Battery Power - July 1: Braves 4, Mets 3Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2021-07-01T22:41:59-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/223235522021-07-01T22:41:59-04:002021-07-01T22:41:59-04:00Wild finish pushes Braves past Mets in 4-3 walk-off win
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<figcaption>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves finally won one of these weird games they keep playing.</p> <p id="aZodSO">On days when Jacob deGrom takes the ball for the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, early runs for New York offense have historically been a death sentence for the opposition. That was not the case on Thursday, as a first inning run for the Mets was answered by three first inning runs for the Braves. A wild, erratic finish for both teams culminated with a Freddie Freeman walk-off single that plated the winning run and gave Atlanta a 4-3 victory.</p>
<p id="7lXMQa">Ian Anderson drew the start for Atlanta and truthfully, despite his final line, was not particularly sharp. He struggled with command and belabored his way through much of the game, but still managed to pitch seven innings while allowing just two runs. Anderson struck out just two batters, which kept the defense busy, but allowed only five baserunners.</p>
<p id="HzDv7m">Admittedly it was somewhat deflating to see the Mets score a run in the first inning, jumping out to a 1-0 lead, with the knowledge that deGrom and his miniscule ERA, WHIP, FIP, etc. would be taking the mound for New York. Those concerns subsided quickly as Ehire Adrianza led off the bottom half of the inning with a triple. Two batters later, Ozzie Albies singled to drive home the tying run and knot the score at 1. The next batter, Austin Riley, followed with a line shot down the right field line that cleared wall just inside the foul pole to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead.</p>
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<p id="BKs9DF">Scoring even a single run against deGrom in 2021 has been nearly impossible, but scoring three in the first inning? That does not happen, at least not since 2015.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Braves are the first team to score 3+ earned runs against Jacob deGrom in the 1st inning of a game since the Phillies on Aug. 24, 2015.</p>— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSimonMLB/status/1410748734753841154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="SwfWqm">It was a huge boost for Atlanta, especially their starter, as Anderson saw his early blemish erased in dramatic fashion. He would settle in and grind out a solid start, holding the Mets scoreless until Dominic Smith blasted a solo homer to trim the Atlanta lead to one in the seventh inning. Anderson was lifted after retiring the next three batters, exiting with the lead following an impressive, gutsy start.</p>
<p id="2GVDnT">As for deGrom, he absolutely mowed the Braves down from the second inning through the seventh inning. The Braves actually led off the second with a double from Abraham Almonte, followed by a single from Kevan Smith. Almonte was forced to hold up, waiting for the ball to fall in before heading for third base and failing to score on the play. This slight hesitation allowed deGrom to escape unscathed as he struck out the next three batters. </p>
<p id="ywVMpD">As it turned out, Smith would be final batter to reach base against deGrom in this game. He exited after the seventh having retired the final 18 batters he faced with 14 strikeouts. His final line looked as pedestrian as any we have seen from deGrom, with three earned runs being charged to the right-hander.</p>
<p id="38lbxC">The Braves finally got a look at the Mets bullpen in the eighth inning as Trevor May entered to face pinch-hitter Ronald Acuna, who was a late scratch with back tightness. Acuna promptly lined a single to left field, giving the Braves their first baserunner since the second inning. Adrianza followed with a bloop single, then two batters later the Braves loaded the bases with two outs for Dansby Swanson. May was able to strike out Swanson to strand all three runners, which left the Braves clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth.</p>
<p id="KfAQN1">Atlanta closer Will Smith was able to preserve that lead for exactly two pitches, as the third pitch was a hanging slider to Dominic Smith that landed in the Chop House to tie the game 3-3. Smith would work around a James McCann single later in the inning, keeping the game tied and giving the Braves an opportunity to win the bottom half of the ninth.</p>
<p id="hUKk2K">Atlanta took full advantage of the opportunity. The inning began with Guillermo Heredia weakly bouncing a ball up the third base line, but became fortuitous when Mets reliever Seth Lugo fired the ball from a knee and into the camera well. Heredia advanced to third on a Pablo Sandoval groundout, which was followed by a Kevan Smith strikeout with the winning run on third. New York opted to walk Ronald Acuna, then unintentionally walked Ender Inciarte to load the bases for Freddie Freeman. On the first pitch he saw from Lugo, Freeman lined a comebacker off the foot of the right-hander, which caromed toward third base. Freeman was able to beat the throw to first base, allowing Heredia to score and win the game.</p>
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<p id="eLyLK2">This was certainly not the ending anyone could have anticipated, but it gives the Braves a much-needed series win over a team they are trying to catch in the standings. For the Mets, the most frustrating part of the game may have been third baseman Luis Guillorme opting to fire the ball to first base in a futile attempt to retire Freeman rather than stepping on third base to force an out and end the inning. Luckily for the Braves, he chose the former and could not retire the fleet-footed Freeman. </p>
<p id="3fzTyb">The Braves will now host the Marlins for a weekend series as they look to reel in the Mets even more. It was unorthodox, but the Braves winning a crazy game like this feels significant. The club has seemingly lost every close game this season, especially when a deflating game-tying homer in the ninth could have killed their spirits. It has not been pretty, but the Braves keep fighting.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/7/1/22560184/braves-vs-mets-final-score-freddie-freemanDillon Cloud2021-07-01T19:09:49-04:002021-07-01T19:09:49-04:00Ronald Acuña Jr. scratched from lineup due to back tightness
