House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves Have No Answer For Jake Arrieta

By Fred Owens

Jun 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler (37) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler (37) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Mess in the Middle

Eric O’Flaherty entered to start the fifth and gave up a 2-2 single to Heyward. Kris Bryant followed that with a laser shot into the left field seats to put the Cubs up 7-1.

The Braves went quietly in the bottom half of the fifth and EOF started the sixth by quickly getting two outs. The next hitter was Arrieta who took a 1-2 pitch to right for his second hit of the day and Fowler followed with a double into tha gap scoring Arrieta moving the Cubs into an 8-1 lead.

Ian Krol came in to pitch the seventh and Bryant greeted him with a single but Krol retired the next three hitters in order.

In the home half the Braves showed some life, a Peterson walk was followed by a strikeout of pinch hitter Daniel Castro and Mallex Smith hit a sharp grounder to second but the Russell used the old phantom tag at second and the umpire didn’t but it calling Peterson safe. Smith was however out at first.

The rapidly heating up Ender Inciarte followed with a triple to right scoring Peterson but was stranded at third when Chase d’Arnaud  grounded out to end the inning.

Alexi Ogando did his job for the Braves in the top half of the eighth, a feat duplicated by Matt Szczur for the Cubs in the bottom half.

The Final Flutter

Hunter Cervenka came in to p[itch the ninth for the Braves and struck out Fowler but Heyward followed with a single to right that he stretched into a double.

The Braves walked Bryant to get the lefty – lefty matchup with Rizzo, sound strategy as Rizzo was only hitting .209 against same sided pitching entering the game. Cervenka lowered that number a touch by striking him out and di the same with Ben Zobrist to end the Cubs ninth.

Former Brave – failed starter and converted to successful reliever – Trevor Cahill came in to try to seal the deal for Cubbies.

After AJ lifted a soft fly to left for the first out, happy to be back in Atlanta Jace Peterson singled to right and Bryant failed to handle a high bouncing ball from Castro.

Mallex Smith grounded to first and Rizzo took the out there before attempting and failing to get Castro at second but Inciarte ended the rally and the game by grounding out to Rizzo

Next: Good Bad and Other?

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