Braves Hang On To Sweep Cardinals Winning 6-5 – 7/1/18 – Sunday 1:- Game Thread!
Braves Hang On To Sweep Cardinals Winning 6-5!
The Braves brought their brooms and hang on to sweep the Cardinals by beating them 6-5. This was the first sweep in St. Louis since 2012.
The players, coaches, umpires and fans all had to battle the brutal heat Sunday Afternoon at Busch Stadium. The Braves and Cardinals played before an attendance of 46,448.
Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz pitched a grinding game while battling the heat. Foltynewicz faced 18 batters, threw 86 pitches of which 45 were strikes over 5 scoreless innings. He gave up only 1 hit, had 3 walks and had 9 strikeouts. Foltynewicz improved his record to 6-4 and lowered his ERA to 2.02.
He (Foltynewicz) just kept grinding and never gave in. There wasn’t anything easy about the whole outing. I just wanted to get him through the 5th because he had worked so hard. –Manager Brian Snitker
Braves Hang On To Sweep Cardinals Winning 6-5!
The Braves began their scoring in the top of the second inning.
- With one out Tyler Flowers doubled to left field.
- With two outs Flowers advanced to third base on a wild pith by Cardinals Pitcher John Gant.
- Charlie Culberson then doubled to left field to score Flowers.
- Going to the bottom of the second inning the Braves now lead 1-0!
In the top of the sixth inning the Braves continue their offense by scoring 5 runs.
- Ozzie Albies leads off the inning with a single to center field.
- Freddie Freeman then hits his 16th homerun which give the Braves a 3-0 lead.
- Nick Markakis this works a walk.
- Tyler Flowers grounds out to third which allows Markakis to advance to second base.
- Cardinals pitcher Mike Mayers comes in to relieve starting pitcher John Gant.
- Ronald Acuña Jr. then hits an infield single to the shortstop.
- With runners on 1st and 2nd Culberson hit a single to center field which allowed Markakis to score. Acuña Jr. advanced to third base to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.
- Dansby Swanson reaches on a fielders choice by the first basemen which allowed Acuña Jr. to score. Braves now have a 5-0 lead.
- Ryan Flaherty pinch hits for pitcher Mike Foltynewicz. Cardinals pitcher Mike Mayers throws a wild pitch which allows Culberson to advance to third base.
- Then Flaherty hits a sacrifice fly to center field. Culberson tags up to score to give the Braves a 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Braves bullpen gives up 5 runs to allow the Cardinals back in the ballgame.
- Jedd Gyorko singled off Braves Pitcher Shane Carle.
- With one out Kolten Wong doubled to right field.
- With runners on second and third Francisco Pena singled to right field which scores Gyorko and Wong. Braves lead 6-2.
- Braves pitcher Jesse Biddle relieves Carle.
- With two outs Matt Carpenter walks.
- Braves pitcher Peter Moylan replaces Biddle.
- With runners on first and second Tommy Pham hits a 3-run homerun to center field. The Braves now only lead 6-5.
- Marcell Ozuna grounds out to end the inning.
- Going to the top of the eighth inning Braves lead 6-5.
Braves relief pitchers shut down the Cardinals in the eight and ninth innings.
- Dan Winkler goes 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
- A.J. Minter closes out the game with his 3rd save.
Freddie Freeman discusses hitting a home run in St. Louis in front of his dad and starting the road trip with a sweep of the Cardinals:
Atlanta Braves Manager Brian Snitker’s Press Conference After The Game:
“It was a well-played series after we came off a tough homestand… It’s good to get out of here with three (wins).”
—@Braves manager Brian Snitker discusses the victory after the game. #Braves | #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/BA0bjzoiSd
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) July 1, 2018
I thought Mike Foltynewicz held his composure pretty well considering the heat and some close calls that did not go his way by home plate umpire Gabe Morales. Foltynewicz did a great job battling to get through the fifth inning.
The Braves starting pitching for this series was in my opinion the best they have had all year. The starter combined for 17 2/3 of scoreless innings.
It was good to see Freddie Freeman back on track today when he hit his 16th homerun in the 6th inning.
Once again it seems lately the only negative is the bullpen especially the middle relievers. Not to make any excused but I believe that Foltynewicz could have gone longer if he did not have to labor in the heat. I believe the middle relief will be fixed by our GM Alex Anthopoulos by the trade deadling.
It was good to see Dan Winkler and A.J. Minter have solid innings in the last two innings this afternoon.
All in all it was a great series with the St. Louis Cardinals and was able to gain ground on the Phillies and Nationals.
–Bob Griggs Atlanta Dugout Talk
Braves Hang On To Sweep Cardinals Winning 6-5!
Atlanta Braves vs St. Louis Cardinals Starting Line-Ups Listed Below As They Become Available:
| Atlanta Braves | # | St. Louis Cardinals | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF | Ender Inciarte | 11 | 3B | Matt Carpenter | 13 |
| 2B | Ozzie Albies | 1 | CF | Tommy Pham | 28 |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman | 5 | 1B | Jose Martinez | 38 |
| RF | Nick Markakis | 22 | LF | Marcell Ozuna | 23 |
| C | Tyler Flowers | 25 | SS | Jedd Gyorko | 3 |
| LF | Ronald Acuña Jr. | 13 | RF | Harrison Bader | 48 |
| 3B | Charlie Culberson | 16 | 2B | Kolten Wong | 16 |
| SS | Dansby Swanson | 7 | C | Francisco Peña | 34 |
| P | Mike Foltynewicz | 26 | P | John Gant | 46 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
W: Foltynewicz (6-4) L: Gant (2-3) SV: Minter (3)
Braves Hang On To Sweep Cardinals Winning 6-5!
Umpires: HP Gabe Morales | 1B Ed Hickox | 2B Jerry Meals | 3B Chris Segal
This game was played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO.
