Saturday, August 14, 2021
-Clint Manry
The Nationals jumped out in front with two first-inning runs on Friday, but thanks to four combined runs during the second-half of the game by the offense, the Braves pulled ahead and won its 60th game last night. Atlanta’s win and Philadelphia’s loss put the teams in a two-way tie for first-place in the NL East. Although the Braves have a chance to be all by itself with a win over the Nats tonight plus a loss for the Phillies (vs. CIN).
Folks, catcher Travis d’Arnaud is BAAACK…
d’Arnaud’s long ball put Atlanta on the board in the fifth, and from there, the Braves offense scored in each of the sixth, seventh and ninth. Dansby Swanson also continued his impressive 2021 season with another homer last night – his 21st of the year…
Swanson is in the midst of ridiculous stretch of hitting, now up to a .365 AVG and 12 XBH over his last 22 games. I’ve already written about him being deserving of an extension, and his play of late is just confirmation that this is the REAL Swanson.
Today’s recap is a little shorter…
(60-56) ATLANTA BRAVES
W, 4-2 vs. Nationals
SP, C. Mortin – (W), 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
SS, D. Swanson – 2 for 4, HR, RBI
C, T. d’Arnaud – 2 for 4, HR, RBI
3B, A. Riley – 1 for 4, HR, RBI
2B, O. Albies – 1 for 4, HR, RBI
(50-38) GWINNETT STRIPERS
W, 6-4 vs. Durham
SP, K. Wright – (W), 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 K
2B, R. Goins – 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
RF/CF, C. Pache – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, SB
1B, J. Camargo – 3 for 4, 3B, 3 R
DH, S. Kazmar – 1 for 4, 2 RBI
(52-36) MISSISSIPPI BRAVES
W, 4-1 vs. Biloxi
SP, V. Vodnik – (W), 5 IP, BB, 9 K
CF, J. Pearson – 1 for 2, HR, 4 RBI
2B, J. Miller – 1 for 4, 2B
SS, B. Shewmake – 1 for 3, BB, SB
(39-49) ROME BRAVES
W, 5-4 vs. Hickory
L, 11-0 vs. Hickory
SP, D. Vines – 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K, HR
SP, C. Huntley – (L), 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 K, 2 HR
1B, B. Langhorne – 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
CF, M. Harris – 2 for 6, RBI, SB
3B, L. Waddell – 1 for 3, 2 R, BB
(bold = 2021 draftee)
(38-50) AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS
W, 5-2 vs. Kannapolis
SP, A. Hoffmann – 3 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 6 K
SS, C. Bunnell – 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
DH, V. Grissom – 2 for 3, 3B, BB
CF, S. Paolini – 2 for 4, R
2B, C. Shepherd – 2 for 3, HR, 2 RBI
(14-14) FCL BRAVES
W, 2-0 vs. FCL Rays
SP, D. Florentino – 3 IP, 3 K
RF, T. Collins – 2 for 4, SB
CF, K. Morton – 1 for 4, 2B, R
C, A. Zebrowski – 1 for 3, RBI