Atlanta Braves Morning Chop and Box
May 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Mike Foltynewicz(48) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Foltynewicz Trade Beginning To Pay Dividends for Braves
SCOTT SALOMON / TODAYSKNUCKLEBALL.COM
Mike Foltynewicz has come a long way for the Atlanta Braves. He went from being tossed around the minor leagues, to being included in a trade, to finally becoming a dominant starting pitcher in the Major Leagues. He is the adrenaline that the Braves pitching staff has sorely been missing this season and is the key to the team’s recent success.
In his last outing, a 2-1 win over Milwaukee on Sunday, he went 7.2 innings, struck out seven and held the Brew Crew to one run on three hits, albeit the lineup was without slugger Ryan Braun.
Needless to say, his skipper was pleased with what he saw from the dominant rookie.
“He was dominating really the whole game,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said to Fox Sports following the game. “It’s a good start to build on for the next one.”
Foltynewicz was judicious in his pitch count and needed only 66 pitches through the first six innings. He threw the heater to set up his offspeed pitches and attacked the zone well, according to his skipper. Gonzalez approved of Foltynewicz’s aggressive strategy, saying that he has the stuff to attack the zone effectively.
“You can do that when you’re throwing 95-97 miles per hour,” Gonzalez said. “He got his breaking balls over for strikes. I thought [catcher A.J. Pierzynski] did a terrific job handling him.”
[Ed. note: more at the link above]