Is It The Pitching?
What is the most effective way to win a Major League Baseball game? Obviously, it is to shut out the other team! Sometimes though, it is easier said then done for some teams. The way to do this though, is through pitching obviously. The effective pitcher shuts down the opposing team’s batters, not allowing a run and being effective in and out of every inning.
The Atlanta Braves got that effective pitching Tuesday night from rookie right-hander Lucas Sims, as he allowed only three hits over six innings in a 4-0 win against the Seattle Mariners. Sims improved to 2-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to 4.13 for the year. He is also on a two game pitching winning streak, after losing his first three starts. Plus, Sims did a rare feat in pitching a shut out for the Braves this year.
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Fifth Shut Out of The Season For The Braves
Sims pitched well, but his shutout was only the fifth of the season for the Atlanta Braves. It was the first for the Braves since July 8th when they shut out the Washington Nationals 13-0, when Julio Teheran outdueled Stephen Strasburg at Nationals Park.
Now to think the Braves would only have five total shut outs on the season, it would be hard to believe, especially after they had two alone in June. The first of the month came on June 19th against the San Francisco Giants when old man R.A. Dickey went seven strong innings against Johnny Cueto to lead the Braves to a 9-0 win at home.
A week later on June 27th, the Braves got their second shut out of the month in San Diego against the Padres when Sean Newcomb got his first win of the season going six strong innings.
The only other shut out the Braves pitched was May 26th, also against the Giants, when former Brave Jaime Garcia outdueled Matt Cain in a 2-0 Braves win.
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Through 125 games, the Braves have five shut outs, yes, five. That is a shut out once about every twenty five games. Not exactly the numbers you are looking for, but then again, when the team ERA ranks thirteenth in the National League, it seems to be right at par for the season.