Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: The Atlanta Braves are now 7-1 since moving B.J. Upton to the leadoff spot. It’s funny, I was looking at the box score last night and was taking a look at our team’s batting averages…I started from the bottom and said to myself “ok, these are looking good” I kept moving up the lineup and the averages stayed pretty high…then I got to our #2 and #1 hitters…ha, but I get it, I really do – it’s just strange the way it’s working out right now.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.J. Upton CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .209 | .276 | .341 | .617 |
| Andrelton Simmons SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .247 | .287 | .351 | .638 |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | .290 | .385 | .498 | .883 |
| Justin Upton LF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .276 | .344 | .503 | .847 |
| Jason Heyward RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .248 | .344 | .378 | .722 |
| Chris Johnson 3B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .281 | .299 | .361 | .660 |
| Tommy La Stella 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .282 | .360 | .355 | .715 |
| Christian Bethancourt C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .286 | .375 | .286 | .661 |
| Alex Wood P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .125 | .000 | .125 |
| Luis Avilan P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Jordan Schafer PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .185 | .243 | .246 | .489 |
| Anthony Varvaro P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ryan Doumit PH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .218 | .250 | .345 | .595 |
| Craig Kimbrel P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Team Totals | 31 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 40 | .258 | .400 | .290 | .690 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Wood | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3.19 |
| Luis Avilan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.28 |
| Anthony Varvaro, W (3-1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.25 |
| Craig Kimbrel, S (25) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.16 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 3.00 |
Mets blow lead, fall 5-3 to Atlanta Braves after three errors in the eighth inning
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: In the first of three games against the Mets, the Braves took a while for the offense to get going. The Mets held a 3-1 lead in the 8th inning when Manager Terry Collins brought in Jeurys Familia. The end result, Braves win 5-3 and Craig Kimbrel picks up another save.
"After two singles put runners on first and second, Familia had his break. He induced a ground ball to the mound. He picked up the ball, turned and fired. But, feeling rushed, the ball one-hopped in front of shortstop Ruben Tejada. Now, the bases were loaded, with nobody out.Two pitches later, Tommy La Stella knocked a single to center field and Juan Lagares, the impeccable defensive center fielder, let the ball skip under his glove. Two runs scored, and the game was tied.“It’s one of those days,” Familia said. “A bad day. It’s my fault.”"
Braves’ Simmons adds a power arm to bullpen
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: Shae Simmons has the velocity…anywhere from 94 to 98 mph with a sinking fastball. But speed isn’t all he has, his excellent slider and a great changeup combo is what is setting Shae apart from the rest. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has showed great confidence in using him where ever he needs…whether it be the 8th inning, 9th inning or just an inning they need to get out of. Simmons is becoming a very reliable source in our bullpen.
"What is a bit unusual is how quickly Simmons flew through the Atlanta’s Minor League system and earned a promotion to the Major League club. Almost exactly two years after being selected by the Braves, he is already pitching in the big leagues. Generally, we hear about first- or second-round Draft picks ascending to the big leagues relatively quickly — but not a 22nd-round selection. Not after only throwing 101 Minor League innings and skipping an assignment to Triple-A altogether.But not many pitchers are like Simmons. He is pitching very well as an important component of the Braves’ bullpen. Atlanta is using Simmons in a role in which he can excel — coming out of the bullpen to face a limited number of hitters. Simmons appears comfortable in that role."
Braves prospect Peraza is special, just ask (Kyle) Wren
Tomahawk Take Editor Notes: Jose Peraza is an extremely talented shortstop in the Atlanta Braves organization. If you haven’t heard the name, remember it now. Peraza is a shortstop but he’s primarily played second base this season and could eventually move to third base because…well Andrelton Simmons. On June 19th he was promoted from Lynchburg to Double-A Mississippi. In David O’Brien’s post, he said within a year or two, Peraza could be the Braves answer at the leadoff position.
"Beginning last year I was already hearing people in the organization talk about Peraza as the Braves’ long-term answer at leadoff. He was a shortstop, but Peraza would eventually be moved because of the obvious reason – Andrelton Simmons.I asked Kyle Wren if Peraza was a special player.“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I mean, the kid has amazing range at shortstop. It was amazing how many times a ball would get hit up the middle and I’m in center field thinking for sure it’s coming through, and he just gets over there. There’s Andrelton Simmons at shortstop, who’s incomparable defensively. But he (Peraza) is really good, too."