Aaron Nola outduels Jaime Garcia in Atlanta Braves loss 3-1

After allowing double-digit runs in back-to-back games, the Braves turned to Jaime Garcia to stifle the already practically non-existent Phillies offense.

And fortunately for the Atlanta Braves, he succeeded.

Unfortunately, he received little in the way of run support and will be shouldered with the tough-luck loss.

To their credit, Atlanta did come out of the gates swinging. Just three batters into the bottom of the first, a Brandon Phillips double and Nick Markakis single allowed the Braves to push across a run.

However, after that frame, Phillies starter Aaron Nola looked virtually unhittable.

Over the next seven innings, he would allow just four base runners (three singles and a walk) while striking out five.

Hector Neris and Pat Neshek combined to throw a scoreless ninth and seal the Braves loss.

Positives:

While no one really likes moral victories, there were a few encouraging signs from the game.

Jaime Garcia

As mentioned above, Garcia delivered an admirable outing. The southpaw worked 7.2 innings of three-run ball and didn’t issue a single walk. As Brian Snitker put it “It was a great job. I think he hung one [slider] to Kendrick. It wasn’t like they were banging him all around.”

As the youngest member of Atlanta’s trio of veteran pitching additions, Garcia is the likeliest to find himself on the trading block over the next two months.

It can feel callous to root for a guy just because his performance increases his trade value but that’s exactly what’s happening right now with Garcia.

As Mark Bowman noted Garcia has “pitched into the seventh and allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his past four outings.”

That’s the sort of player a contender wants to acquire at the deadline.

—The Balk—

In the top of the 6th inning of a 2-1 game, Braves starting pitcher Jaime Garcia was called for a balk by first base umpire Mike Everitt.  It was only the second balk called against Garcia since 2012 when he was a part of the St. Louis Cardinals organization.  The first one came just a start ago so now he has two in his past two outings.

Did he change something?  Did the umps pick up on something?  What’s going on here?

“He’s been (called for) balks the last two moves he’s made and prior to that he wasn’t balked at all, all season,” Snitker said.  “I don’t know.  I’m just thinking it’s too coincidental, I guess, a little bit maybe.  I don’t know if he balked, he might have balked.  I haven’t looked at (the replay).”

You make the call with the video below…it looks as though Garcia stepped towards the plate just a little too much before throwing to first.

Though Garcia was going to first with his pickoff move, the Phillies also had a runner on third base…unfortunately, that runner scored because of the balk.

Whatever the case, it sucked and Garcia didn’t approve of the call after the game.  He told reporters “I don’t agree with it, I didn’t like it.”

Middle Infield

Atlanta recorded just seven hits, six of which went for singles. Brandon Phillips collected two of those including the team’s lone extra-base hit (the aforementioned first inning double) and scored the team’s only run.

His batting line now sits at .299/.351/.763. Each of those are above his career his averages.

Dansby Swanson also recorded a hit. It was a pretty unremarkable single and nothing came from it but for some reason that still feels like a victory for him.

Bullpen

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Though Garcia did much of the heavy lifting, a pair of relievers did need to finish off the game for Atlanta.

Jason Motte recorded the final out of the eighth inning, continuing his run of excellent work with the Braves. He currently has an ERA of 1.80 over 17 outings this season.

In the ninth, former first-round pick Jason Hursh made his 2017 debut. He allowed a leadoff single to Aaron Altherr but then induced a Maikel Franco GIDP and a Cameron Rupp strikeout to retire the side.

Some may remember his late season cameo last year in which he recorded an ERA of 33.75 over two outings.

Next: Replacing Big Bart

The series will continue on Wednesday with Mike Foltynewicz facing off against Jerad Eickhoff. First pitch is at 7:35 PM EST.