The Atlanta Braves have been participating in Grapefruit League action for a while but, on Wednesday afternoon, the team took the field against the New York Yankees and the contest marked the first that was broadcast on local television in the Atlanta market. As such, more people were able to watch this particular game than any before it and, in the end, they were treated to an entertaining loss by a final score of 5-1.
The day (one that did not include Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman or Nick Markakis) began in breezy fashion in the first inning, with the trio of Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson (making his Spring debut) and Ozzie Albies went down in order. In the bottom half, youngster Kyle Wright did allow a single (and issued a wild pitch) but he struck out two, including Aaron Judge.
Kyle Wright freezes Aaron Judge for the strikeout. pic.twitter.com/sNNLQNshUb
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
Kyle Wright locates a 96-mph high fastball for his second strikeout of the day.
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
The @VandyBoys product can dial it up. pic.twitter.com/u6bDB7xPvD
Offensively, things remained quiet in the second but Wright managed to navigate a scoreless frame with the help of a big-time play from Albies and a pretty outfield assist.
"Yes, I'd like to report a robbery"@ozzie | @Braves pic.twitter.com/tdGwGx1JZQ
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
The third inning was also void of fireworks, but Wright managed to navigate his third (and final) inning in spotless fashion. In fact, he struck out Troy Tulowitzki to close things out and strike two made the veteran look bad.
This Kyle Wright breaking ball had Tulo taking cover... pic.twitter.com/gkMM1mLENw
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
With one out in the top of the fourth, Swanson garnered his first hit of Spring Training and that is cause for celebration.
Dansby Swanson on playing today for the first time since undergoing wrist surgery pic.twitter.com/kWBenRjt36
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 5, 2019
From there, Tyler Flowers was hit by a pitch and Atlanta took the lead when Swanson scored on a two-out RBI single from Johan Camargo.
Johan Camargo RBI single.
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
Back like he never left. pic.twitter.com/mTMnJpwcwX
The Braves nearly added to their lead later in the frame on an Alex Jackson single, but Flowers was thrown out at the plate to end the threat and leave Atlanta with a 1-0 lead.
With that said, the fifth inning wasn’t as kind, with Atlanta going scoreless in the top half and Chad Sobotka encountering all kinds of trouble in the bottom half. The 25-year-old right-hander opened his outing with a four-pitch walk, then allowed a single and another walk to load the bases. Following a mound visit, Sobotka looked to be settling when he induced a sacrifice fly but, seconds later, Judge blasted a three-run home run and, suddenly, the Braves were in a 4-1 hole.
Things improved in the sixth when, despite quiet bats in the top half, stud prospect Ian Anderson flourished. The young right-hander retired a trio of Major League players (Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu) in order and he received a bit of help from fellow standout Cristian Pache, who made a fantastic grab for the third out.
#Braves top prospect Ian Anderson dials up the fastball pic.twitter.com/YnGFtUEHOI
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
CRISTIAN PACHE IS GOING TO WIN GOLD GLOVES.
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) March 5, 2019
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.@Braves | @cristianpache25 pic.twitter.com/QczGp39z6i
Anderson did allow a run, albeit unearned in the eighth inning, when a passed ball was paired with a wild pitch to allow a runner to advance twice. Still, it was a quality outing for the 20-year-old and that is worth keeping in mind.
As always, the final result on the scoreboard isn’t what matters in Spring Training and it was an encouraging afternoon in many respects. Wright was fantastic, Anderson looked good, Pache did a Pache thing, Camargo had the biggest knock of the game and Swanson emerged clean from his debut.
The Braves will return to action on Wednesday (possibly with Josh Donaldson involved) with a split-squad effort against the Marlins and Tigers. Stay tuned.