Atlanta Braves Clippings

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Braves.com

Perez, offense struggle vs. Giants in finale

By Mark Bowman and Chris Haft / MLB.com | 12:50 AM ET

ATLANTA -- Kelby Tomlinson drove in three runs and Matt Duffy delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning to give Madison Bumgarner some cushion as he guided the Giants to a 6-1 win over the Braves on Wednesday night at Turner Field.

As Bumgarner was surrendering just one run over 7 1/3 innings, Braves starting pitcher Williams Perez was allowing 10 hits over six-plus innings. Three of the six runs (five earned) charged to the Atlanta right-hander came courtesy of two-out singles recorded by Tomlinson, who was making his first career start in place of injured second baseman Joe Panik.

"If you evaluate [Perez] on other stuff, the way he went about it, it's better than the numbers showed, it really is," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose team has lost eight of its past 10 games. "But, you know, that's not what we're here for. We're here to win ballgames."

The Giants, who have won 16 of their past 21 games, chased Perez during a three-run seventh that was highlighted by Duffy's two-run double. Atlanta did not dent the scoreboard until the bottom half of the seventh, when Jace Peterson singled and scored from first base on Ryan Lavarnway's opposite-field double.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Tomlinson stays hot: Starting his first Major League game, Tomlinson gave the Giants instant momentum with a two-out, two-run single that opened scoring in the second inning. Tomlinson drove in another run with a fourth-inning single before he flied out in the sixth. Combined with his pinch-hit single Monday, Tomlinson opened his big league career with three consecutive hits, eclipsed in Giant annals only by Willie McCovey's 4-for-4 effort in his July 30, 1959 debut. The last Giant to start 3-for-3 was Fred Lewis in 2006.

Asked how he has managed to avoid nervousness from being suddenly thrust into prime time, Tomlinson said, "Just going through the struggles of the Minor Leagues on up, you get to the point where you're just playing."

Not enough escapes: Since joining Atlanta's rotation in May, Perez has shown a knack for using his sinker to escape trouble. But the rookie was unable to do so after a Eury Perez error in center field put runners at second and third with two outs in the second inning. Instead of walking Tomlinson to get to Bumgarner, Perez challenged the rookie and paid the price. The three runs tallied by the Giants in the seventh inning might have been a product of fatigue as Perez was making just his second start since missing a month with a bruised left foot.

Bumgarner turns up heat: Many pitchers might have wilted in the withering heat and humidity that smothered Turner Field, where gametime temperature was 86 degrees. Not Bumgarner, who developed his rawhide-tough persona while growing up in North Carolina. He blanked the Braves on four hits through six innings until they broke through with a seventh-inning run.

In his last six starts against Atlanta, Bumgarner is 5-0 with a 2.09 ERA. Though he matched a season worst by allowing six runs in his last start, Bumgarner didn't use that as extra incentive.

"No matter whether it's good or bad, I'm moving on to the next day," he said.

Little challenge for Bum: Before surrendering Lavarnway's RBI double, Bumgarner had not allowed an earned run over his previous 21 innings at Turner Field. Nick Markakis extended his hit streak to 12 games with a first-inning single and later capped his 35th multi-hit game with a one-out double in the sixth. Markakis advanced to third base on a Jonny Gomes single, but was left stranded when Chris Johnsonstruck out to end the sixth inning.

"When [Bumgarner] is on, this is what you get, plain and simple," Johnson said. "We knew what we were getting into once the game started. We had a couple opportunities, but he made big pitches and we just couldn't get anything going."

REPLAY REVIEW

Call overturned at first base

The Braves proved successful with the challenge that was issued after Eury Perez was called out on a bang-bang play at first base with one out in the eighth inning. After a one-minute, 25-second review, the umpires reversed Toby Basner's initial ruling that Perez did not beat Bumgarner's toss to first base.

WHAT'S NEXT Giants: Chris Heston will make his first career appearance against the Cubs, coming off one of his shortest outings of the year -- a 4 2/3-inning effort in which he received a no-decision in the Giants' 9-7, 11-inning victory at Texas. This will be the series' lone night game; it's scheduled to begin at 5:05 PT.

