*Photo from the Daily Progress*
Atlanta wins series 2-0
The Atlanta Braves had some serious questions about their pitching staff entering the postseason. So far, every single pitcher on the roster has answered those questions resoundingly. Ian Anderson dominated, Marcell Ozuna hit a tape measure home run, and the Braves cruised past the Cincinnati Reds with a 5-0 win to advance to the NLDS. The Braves shut out the Reds both games of this series, which gives the Braves pitching staff a lot more credibility heading into the NLDS.
The game stayed scoreless for a while, until Ronald Acuna Jr got the Braves on the board in the 5th inning with an RBI double to center field, making it 1-0 Braves. It stayed that way until the 8th inning, when Marcell Ozuna launched a two run homer to make it 3-0. Later that inning, Adam Duvall hit a two run homer into the left field bullpen to make it 5-0 Braves.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Anderson's performance that "This kid competes just like Glavine and Avery did, those guys were about as fierce of competitors as I’ve ever been around. This kid is the same way. It’s something else, how he handles the whole thing, I look at him between innings to see his reactions sometimes. He doesn’t look his age. It’s like he’s out on the sandlot playing ball."
Anderson got the win for the Braves, throwing 6 dominating innings. Anderson allowed no runs on two hits and two walks, striking out 9 hitters. Mark Melancon closed it out in the 9th inning for the Braves, not allowing a single baserunner. Will Smith and Chris Martin also pitched for Atlanta, not allowing any runners either.
Luis Castillo got the loss for the Reds, despite a brilliant performance. Castillo threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run on 6 hits, striking out 7 hitters. Continuing from the previous game's performance by Trevor Bauer, Castillo was on his game, but a couple mistakes cost him. Raisel Iglesias was responsible for the 4 run 8th by the Braves. Lucas Sims and Michael Lorenzen also pitched for the Reds.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto described the stagnant offense that cost the Reds, saying that "We obviously didn’t do our part offensively, kudos to the Braves. I thought they were tenacious and steady. Their pitching -- I don’t want to say it was better than I thought it would be, because it would be disrespectful -- but they were very, very good. I wish them luck in the following round."
Reds manager David Bell reflected on the season, saying that "When we take a step back and reflect on the season, there's no doubt that moving forward, knowing that feeling and knowing what it takes, the amount of effort and teamwork and care, tasting that success is going to go a long way moving forward, it's difficult to have a perspective right now, but I think once we get some time, we'll look back and know that that's going to be helpful moving forward."
The Reds head home for another offseason, while the Braves head for the bubble in Houston, where they will play the winner of the Marlins-Cubs series.
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