An indication that the regular season is fast approaching is when projected lineup regulars begin playing multiple Spring Training games in a row and when starting pitchers begin going deeper than the fourth inning.
Jaime Garcia pitched into the sixth inning and the Atlanta Braves rolled out their top lineup before Adam Walker hit the game-winning single to lift the Braves to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
Mel Rojas, Jr., led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and was sacrificed to third on Emilio Bonifacio’s bunt. Matt Tuiasosopo was walked to set up the double play, but Walker ended the game with a single up the middle.
Garcia hurled 5 2⁄3 innings and allowed a single run on five hits, a walk and four strikeouts. The lone run came on a Nicholas Castellanos home run in the fourth inning.
He retired the first six batters he faced in a perfect first two innings, before allowing a leadoff hit in the third to Anthony Gose, who was thrown out by Braves catcher Tyler Flowers attempting to steal second. Castellanos homered with one out in the fourth.
The Braves sent their top lineup to face veteran Tiger hurler Justin Verlander, whose only blemish was a solo homer as well. Freddie Freeman kicked off his 2-for-3 evening at the plate by taking Verlander deep with two away in the first, to supply Atlanta’s only offense against the righty.
Atlanta failed to even put another runner on base until Ender Inciarte singled with two outs in the sixth, although he was promptly caught stealing with Dansby Swanson at the dish.
Verlander finished his six innings having allowed just two hits while striking out four.
Freeman and Nick Markakis each singled off reliever Mark Lowe in the seventh, but the Braves failed to consolidate the threat.
Out of the bullpen, Joel De La Cruz got the last out of the sixth after replacing Garcia, with Matt Wisler, Arodys Vizcaino and Jim Johnson spinning scoreless frames in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, respectively.
Vizcaino and Johnson struck out a pair of hitters in each in their inning of work, and both continued their strong showings this spring. In eight games, Vizcaino has surrendered a single run, back on March 3. Johnson has allowed just an unearned run in seven appearances.
The Braves play the Tigers once again on Friday, this time at Joker Marchant Stadium, where the Tigers play their home spring contests.
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