Braves: Matt Wisler will take the mound as Atlanta begins a four-game series against the Marlins on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Braves have won seven of nine against the Marlins this year. Wisler has a 2.33 ERA over his only three previous starts at Turner Field.

Red-hot Markakis starting to look like old self

Veteran outfielder knocks two hits to extend hitting streak to 12 games

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | August 5th, 2015

ATLANTA -- With approximately two months remaining in the season, it appears the Braves were correct when they tabbed Nick Markakis as an offseason addition who would bring leadership to their clubhouse and also enhance his on-field production as he separated himself from the major neck surgery he underwent in December.

Though the Braves' hopes of making an unexpected run toward the postseason have evaporated over the past few weeks, Markakis has maintained his professional approach and showed his younger teammates the value of playing for pride. The veteran outfielder extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a pair of hits against Madison Bumgarner during Wednesday night's 6-1 loss to the Giants.

"If I came from the other side of the world and I sat down and talked to Nick or watched him without knowing what was going on, I would think we were leading the National League East by 10 games," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Because that's just the way he behaves every single day. He comes in, gets his work done, and gives it everything he has on the field."

The Braves have lost eight of their past 10 games and 18 of the 24 they have played since reaching the .500 mark on July 7. But instead of throwing in the towel for this season's final two months, Markakis seems intent on taking advantage of this time to prepare himself and his teammates for what they hope proves to be a much brighter future.

"He's excited about it, and he's made some comments to me, you know like, 'We need more people like this or these type of guys,'" Gonzalez said. "But he doesn't flinch one bit as far as record or anything like that."

Shortly after signing a four-year, $44 million deal with Atlanta in December, Markakis underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck. Instead of completing his normal offseason workouts, he was forced to endure a long rehab process that significantly limited his activities throughout most of Spring Training.

But Markakis has been out of the starting lineup for just two of this season's first 108 games and as the past few weeks have elapsed there have been some signs that he has been feeling stronger. The 31-year-old right fielder has hit his first two homers of the season since the All-Star break and produced a .441 slugging percentage over his past 25 games.

Wednesday, Markakis delivered a leadoff single in the first inning and added a double in the sixth inning. His 35 multi-hit games ranks third in the National League, trailing only Joey Votto and Paul Goldschmidt.

"He's a professional hitter," Braves corner infielder Chris Johnson said. "The guy knows how to hit and get on base. It doesn't matter who he faces."

In final Turner Field trip, Hudson reminisces

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | August 5th, 2015

ATLANTA -- Tim Hudson understood the significance of his arrival to Turner Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Giants pitcher who will retire at the end of this season was essentially saying goodbye to the stadium, where he had played a majority of his career.

"It's a little strange and it's a little sad at the same time," Hudson said. "But I'll tell you, it will probably be more weird going to the new stadium [SunTrust Park] and seeing a game there. I'm glad I'll be able to watch a game here in the stands before they go to the new stadium."

As Hudson prepares to end a 17-season career that included nine seasons in Atlanta, he is already looking forward to the chance to renew the Braves fandom that he possessed throughout his childhood. The next few years will provide him a chance to bring his kids to games, much like his parents did as he was raised 90 minutes southwest of Atlanta in Phenix City, Ala.

Hudson had visions of ending his career with the Braves until he fractured his right ankle while nearing the completion of a gem against the Mets on July 24, 2013. As he endured a grueling rehab that provided no guarantees upon completion, he quickly learned the Braves were not going to match the two-year, $23 million contract he ended up signing with the Giants.

"If things would have worked out, I'd have been thrilled to stay here," said Hudson, who pitched for the Braves from 2005-13. "But honestly, I didn't even know if I would ever play again. Having a chance to come [to the Giants] and play in a World Series, it's all worked out."

Hudson beat the odds as he gained the last of his four All-Star selections and helped the Giants win the World Series last year. Unfortunately, this year has not been as memorable for the 40-year-old pitcher, who posted a 4.80 ERA in the 17 starts he made before losing his rotation spot and going on the disabled list last week.

While back in Georgia this week, Hudson has been able to visit with his 68-year-old mother, who was recently fortunate to undergo a successful liver transplant.

Though he understands he is limited from a physical perspective, Hudson is looking forward to the chance to spend the rest of this season doing whatever he can in the clubhouse or on the mound to help the Giants in their attempt to win yet another World Series.

