Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Box Score, Clayton Kershaw’s Short Outing
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves were facing the best pitcher in the game and a guy that’s just been on a ridiculous role in the 2016 season. Heading into the game, Clayton Kershaw had only walked five batters. Braves starting pitcher, Bud Norris actually pitched a lot better than we thought he would. He lasted five innings, gave up three hits, one run, four walks and two strikeouts. This was Norris’s first start since the Braves moved him to the bullpen after his April 27th start against the Boston Red Sox. Atlanta’s offense had five hits on Saturday night, but didn’t score any runs.
Braves lose 4-0
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ender Inciarte CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .205 | .282 | .250 | .532 |
| Chase d’Arnaud 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .323 | .397 | .431 | .828 |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .250 | .343 | .426 | .770 |
| Jeff Francoeur LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .277 | .307 | .378 | .685 |
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .237 | .336 | .323 | .659 |
| Tyler Flowers C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .242 | .348 | .333 | .681 |
| Adonis Garcia 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .227 | .282 | .265 | .547 |
| Daniel Castro SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .193 | .235 | .202 | .437 |
| Bud Norris P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .143 | .400 | .429 | .829 |
| Chris Withrow P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Eric O’Flaherty P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Mallex Smith PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .244 | .301 | .427 | .728 |
| Alexi Ogando P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ian Krol P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| John Gant P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Team Totals | 29 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 33 | .172 | .250 | .172 | .422 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud Norris, L (1-7) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5.28 |
| Chris Withrow | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.25 |
| Eric O’Flaherty | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.71 |
| Alexi Ogando | 0.1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.20 |
| Ian Krol | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 |
| John Gant | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.52 |
| Team Totals | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4.50 |
MLB RUMORS: Atlanta Braves Shopping Julio Teheran, Kelly Johnson and Nick Markakis
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Braves General Manager John Coppolella has already told the media that he’s not interested in trading away his stars for prospects and that they would have to be overwhelmed to move Teheran. This says two things to me…1) he’s not putting the never trading away (Freddie Freeman) clause on Teheran and 2) if Teheran continues to pitch like he has, teams will be willing to give up a huge package. I can see the Braves trading guys like Markakis, Johnson and even Jeff Francoeur.
"There are currently rumors that Atlanta may look to deal outfielder Nick Markakis, utility man Kelly Johnson, and right-handed pitcher Julio Teheran.The Boston Globe reported that the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals were among the teams interested in Markakis in May, but that may have changed with the 32-year-old’s recent trouble at the plate.Markakis, who is making $11 million this season, is hitting just 0.187 (21-for-112) since getting off to a hot start in April, when he batted 0.302 for the month. He is currently hitting 0.237 with one home run and 29 runs batted in.ESPN"
Short outing doesn’t keep Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers from winning
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Should the Braves take having three hits, only striking out four times, having a walk against Kershaw and getting him out of the game after the 6th inning a success? Possibly. The Braves were able to get the leadoff batting on base four out of six times against the best pitcher in the game. Kershaw also hit the opposing pitcher, Bud Norris, with a pitch for the first time in his career.
"Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw continues to prove that he doesn’t need to pitch flawlessly to be dominant, nor does he require much offensive support to win games.Kershaw had his shortest outing of the season Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. He weaved through six innings before turning the game over to the bullpen in a 4-0 victory at Dodger Stadium.“Six innings isn’t why we’re here,” Kershaw said. “That’s not acceptable. I’ll take it for tonight, but I don’t ever want to hold three innings for the bullpen.”“The ball was cutting all over the place,” Kershaw said. “I just didn’t have a good feel coming out to the [sixth] inning there.”"