the Braves.
For Mike Foltynewicz, the day went sideways almost immediately. Folty started the game by issuing a walk to the first batter, Michael Chavis, he faced. A wild pitch from Folty would allow Chavis to advance to second base. The next batter, Rafael Devers, hit a home run in the next at-bat, making the score 2-0 for the Red Sox. Folty would get out of the first inning when he retired the next three batters in a row.
In the next inning, Folty got off to a good start when he struck out the first batter he faced. After that, Folty would allow back-to-back infield singles to put two men on-base. The next batter would hit a double, driving one run in to make the score 3-0. Folty walked the next batter, ending his day.
Folty’s day would end with a line of 1.1 IP while allowing four hits and three runs. Folty also added two walks and struck out one before his day came to an early end. On the other side, Eovaldi pitched three innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out four. Not a great showing from Folty who was completely outclassed by Eovaldi.
For the Braves, Tyler Matzek would come on to relieve Foltynewicz. Matzek pitched very well, pitching 1.2 innings while allowing no hits, runs, or walks. Matzek struck out four. After he was pulled, Kyle Wright came on to pitch.
In his first appearance of the Spring, against the Minnesota Twins, Kyle Wright pitched two innings, striking out and allowing one hit. It was a strong first outing for Wright, a pitcher who is in competition for one of the final spots in the rotation. Yesterday’s game saw Wright elevate his game to another level.
Wright entered the game in the fourth inning. Wright would go on to strike out the first two batters he faced and get the third to groundout for a 1-2-3 inning. In the fifth inning, Wright allowed a single into the first batter he faced. After that, he retired the next three Red Sox batters, including two more strikeouts. In the sixth inning, Wright’s final inning, he would once again retire the batters in order, striking out the last batter he faced.
Wright’s day was done after the sixth inning, pitching three innings in total. In those three innings, Wright allowed hit one, no runs, and no walks. His strikeout total was at 5 when he was pulled after the sixth. It was an excellent performance from Wright.
The Braves would go on to lose the game, but the important part was the pitching. Folty continued to look shaky and inconsistent for the second time in as many starts. Kyle Wright, on the other hand, looked dominant and better than he did in his first appearance of the Spring. If Wright continues to be the pitcher we saw yesterday, it’s hard seeing him being left out of this rotation. The battle for that final rotation spot is starting to get more and more interesting as the days pass.
The Braves are back in action this evening as the team gets ready to play the Philadelphia Phillies. Sean Newcomb will be on the mound for the Braves. Freddie Freeman will make his first start of the Spring after being a late scratch last week. The first pitch will be at 6:05 this evening.