"I just wish I was pitching better now and be able to a little something different with how I'm pitching," Hudson said. "This isn't exactly how I had the end pictured, bowing out and tapping out. But I'm OK with it. As long as I can be here for whatever the team needs, I feel like I can give us some competitive innings along the way if they need me."

Gonzalez offers praise for veteran Pierzynski

By Carlos Collazo / MLB.com | August 5th, 2015

ATLANTA -- Heading into the 2015 season, Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski wasn't expected to catch more than 50-60 games. But due to Christian Bethancourt's disappointing Major League production, he has.

Similarly, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't expect to enjoy having Pierzynski on his club. But after 71 starts behind the plate and counting, Gonzalez finds himself pleasantly surprised.

"I've really enjoyed him, I really have," Gonzalez said before game three with the Giants at Turner Field. "I didn't expect that I would like him. ... Believe me, I was the last one to get convinced on this. It was a luncheon, a phone call, begging -- I called two other managers. One didn't return my call.

"And I'm going, 'Oh, uhhh ... I don't know.' But he's been great. He really has been great."

And Gonzalez is speaking to more than the .302 batting average and .785 OPS Pierzynski has produced after a career-worst 2014 season with the Red Sox and Cardinals. And he's speaking to more than his handling of the many young Atlanta pitchers as well.

Despite the polarizing personality that Pierzynski has displayed over his 18-year Major League career, Gonzalez has been pleased with the presence of his veteran catcher in and around the clubhouse.

"He's a guy who's got his things, but he's a good teammate," Gonzalez said. "You don't put up with a lot of [stuff]. He'll say whatever he's gotta say. Sometimes he says it at the wrong time, but ... He's been fantastic, he really has. I've enjoyed him."

Gonzalez said that if Braves President of Baseball Operations John Hart approached him about extending Pierzynski, he'd be all for it.

"He's hitting .300," Gonzalez said. "I don't know if he's going to get the same thing that he got last year this year. It'll be more expensive."

But at a $2 million base contract in 2015, it seems like -- at least for Gonzalez -- Pierzynski has been worth every penny.

Marlins, Braves turn to rookies in series opener

By Carlos Collazo / MLB.com | August 5th, 2015

The Braves and Marlins will send a pair of rookies to the mound on Thursday night when Atlanta hosts Miami at Turner Field for the first time since April 15, when the Marlins took two of three games.

Miami will look for Jose Urena to build on the team's success in Atlanta, while Urena tries to build on his case for a place in the 2016 rotation. In eight starts this season, Urena has posted a 4.06 ERA and is coming off a five-inning effort against the Padres in which he allowed four earned runs.

Matt Wisler will oppose Urena for the Braves, and the 22-year-old will look to show an improved slider from his last start. Against the Phillies, Wisler had the worst start of his young Major League career, allowing seven earned runs over just 4 2/3 innings.

Both pitchers still have something to prove to their respective clubs.

Things to know about this game:

• Nick Markakis and A.J. Pierzynski are both bringing impressive hitting streaks into this series. Markakis has hit in 12 straight games, while Pierzynski is two games behind at 10.

• Conversely, Dee Gordon -- who was one of baseball's best hitters in during the first half -- is hitting just .226 (7-for-31) since coming off the disabled list on July 28.

• Braves infielder Daniel Castro has filled in nicely in Andrelton Simmons' (right bone bruise) absence, hitting .313 (5-for-16) in four starts at shortstop, while turning several key double plays for Atlanta in that stretch.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after Wednesday’s loss to the Giants

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

— quotes compiled by Matthew Bain and David O’Brien

Braves quotes from Williams Perez, Chris Johnson and Fredi Gonzalez after Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the Giants.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On Williams Perez having a tough outing

“Well, you know what, if you’re looking at the numbers — six-plus innings pitched, you’re going to go, ‘Well the outing wasn’t very good.’ Because he gave up, what, five earned runs, six earned runs – something like that. If you evaluate him on other stuff – the way he went about it – it’s better than the numbers show, it really is. But that’s not what we’re here for, we’re here to win ballgames. But I think if you look back and you look at the game today, you could say, ‘You know what, ground ball here, fly ball that we catch there, and he might have a little better outcome.’ He gave us six innings, three runs, you run him back out there because he had 70, less than 80 pitches, and that’s when the big runs came – in the seventh inning.”

