Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
On a sunny Atlanta Sunday afternoon Shelby Miller sought his first win in 15 starts but it wasn’t his day. After two innings he’d thrown 48 pitches, was down two nothing and looked like he had little idea of the location of the strike zone.
Silent Braves Bats Define Miller Starts
If I told you Shelby Miller was starting today you’d expect him to pitch well and get little support but only half of that is true; the latter half. Miller used just eight pitches to strike out the first two batters then needed sixteen more to get the third out of the inning. The second inning saw him give up two runs, one on a squeeze by Brad Hand and the other on a single from Dee Gordon, and use 24 more pitches.
After three innings he’d thrown 71 pitches, just two short of the 73 he used in his seven inning outing against the Marlin in May. Miller’s struggles were mostly with the strike zone but he kept grinding out the innings and in the end Going five before turning it over to the pen.
His opposite number was Brad Hand who’s been used mostly in relief and who never used a windup on the day. While Miller’s pitch count elevated quickly Brad Hand who had thrown just 30 pitches in the bottom of the third when Miller broke up the no hitter with a two out double.
The fifth was Miller’s first 1-2-3 inning and his last inning in this game. He left having thrown100 pitches allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four. He also owned the Braves only hit.
Ryan Kelly came in to pitch the sixth and after struck out Cole Gillespie. Then J.T. Realmuto reached on an infield single, Adeiny Hechavarria singled to right and Hand reprised his earlier unintentional squeeze. Swisher tried to cut Realmuto down at the plate but his scoop to Pierzynski was late allowing the run to score and Hand to reach safely.
Ross Detwiler came in to face Dee Gordon and coaxed a ground ball to force Hand at second. Ichiro followed that bt grounding out to second.
Hand stayed in the game to start the seventh and Pierzynski greeted him by grounding out to second. Jonny Gomes finally got to Hand when he turned on a 1-2 fastball and sent it into the left field stands for the Braves first run and their second hit of the day.
The Braves had two men on with one out in the eighth but Maybin struck out and Markakis hit a fly ball into the right field corner that Ichiro tracked down for the third out.
Matt Marksberry who appears to be Fredi Gonzalez newest favorite pitcher came on to pitch the ninth. With one out Ichiro turned on an inside pitch and tripled into the right field corner. Christian Yelich followed that by taking an outside pitch down the left field line under a diving Adonis Garcia to score Ichiro.
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Yelich stole second and Casey McGehee walked signaling the end of Marksberry’s day replaced by David Aardsma. On the first pitch to Martin Prado Yelich attempted to steal third but Pierzynski threw him out. Prado walked but Gillespie struck out to end the inning.
The Braves went quietly in their half of the ninth
Numbers of note
Gomes’ home run today was his first since June fifth.
Brad Hand is first Marlins starter to go seven innings since Tom Koehler on July 23. In his seven inning Hand allowed one run on two hits while walking two and striking out three. He threw just 91 pitches, 52 for strikes.
Miller’s 15-start winless streak is the longest by a Braves pitcher since Jo-Jo Reyes made 18 starts without a win in 2009. In his 15 starts Miller is 0-8 in spite of posting a 3.15 ERA the Braves failed to score eight times, scored one run three times, two runs once and three runs three times; they failed to score while Miller was actually in the game ten times. That dubious streak is the longest in majors this year and one short of matching the dubious Atlanta record of 11 set in 1974.
That’s a Wrap
There’s not much to be said about the game today. Miller did what a starter is supposed to do when he left his stuff in his other jersey, pitched five innings and gave up only a couple of runs keeping the team in with a chance. The problem was the lineup couldn’t figure out Hand. Aside from Miller and Gomes, there were four well hit flies deep into the outfield but Yelich, Gillespie and Ichiro tracked them all down. The defense didn’t make any major gaffes nor were the Marlins particularly beating the baseball to death. They did just enough against a lineup that just didn’t have enough.
Tomorrow is an off day before we travel to Saint Pete to visit the Rays. Maybe along the way we’ll find a few hits to take with us.