The Atlanta Braves took down the former Braves (San Diego Padres) 4-1 on Wednesday evening to improve their 2015 record to 29-30.
Braves offense totaled 14 hits with Kelly Johnson and A.J. Pierzynski both having three hits. Cameron Maybin and Nick Markakis both added two hits a piece on Wednesday. This was Johnson’s first MLB game since an oblique injury popped up on May 13.
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“It was a nice first game back obviously, but winning the game is the most important,” Johnson said. “Its fun to enjoy this night and have the first one be so good. I missed the guys, missed being here and hopefully we can do more of this.”
The Braves were able to score runs early and late against the Padres. Atlanta put two runs on the board in the 2nd inning, one in the 3rd inning and then added an insurance runs in the 7th. Atlanta did leave 20 runners on base which is a little disturbing and something we’d probably be talking about if they lost the game.
“Solid baseball game, we left some people on base but we scored enough runs,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said after the game. “I thought the turning point of the game was Cameron Maybin catching that ball in center in the 5th inning. There’s not to many centerfielders who make that play heading towards the wall.”
Maybin made a terrific play in centerfield when a ball was struck by Yonder Alonso to deep center. Once the ball was hit, I thought it was gone. Great play by Maybin and Braves starter Williams Perez was able to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“That’s what I do and that’s what I take the most pride in, Maybin said. “I work my tail off at the plate, but I spend a lot of time taking pride in my defense. It was a big play and that’s things you have to do. We are struggling as a team and trying to get things going as a team so you have to make plays like that to help.”
Perez pitched great going seven innings while only allowing four hits and one run that wasn’t earned. He also totaled five strikeouts AND only allowed two walks.
“Williams Perez, he pitched phenomenal and the bullpen did great,” said Johnson.
The bullpen did their job on Wednesday with Brandon Cunniff and Jim Johnson going two innings and only giving up one hit and zero runs.
Maybin is now batting .303 on the 2015 season and has been on fire lately for the Braves.
“He’s been having a terrific month and a half,” Gonzalez told reporters. “He puts the ball in play and uses the entire field and he’s impacting the game both offensively and defensively.”
The Braves and Padres end their four game series on Thursday with the game starting at 12:30pm ET. Julio Teheran takes the ball for Atlanta.