On performance of Madison Bumgarner

“He was good. He was commanding his fastball on both sides of the plate. He was throwing the slider backdoor to right-handed hitters and he was pretty dominant today against us.”

On missing chances to score, like in the sixth inning when Johnson struck out with two on

“Right. You know, we get (runners at) first and third with guys that he has a tough time getting out. Jonny (Gomes) has a great at-bat and he gets the base hit and gets it first and third. You feel good about Chris (Johnson) coming up there. Maybe make it a tie game or a two-run game or any of that kind of stuff, and he made some good pitches to him.”

On competitiveness of Bumgarner

“He’s the whole package. He’s such a good pitcher and good hitter, that in the second inning you got (runner at) second and third and two outs and you’d rather face (No. 8 hitter Kelby) Tomlinson than face him. Because (Bumgarner’s) got, what, three home runs? He’s a bat. So, he can beat you. He’s a force – he’s not just not a normal, regular left-handed pitcher than don’t swing it real well. He does a lot of good things.”

On performance of Nick Markakis against tough pitcher

“He gives you professional at-bats. He doesn’t give any at-bats away. You notice – the score could be 10-0 us, and he’s facing the right fielder and he isn’t going to give that at-bat away. He’s going to try to give you a base hit. And that’s what makes him good; that’s what makes him a special guy and a guy that has been in the big leagues for a lot of years and being productive.”

** CHRIS JOHNSON

On Madison Bumgarner’s performance

“You get in the big leagues and you face a guy like that, and he’s on? That’s the result you get, plain and simple. We knew what we were getting into once the game started. Had a couple of opportunities, but just couldn’t get (a big hit).”

On Nick Markakis

“Professional hitter. We say that all the time, every time he gets a hit: He’s a professional hitter. The guy knows how to hit, knows how to get on base. It’s impressive. It doesn’t matter who you face – best lefty in the game, (he gets) two hits. He’s impressive.”

**WILLIAMS PEREZ (through translation by Eddie Perez)

On how he felt tonight

“I felt really good, but I’m sad the game didn’t turn out the good way.”

On approach to facing Tomlinson with 1st base open and Bumgarner on deck

“I knew the pitcher was up next, and I know he can hit, too. But I should have thrown a better pitch (to Tomlinson).”

Has it been difficult to get back into the groove you were in before the foot injury, in these two starts since returning from DL?

“The first one after the injury, I did feel weird. But now I’m feeling normal again.”

More about his stuff tonight, his pitches

“I feel sad that we lost the game, but I feel really good about my stuff.”

Bumgarner easily handles slumping Braves in Giants’ victory

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Big ol’ San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner, pitching as close as he ever does to his rural North Carolina hometown, was on top of his game for most of Wednesday night at Turner Field. Which meant a patchwork Braves lineup was overmatched.

Bumgarner was staked to an early lead and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base until the sixth inning as the Giants beat the Braves 6-1 in the series finale, clinching the series and handing rookie Williams Perez his second consecutive loss since returning from the disabled list.

Bumgarner (12-6) allowed seven hits and one run in 7 1/3 innings, with nine strikeouts and no walks. He retired 16 of the first 18 batters and had a 6-0 lead before Ryan Lavarnway’s one-out double in the seventh scored Jace Peterson.

“You get in the big leagues and you face a guy like that, and he’s on? That’s the result you get, plain and simple,” Braves first baseman Chris Johnson, who had a single and two strikeouts against Bumgarner. “We knew what we were getting into once the game started. Had a couple of opportunities, but just couldn’t get (a big hit).”

Nick Markakis had two of seven hits for the Braves, who lost for the 11th in 14 games and 18th in 24 games since a 42-42 start. They’ve averaged under 2.8 runs in the latter period and scored three runs or fewer in 18 of their past 23 games.

Bumgarner is 5-0 with a 2.09 ERA in his past six starts against the Braves, with 50 strikeouts and six walks in 38 2/3 innings.

“He was commanding his fastball on both sides of the plate,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He was throwing the slider backdoor to right-handed hitters and he was pretty dominant today against us.”