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<figcaption>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Prediction: The Braves score less than 20 runs against Jacob deGrom.</p> <p id="4ZVlKy">The Braves will deploy the same lineup they did a night ago, which makes sense given that they scored 20 runs. Kevan Smith remains behind the plate to complete the battery with Ian Anderson, who will have to be sharp as he takes on Jacob deGrom. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's how the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> will line up tonight vs. the Mets!<br><br>Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/TruistNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TruistNews</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheA</a> <a href="https://t.co/KsG1TAmw1Y">pic.twitter.com/KsG1TAmw1Y</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1410703270935412743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="F6UjbU">The <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> will counter with following lineup, which incorporates a lot of platoon advantages against Ian Anderson, especially among the top-five. deGrom might legitimately be the best hitter in the bottom-half of the Mets lineup, which does not bode well for a Braves team that is terrorized by opposing pitchers at the plate.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LGM</a> <a href="https://t.co/fRGodIw93m">pic.twitter.com/fRGodIw93m</a></p>— New York Mets (@Mets) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1410689704102608901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="TLtiZJ">UPDATE - Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched from Thursday’s lineup due to tightness in his mid back. Ehire Adrianza will leadoff and play right field. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched from tonight’s lineup with mid back tightness. OF Ehire Adrianza will hit leadoff and play right field.</p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1410736547394064389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="p57I40">MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Acuña will be available off the bench but it would seem that the Braves would try to stay away from him if possible. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Acuña is available off the bench tonight.</p>— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/1410737052107251713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/7/1/22559748/braves-vs-mets-lineups-ian-anderson-jacob-degromDillon Cloud2021-07-01T19:00:00-04:002021-07-01T19:00:00-04:00Braves vs Mets Game Thread 7/1
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<img alt="MLB: JUN 30 Mets at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jK00wdO09n3SfzH7rmJJY5MzVGM=/0x0:3480x2320/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69532069/1233741539.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Let’s go.</p> <p id="ICBz0i">The Braves need a win on Thursday to earn a series victory over the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. A generational pitcher stands in their way, but Atlanta hopes to carry over the momentum of their 20-run outburst from a night ago.</p>
<p id="yQL1TO">Join us in the comments for game discussion.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/7/1/22559840/braves-vs-mets-game-thread-7-1-atlanta-discussionDillon Cloud2021-07-01T14:06:21-04:002021-07-01T14:06:21-04:00Finale against Mets features high-profile matchup between Anderson and deGrom
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<figcaption>Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves have their work cut out for them on Thursday.</p> <p id="G5PmDt">The Braves enter the rubber match of their series with the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> just 4.5 games back of the division leader, but will be faced with the tallest of tasks on Thursday: beating Jacob deGrom. </p>
<p id="jB3J48">For all the hype and fanfare around deGrom, the right-hander is somehow better than all of it might suggest. He is currently in the midst of possibly the greatest season ever for a pitcher, entering play with a 7-2 record, 0.69 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in just 77 innings. His WHIP currently sits at just 0.53 and he owns a 4.7 bWAR. All of this evidence suggests that deGrom could, in actuality, post the greatest single season performance of all-time, health permitting. You might chalk some of these miniscule numbers up to luck, though, as he currently has a <em>0.99 FIP</em>. How is that even possible?</p>
<p id="Rg4g6E">Alright, enough about deGrom. The Braves will counter with an uber-talented right-hander of their own, as Ian Anderson draws the assignment for Atlanta. He enters play with a 5-4 record, 3.42 ERA, and 88 strikeouts in 81.2 innings. His 1.17 WHIP and 2.5 bWAR are also impressive, and the 22-year-old has cemented himself firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation in the National League. </p>
<p id="l56qlK">The Braves are hoping to carry over some of the offense that was on display Wednesday night, though deGrom figures to be a much tougher assignment. Historically he has fared very well versus Atlanta, with a 9-7 record and 1.88 ERA in 24 starts. Anderson has been less dominant when facing the Mets, owning a 1-2 record and 4.50 ERA in three starts.</p>
<p id="6XKzTB">Seeing the Mets leave town with just a 3.5 game lead would be satisfying for Atlanta, especially if they are able to solve the riddle that is Jacob deGrom. New York typically struggles to back their ace with any run support, so hopefully the Braves can take advantage and tighten up the division race while pulling a game closer to .500.</p>
<h3 id="R9hA30"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="3Pr5DB"><strong>Game Date/Time:</strong> Thursday, July 1, 7:20 p.m. ET </p>
<p id="1Pw9i4"><strong>Location:</strong> Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia</p>
<p id="NVxew0"><strong>TV: </strong>Bally Sports South</p>
<p id="iVIuH3"><strong>Streaming:</strong> MLB.tv</p>
<p id="zXu9iM"><strong>Radio:</strong> 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/7/1/22558621/mets-vs-braves-preview-time-tv-streaming-radio-ian-anderson-jacob-degromDillon Cloud