*Photo from Sporting News*
Nick Markakis came back from the IL and went 2-4, Mike Soroka allowed just one hit, and the Atlanta Braves shut out the Washington Nationals 5-0 Friday night. The Braves increased their division lead over Washington to 9 1/2 games, and their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 6. Markakis was happy to be back, saying that 'I was just up there trying to get comfortable again, your first game back after seven weeks against a pitcher like Max Scherzer is not the easiest feat, so I was pleased. I didn't see as many pitches as I would like to but when I did see my pitch, I tried not to miss it.''
The Braves got on the board in the 4th inning when Matt Joyce scored Markakis on a single to right field. Next, Dansby Swanson doubled Joyce in to make it 2-0 Atlanta. In the 5th, Markakis hit a sac fly to center field to score Ronald Acuna Jr and make it 3-0. In the 7th, Ozzie Albies hit a solo homer to center field, and Rafael Ortega doubled to right field in the 9th to make it 5-0.
Soroka's last start against Washington and Scherzer was last Sunday, where Soroka gave up 4 runs on 7 hits, so he had a good bounce back game. He said that ''Anytime you get a chance for a rematch after an outing didn't go your way the first time, I think you have a little more incentive and a little more giddy-up the second time around." Soroka struck out 4 batters and walked 3, and the only hit he allowed came on an Adam Eaton double in the 4th inning. The Braves had to take 1B Freddie Freeman out of the game for precaution with right elbow soreness.
Scherzer gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings pitched. Scherzer is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 5 starts since coming off the IL. Scherzer said that ''It's new but there's no excuses in this league, you've got to post, and you've got to go out there with everything you've got and you've got to execute. Everything's on the line every single time you take the mound, so this is Major League baseball.'' Anthony Rendon went 0-4, ending his 27 game on base streak. Juan Soto walked twice and doubled for Washington.
The Braves have won 10 of their last 14 games against the Nationals as they pull away in the division. Washington may not catch Atlanta, but they hold a 2 1/2 game lead on the first NL wild card spot. The Nats look to rebound Saturday as they send Austin Voth to the mound, who is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA against the Braves. Mike Foltynewicz will get the start for Atlanta.
Comments
Post a Comment