Atlanta Braves Aaron Blair Impresses in Debut
By Fred Owens
Atlanta Braves Aaron Blair Impresses in Debut
Aaron Blair started his first major league game today and after shaking understandable jitters showed why he’s impressed everyone at every level since becoming a pro. In the end the lineup again failed to do its job and the Braves lost 3-2.
The Met’s jumped on him early with singles from Curtis Granderson and Asdrubal Cabrera and a sac fly from Michael Conforto. The young right didn’t let it shake him and after Cabrera was caught attempting to steal as Lucas Duda struck out.
Neil Walker singled for the Mets but was quickly erased in a double play off the bat of Wilmer Flores. Juan Ligares walked in the third and Duda singled in the fourth but both were erased by double plays as Blair continued to pitch to contact and the defense turned the contact into outs.
The Braves had two runners on in the first with two out and single runners in the third and fourth without success but in the bottom of the fifth Jace Peterson singled to lead off the inning but Mallex Smith popped out weekly to left. Blair laid down a nice sac bunt and Nick Markakis’ two out single tied the game as Peterson hustled home from second.
Castro followed with a broken bat dribble into no man’s land behind the pitcher’s mound and men were on first and second with two outs for Freddie Freeman. However Freeman’s uncharacteristic struggles with RISP continued as he swung at the first pitch (no surprise there) and hit a grounder back to Mets starter Jacob deGrom to end the inning.
Next: Tied!