Battery Power - June 4: Braves 12, Pirates 5Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2019-06-04T22:54:04-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/184172262019-06-04T22:54:04-04:002019-06-04T22:54:04-04:00Austin Riley, Josh Donaldson power Braves to 12-5 win over Pirates
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<figcaption>Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Riley’s seventh-inning three-run homer put the Braves in front for good</p> <p id="ZqdnPe">Austin Riley delivered again to help the Atlanta Braves extend their winning streak to three straight with a 12-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. </p>
<p id="Zv2UE3">Atlanta had plenty of opportunities throughout the game but failed to deliver as they started the game 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. That all changed in the seventh inning when Austin Riley stepped to the plate with two men aboard and lined a slider from Kyle Crick right down the line in right and out for a three-run home run to put the Braves in front 6-5. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RRRRRR you kidding <a href="https://twitter.com/austinriley1308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austinriley1308</a>?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChopOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChopOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/o0eh3guQiq">pic.twitter.com/o0eh3guQiq</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1136087808337223683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="VQfg7j">Atlanta poured it on in the eighth adding three big insurance runs to the scoreboard. Dansby Swanson led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by Freddie Freeman. That double was the 300th of Freeman’s career making him just the fifth Brave with at least 300 doubles and 200 home runs in his career. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Career double number 300 for <a href="https://twitter.com/FreddieFreeman5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FreddieFreeman5</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChopOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChopOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/FYgYaMDiym">pic.twitter.com/FYgYaMDiym</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1136095108238123008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="I3KXln">That set the stage for Josh Donaldson who jumped on a hanging breaking ball and drove it way out to left center to increase the lead to 9-5. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Love posting this great <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/content?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#content</a> <a href="https://t.co/9sz6KvaL5g">pic.twitter.com/9sz6KvaL5g</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1136096490307424256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="USZNJ5">The floodgates opened again in the ninth. Charlie Culberson scored on a RBI groundout by Swanson and then Freeman followed with his 15th home run of the season to make the score 12-5. In all, the Braves scored 10 unanswered runs and nine from the seventh inning on. </p>
<p id="Rj76J0">The late heroics helped overcome a shaky outing by Max Fried. Atlanta plated a run in the top of the first but Fried struggled with his command allowing four runs in the bottom half of the inning including a two-run home run by Melky Cabrera. </p>
<p id="Q8PEL1">The Braves cut the lead to 4-2 with a run scoring ground out by Tyler Flowers in the second but Cabrera struck again in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single to push the lead back to 5-2. </p>
<p id="EOcwHx">Fried would exit after four innings having allowed nine hits and five runs to go along with two walks and three strikeouts. </p>
<p id="qFUe5F">Atlanta crawled closer in the sixth when pinch hitter Matt Joyce singled home Riley to cut the deficit to 5-3. Josh Donaldson worked a one out walk in the seventh and moved up to second when Nick Markakis reached on an error by left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Riley took care of the rest, giving the Braves back the lead for good. </p>
<p id="638DTC">The homer was Riley’s ninth of the season and gives him 25 RBIs in just 18 games. Swanson banged out two more hits giving him 21 in his last 15 games. Freeman and Ronald Acuña Jr. finished with two hits each.</p>
<p id="RRSvVF">The series will continue on Tuesday with Kevin Gausman matching up against Joe Musgrave. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/4/18653222/braves-vs-pirates-final-score-austin-riley-josh-donaldsonKris Willis2019-06-04T18:30:00-04:002019-06-04T18:30:00-04:00Braves vs. Pirates Game Thread: June 4th, 2019
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<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at San Francisco Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6KeS37__4OjgC6R3r-ec7faB5lY=/0x0:2089x1393/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63949964/usa_today_12762291.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Fried vs. Brault </p> <p id="Hve0TW">While the discussion may be more focused on off the field happenings, feel free to discuss those things and the game tonight here with fellow Braves fans. Enjoy the game and the interaction, we just ask that you be kind and courteous to others. GO Braves!! </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/4/18652750/braves-vs-pirates-game-thread-june-4th-2019Shawn Coleman2019-06-04T15:39:02-04:002019-06-04T15:39:02-04:00Braves go all Regulars, Pirates Choose not to be Saved by the Bell
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<figcaption>Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>In a night where much is in their favor, can the Braves take advantage of the opportunity?</p> <p id="Fy2UPk">While the month of June is upon us, Brian Snitker seems to have settled in on his default lineup structure for the time being. While much of the offense has struggled recently, this lineup has produced wins, and that is what counts. The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> should have plenty of opportunities to do some damage early and often. Hopefully, that includes Donaldson and Kakes starting to heat up to help earn a win. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> open up a 6-game road trip tonight in Pittsburgh!