Battery Power - June 6: Pirates 6, Braves 1Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2019-06-06T15:39:03-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/184217732019-06-06T15:39:03-04:002019-06-06T15:39:03-04:00Freddie Freeman goes deep, but that’s all the offense for the Braves as Pirates win, 6-1
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<figcaption>Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves had chances to cash in runs, but other than Freddie Freeman actually hitting one over the fence, they were unable to put more than one run on the board. </p> <p id="J7fIn1">Despite an early home run from <span>Freddie Freeman</span>, the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> were unable to sustain enough offense to keep up with the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> as they fell 6-1 in Pittsburgh. </p>
<p id="pLGnp9">The early stages of this game played out exactly as we expected it would. Both starting pitchers came into this game with high ERAs and FIPs, so it wasn’t a huge shock to see them both give up home runs early. <span>Chris Archer</span> was the first one to surrender a dinger, and Freddie Freeman was the benefactor. Archer gave Freddie four straight fastballs, and Freddie didn’t miss it the fourth time around. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Are ya ready kids?<br><br> , ! <a href="https://t.co/bgKgnFKbTV">pic.twitter.com/bgKgnFKbTV</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1136675514503114752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2019</a>
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<p id="S9QMT3">The Braves would just sit on that one run, but I think we all had a feeling that this wouldn’t be enough if Atlanta wanted to win today. Sure enough, <span>Mike Foltynewicz</span> went to the mound for the second inning and immediately gave up a leadoff double to <span>Josh Bell</span> and a homer to Colin Moran. The pain didn’t stop there as three pitches later, <span>Gregory Polanco</span> sent a curveball from Folty onto the porch in right field for a solo shot. The back-to-back dingers put the Pirates ahead 3-1, and that’s where things stood for most of the game. </p>
<p id="SrUFGI">This isn’t to say that both teams didn’t have their fair share of chances to add onto their run tally for the day. The Braves had a chance to strike back in the very next inning after <span>Ronald Acuna Jr.</span> made it to second base after a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt (?) from <span>Dansby Swanson</span> (???). They had two men on after Freddie took a walk, but <span>Josh Donaldson</span> and <span>Nick Markakis</span> both failed to move the runners forward and that was that. The Pirates had two hits in the bottom half of that inning, but a double play and a groundout was how Folty got out of that one. </p>
<p id="cUd8Xo">Both pitchers actually found their groove after the shaky start and we didn’t see either pitcher flinch until the seventh inning, which is when <span>Brian McCann</span> led it off with a double and then <span>Ozzie Albies</span> walked to give the Braves a runner in scoring position. That was the end of the day for Chris Archer and it was also the end of the day for Mike Foltynewicz as the Braves elected to put in a pinch hitter. </p>
<p id="ycSPRS">Interestingly enough, <span>Matt Joyce</span> was the first man who the Braves went with as a pinch hitter. However, after Pittsburgh made their pitching change, the Braves decided to go with <span>Johan Camargo</span> instead. That didn’t work out for Atlanta, as Camargo grounded into a double play and Acuña was unable to bring home McCann from third base. </p>
<p id="y6WUxi">After Sean Newcomb retired the Pirates 1-2-3 to end the seventh, the Braves nearly went down in order until Josh Donaldson reached first on an error. Then we saw something that we definitely don’t see everyday: He stole a base. He didn’t any further since Markakis popped out to end the inning. </p>
<p id="YNmxHX">While the Braves may have squandered most of their scoring chances, the Pirates finally cashed in during the eighth inning. After Newcomb gave up a single to lead off the inning, <span>Jacob Webb</span> came on and the Pirates were able to get to him. Webb gave up a single and two doubles, and that included another double from Josh Bell. Bell went 3-for-4 on the day, and all three hits were doubles. His double in the eighth inning made it 5-1 and <span>Elias Diaz</span>’s extra-base hit made it 6-1 and that’s how it ended.</p>
<p id="1DBFj9">It’s a disappointing conclusion to what seemed like a promising series for the Braves. They were unable to take their chances against Chris Archer and the three runs that Mike Foltynewicz gave up in the early stages of the game were basically all that the Pirates needed to eventually run away with it. The good news is that the Braves will get to go to Miami after this, which is a city where they’ve already found plenty of success. Hopefully that will be the spot for them to rebound in as well. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/6/18655586/atlanta-braves-pittsburgh-pirates-june-6-2019-final-score-freddie-freeman-josh-bell-chris-archerDemetrius Bell2019-06-06T12:00:00-04:002019-06-06T12:00:00-04:00Game Thread 6/6/19: Braves at Pirates
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<img alt="Chicago Cubs v Pittsburgh Pirates" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/f9B3elwiy_FmdB-StD9RckvC3Oc=/47x0:2807x1840/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63961979/481746809.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Who needs to work when there’s baseball going on?</p> <p id="wQ7aOP">If you happen to be working right now, don’t worry — we won’t tell a soul that you’re busy watching baseball with us instead of actually doing your job. Your secret is safe with everybody here. If you’re out of school and on summer vacation, must be nice to finally have something to do during the day, right? No matter what, we’re glad you’re here and hopefully we’ll be watching a <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> victory against the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> today. </p>
<p id="XUv8hv">PREVIEW | LINEUPS</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/6/18654963/game-thread-and-discussion-may-5-2019-atlanta-braves-at-pittsburgh-piratesDemetrius Bell2019-06-06T11:29:53-04:002019-06-06T11:29:53-04:00Braves roll with familiar lineup while Pirates switch things up a bit
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<figcaption>Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Brian McCann is in the lineup for the second day in a row. </p> <p id="M1ngdj">Today’s lineups have been revealed and while the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> are rolling with the same exact lineup that they had yesterday, the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> have made a few changes for the day game. </p>
