Atlanta Braves split series with 4-0 win over Marlins

The Atlanta Braves offense finally came together during the 8th inning after both sides were quiet for most of Sunday’s pitcher’s duel

Sunday’s game was one of those games where a single run could feel like ten with how the pitching was doing.  Kevin Gausman and Pablo Lopez were dueling on the mound with each, with Gausman eventually having the better outing for the Atlanta Braves.

Gausman went five total innings, getting pulled arguably a little early though the choice didn’t have much of an effect. However, during his outing, he allowed only one hit and one walk.  Oddly,  the hit allowed was to the pitcher, Lopez. He also struck out five batters.

So along with the lately impressive bullpen, the Braves offense really only needed a run as the Marlins were shutout.

It took Atlanta some time to get that run, as it didn’t come until the 6th when Nick Markakis came home on a Tyler Flower‘s 2-out single after leading off with a walk.

Let’s Get Some Insurance

The Braves did add some more insurance in the 8th inning when Charlie Culberson led off with a first pitch single to center. Flowers then got hit by a pitch (stop me if you’ve heard this one before). Dansby Swanson moved the runners over with sacrifice to third, followed by a Ozzie Albies walk to load the bases.

Ronald Acuña Jr. grounded one to Derek Dietrich who chose to throw (poorly) to home – which resulted in an error. This scored Culberson AND Flowers.

Shortly after, Ender Inciarte hit a sac-fly to add another run. Braves lead 4-0.

Rounding It Up

The only time the Marlins came close to scoring was when Dietrich hit a 2-out single in the 9th inning and then advanced to 2nd on fielder’s indifference.

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Gausman has really turned a page and become a different pitcher since being acquired by the Braves. He has now pitched to a 1.69 ERA with the club while going 4-1 contrasting his 2018 stats with Baltimore (5-8, 4.43 ERA).

Jesse Biddle, Dan Winkler, Brad Brach and A.J. Minter each came out for an inning and continued to shut the Marlins down.

Freddie Freeman, who still leads the NL in batting average (.313) as of this write-up, has fallen into a slump lately and it really showed today.

In the first inning, Acuña and Inciarte led off with a single and ground-rule double.

Freeman, however, went on to ground out to the pitcher. To be fair, the guys that followed couldn’t do anything either and Markakis was intentionally walked. That said, Freeman went on to go 0-5 on the day including a double-play.

Acuña had another impressive day offensively and defensively. While he did get two hits during the game, it was his superb diving catch for a defensive gem that stole the show:

The Braves keep the 3-game lead over the Phillies intact with the win as they head into a well-earned off-day Monday.