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChopOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChopOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/J9AiyzbB3s">pic.twitter.com/J9AiyzbB3s</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1135973261030957057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="EVT84G">Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. No, that is not potential NL All-Star Starting First Baseman Josh Bell in the clean up spot. It is old friend Melky Cabrera. With Bell out, the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> lineup, on paper, does not appear too formidable. However, the top of the order could still cause plenty of issue. The key for Max Fried, and the Braves’ defense after a couple of rare rocky games defensively, is not to give Pittsburgh extra chances through walks and errors. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DailyRoto Lineup Alert: Pirates<br>1. 3B Kevin Newman (R)<br>2. LF Bryan Reynolds (S)<br>3. CF Starling Marte (R)<br>4. RF Melky Cabrera (S)<br>5. C Elias Diaz (R)<br>6. 1B Jose Osuna (R)<br>7. SS Cole Tucker (S)<br>8. 2B Adam Frazier (L)<br>9. SP Steven Brault (L)<a href="https://t.co/MRx1sKcr7b">https://t.co/MRx1sKcr7b</a></p>— DailyRoto News (@dailyrotonews) <a href="https://twitter.com/dailyrotonews/status/1135979439517515777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/4/18652698/braves-go-all-regulars-pirates-choose-not-to-be-saved-by-the-bellShawn Coleman2019-06-04T13:00:00-04:002019-06-04T13:00:00-04:00Braves Hope to Keep Hammering the Ball in The Steel City
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<figcaption>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Max Fried looks to continue his breakout season against the Pirates. </p> <p id="JJfw4p">It certainly is an exciting time to be a <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> fan. In the midst of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a> (<a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2019/6/4/18651690/2019-mlb-draft-day-2-tracker-and-open-thread">we got you covered here</a>) and Kimbrel and Keuchel Watch updates (<a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2019/6/4/18652114/braves-yankees-are-favorites-to-sign-dallas-keuchel-per-report">we also got you covered on that, too</a>), the Braves have quickly seen their fortunes turn for the good on the field over the past few days. </p>
<p id="g422Uc">When I wrote the game preview on Saturday, the Braves were coming off a three game losing streak to two teams with losing records and were three games behind the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> in the NL East. Three days later, two Braves wins combined with three losses by the Phillies have resulted in an opportunity for Atlanta to be in sole possession of first place in the division by the end of the night. A big factor was <span>Mike Soroka</span> and <span>Julio Teheran</span> continuing their highly effective stretches of pitching. However, the big reason the Braves have returned to their winning ways is the offense. </p>
<p id="nHorZP">And that should come as no surprise. The Braves are simply taking advantage of their strengths, and they will look to continue doing the same Tuesday night against the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>. </p>
<p id="V0mbBl">The specific strength being referred to is the Braves elite offensive production against southpaws. I have mentioned this before, but it continues to be a relevant point. The Braves scored 17 runs over the past two games against <span>Daniel Norris</span> and <span>Matt Boyd</span>. Of their 59 games this year, Atlanta has faced a lefty starter 15 times. While it may not happen that often, the Braves are well on their way to finishing more than 10 games above .500 versus lefties on the season. That could play a significant role in a tight NL East division race as the season progresses. </p>
<p id="iYHTTo">The Braves will face another lefty tonight in <span>Steven Brault</span> (5.87 ERA, 5.52 FIP, 5.69 xFIP). <span>Brault</span> has been used primarily as a reliever in his four MLB seasons, but has made multiple starts each year he has been in the majors. Tonight will be his fourth start in 2019, and the initial results have been suppar. <span>Brault</span> has produced a 5.28 BB/9 rate in 2019, and has combined that with career highs in LD% and Hard Hit% rates allowed. The end result has been a few rough outings, though Brault’s record stands at 2-1 on the season. He has received good run support in his three starts, and the Pirates will likely have to find some offensive success again tonight. If Brault yields multiple walks, it will benefit the Braves as they will see good pitches to hit with runners on base. </p>
<p id="I3qkiT">Atlanta will send their own southpaw, <span>Max Fried</span> (3.19 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 3.52 xFIP), to the mound to face the Pirates. While <span>Fried</span> has experienced a bit of expected regression since his dominant start to the season, he stands at a 7-3 record in the midst of his breakout campaign. <span>Fried</span> was a bit shaky in his last start, a loss to the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> in which he matched season highs in hits allowed, earned runs, and walks allowed. It arguably was his worst start of the season (the inning outing versus the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> not included). </p>
<p id="m7Acmy">Thankfully, there could not be a much better matchup on paper for <span>Fried</span> to regain his high rate of success. In 2019. against left-handed pitching, the Pirates rank 27th in the majors in OPS, 28th in ISO, and 27th in wOBA. The key for Fried will be limiting the success of <span>Josh Bell</span> and <span>Bryan Reynolds</span> at the plate. If he can find success against that duo, the chances are very good that he will have another great outing. </p>
<p id="Ro0bMx">As they were on paper against the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a>, the Braves should be heavy favorites to win this game. If they can keep their approach simple, and execute good at-bats with runners on base, Atlanta hopefully will earn its third straight victory. </p>
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<p id="4h4ktt">WPA - <span>Josh Donaldson</span> - The man is due. The variables in my algorithm are hope and faith, and I have an abundance of both in terms of <span>Donaldson</span> tonight. I look forward to being wrong, but sure as heck will brag to the heavens if I am right. </p>
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<p id="Z79KWp">GAME INFO </p>
<p id="05H1Sr">Atlanta Braves @ Pittsburgh Pirates</p>
<p id="1jkA6T">Tuesday, June 4, 2019</p>
<p id="CpX2Nt">7:05 pm EDT</p>
<p id="DSh1Hn">PNC PARK, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania </p>
<p id="OmOac7">TV: Fox Sports South, MLB.tv</p>
<p id="vczvC6">Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan, Rock 100.5, Braves Radio Network, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM</p>
<p id="s9koLI">XM Radio: XM 186 (Streaming 841)</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/4/18652100/braves-hope-to-keep-hammering-the-ball-in-the-steel-cityShawn Coleman