<p id="NA3hBd">For starters, here’s Atlanta’s lineup.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> lineup for the series finale vs. the Pirates!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChopOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChopOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZvemY4BiQt">pic.twitter.com/ZvemY4BiQt</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1136642942767120385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2019</a>
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<p id="cUxOLq">Nothing has changed from one-through-eight, which means that this will be a second consecutive day behind the mound for Brian McCann. He’s done that a few times during this season, but it’s not the most common thing for him here in his second go-around with the Braves. </p>
<p id="acq4hS">Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has made a few changes at the bottom of their lineup.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our afternoon lineup, presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/Honda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Honda</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBucs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBucs</a> <a href="https://t.co/V7LxXGakw1">pic.twitter.com/V7LxXGakw1</a></p>— Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1136627687630483456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2019</a>
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<p id="Mb0vSY"><span>Kevin Newman</span> is still leading off, but he’ll be playing at second base. <span>Cole Tucker</span> will be batting seventh for the Pirates and he’ll be playing shortstop. Also, <span>Jacob Stallings</span> will be starting as the catcher and he’s in the eighth spot. Stallings and Tucker are the two changes that the Piratesmade, so we’ll see how that works out for them. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/6/18655317/atlanta-braves-pittsburgh-pirates-june-6-2019-lineups-brian-mccannDemetrius Bell2019-06-06T09:00:00-04:002019-06-06T09:00:00-04:00A slugfest could be on the cards as Braves face Pirates in matinee game
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<img alt="Atlanta Braves v St Louis Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ctX6Zd6VxYFHMS1sDSTLTi3Tz-0=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63960994/1146157185.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Mike Foltynewicz is struggling. Chris Archer is also struggling. Something’s got to give, or we’re gonna see a offensive showcase. </p> <p id="OzztQy">After another rough outing from <span>Kevin Gausman</span> ultimately doomed the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> to a defeat in Pittsburgh last night, Atlanta will be depending on <span>Mike Foltynewicz</span> to turn things around and help the Braves leave town on getaway day with a series victory in hand. </p>
<p id="GRWHwb">Under normal circumstances, today’s pitching matchup would have been considered a marquee event. Mike Foltynewicz is coming off of a season where he finally came into his own as a good starting pitcher, and <span>Chris Archer</span> already has a few really good seasons under his belt. Unfortunately, both pitchers have been struggling and if things continue on like this, this could end up being a matter of which team can mash the most. The Braves have scored 16 runs this series and the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> already have 12 runs during the same duration, so this will really be another test for both pitchers. </p>
<p id="0wawck">The best thing we can say about Folty so far this season is that he’s at least had a recent flash of normalcy. Back on May 24, Foltynewicz threw six innings and struck out seven while giving up one unearned run. That was by far his best start of the season and it wasn’t too long ago. However, it would be really nice if those performances were more commonplace. Maybe he’ll continue to settle into things as the season progresses but for now, he badly needs to string together a line of good starts and this would be a good time for Folty to start that string. </p>
<p id="O7gm1z">Meanwhile, Chris Archer is in even bigger need of a good start. He’s only gone seven innings twice this season over nine starts. The first time happened on April 13 against Washington and that was easily his best start of the season. The second time happened on May 31 and while he put in the innings, he still gave up four runs. In fact, that start on May 31 continued a streak of six consecutive starts where Archer had given up three or more runs during one of his starts. That start against Washington was actually the last time where a team didn’t tag him for three or more runs. That rough run of starts has resulted in a 5.66 ERA and 5.61 FIP on the season.</p>
<p id="GJtsZ2">Amazingly, that’s better than Folty’s 6.10 ERA and 6.67 FIP over seven starts. Simply put, both of these pitchers are struggling and it’ll be a relief for either pitcher if they can get out of their respective rut and get their season on the right track. Both pitchers can take heart in the fact that none of the batters that they’re facing today have a significant historical edge against them. In fact, <span>Josh Donaldson</span> only has six hits and six walks in 44 plate appearances against Chris Archer. Other than that, the sample sizes are a bit too small on either side of things to make any sort of serious predictions on how things will go on an at-bat basis. </p>
<p id="jrZ3Hb">While it would be great to see Mike Foltynewicz break out of his funk and return to what we saw from him last season, this could end up breaking into a slugfest between both teams and maybe we’ll have to see if the Braves can out-slug the Pirates one last time before they leave picturesque PNC Park behind. </p>
<h3 id="in3a2U"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="Z593QA"><strong>Game Date/Time:</strong> Thursday, June 6, 12:35 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="Ah08lf"><strong>Location:</strong> PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA</p>
<p id="FDBKBf"><strong>TV:</strong> Fox Sports Southeast</p>
<p id="YbghGb"><strong>Streaming:</strong> MLB.tv</p>
<p id="weknLD"><strong>Radio:</strong> 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, Rock 100.5, Braves Radio Network</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/6/18654944/atlanta-braves-pittsburgh-pirates-may-6-2019-game-time-tv-channel-radio-streaming-mike-foltynewiczDemetrius Bell