Atlanta Braves get clutch performances on Wednesday

3. Pablo Sandoval and Huascar Ynoa win game 2 for the Atlanta Braves.

Where would we be without the Panda Pablo Sandoval thus far?

He almost single-handedly won us the game on opening day and again today knocked a two-run, two out pinch-hit home run for the Atlanta Braves in the seventh. the only two runs the Atlanta Braves needed to complete the doubleheader sweep.

We would certainly be remiss if we did not recognize the brilliance of Huascar Ynoa today.  In what was supposed to be a bullpen game, Ynoa went 5 shutout innings and easily looked the best of his young career so far… nearly matching Stephen Strasburg pitch-for-pitch.

Ynoa looked great in his spring training starts, but always seemed to find a hiccup in one of the innings. It seemed we might be heading back down that road again when he allowed two base runners on in the third, but Ynoa was able to get out of the jam.

Ynoa was so good in fact, it would not surprise me at all to see Brian Snitker and the Braves even give him another look or two to stay in the rotation. Hopefully, the Braves have another surprise feel-good story on their hands.

So that wraps up the first road trip and the first few games of the season. Here’s to hoping the Atlanta Braves can carry this momentum into Friday’s home opener and keep this winning streak rolling.