Perez (4-2) gave up a career-high 10 hits and six runs (five earned) runs in six innings and was replaced after facing three batters in the seventh and allowing a walk, a single and a two-run double by Matt Duffy that pushed the lead to 5-0. Duffy scored on Hunter Pence’s single off reliever Jake Brigham to make it a six-run bulge before the inning was over.

Gonzalez thought the performance by Perez wasn’t so bad.

“If you evaluate him on other stuff – the way he went about it – it’s better than the numbers show, it really is,” Gonzalez said. “But that’s not what we’re here for, we’re here to win ballgames. But I think if you look back and you look at the game today, you could say, ‘You know what, ground ball here, fly ball that we catch there, and he might have a little better outcome.’ He gave us six innings, three runs, you run him back out there because he had less than 80 pitches, and that’s when the big runs came – in the seventh inning.”

After going 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in his past 10 games (eight starts) before the DL stint, Perez has allowed 19 hits and 14 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his past two starts, with six walks and two hit batters. He spent 5 ½ weeks on the DL for a bruised foot after being hit by a batted ball in a June 26 start at Pittsburgh.

Markakis led off the first inning with a single that extended his hitting streak to 12 games, but Bumgarner retired the next 11 batters before Johnson’s two-out single in the fourth inning.

The Braves didn’t get a runner to second base until Markakis’ one-out double in the sixth. Jonny Gomes followed with a single to put runners on the corners, and Bumgarner struck out Johnson to end the inning and preserve a 3-0 lead.

Bumgarner was staked to an early 2-0 lead when the Giants scored a pair of runs (one earned) in the second inning on three singles, a hit batter, and an error.

After Brandon Belt was hit in the lower leg by a pitch that bounced before it struck him with two out in the second, center fielder Eury Perez’s fielding error on Ehire Adrianza’s two-out single allowed Adrianza to reach second. With two runners in scoring position, No. 8 hitter Kelby Tomlinson singled for a 2-0 lead.

The Braves elected not to pitch around Tomlinson and face Bumgarner, who came in batting .256 (11-for-43) with three homers and a .465 slugging percentage.

“He’s the whole package,” Gonzalez said. “He’s such a good pitcher and good hitter, that in the second inning you got (runner at) second and third and two outs and you’d rather face Tomlinson than face him. Because (Bumgarner’s) got, what, three home runs? He’s a bat. So he can beat you. He’s a force.”

The Giants extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Adrianza doubled and scored on Tomlinson’s single.

Giants 6, Braves 1

By Matthew Bain - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How the game was won: Madison Bumgarner dominated and Williams Perez definitely did not.

The Giants’ ace finished his 7 1/3 innings with one run allowed on seven hits while striking out nine and walking none.

Five days after allowing a career-high nine runs in 4 1/3 innings, Perez allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks over six-plus innings.

San Francisco chased Perez from the game after he walked Nori Aoki and allowed a single by Gregor Blanco and a double by Matt Duffy before he recorded an out in the seventh. Duffy later scored off of Jake Brigham on Hunter Pence’s RBI single.

The Braves scored their run in the seventh after Jace Peterson singled and Ryan Lavarnway doubled him home.

Number: 12. With his first-inning single, Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

What’s next: The Braves begin a four-game series against the Marlins on Thursday at Turner Field. Matt Wisler (5-2, 4.44 ERA) will start against Jose Urena (1-5, 4.37 ERA). The Marlins just lost three in a row to the Mets.

W-L not real important, but Miller’s bad luck is real ridiculous

By David O’Brien

It’s become the most predictable call-and-response in baseball: Someone points out the won-lost record of this pitcher or that one, and a particular cadre of followers on Twitter feels compelled to jump to attention and point out that “won-lost records are worthless,” or “wins and losses are entirely useless,” or, “Why do you even mention his won-lost record when it means nothing?”.

Which would be a reasonable response, if the person using the won-lost record were actually using it as some sort of primary indicator of how well a pitcher has performed. But here’s the thing: Almost no one on Twitter is actually doing that. Find me a baseball writer who, in the past three years, has used won-lost record as a primary indicator of how well a pitcher has performed, without citing other statistics. We’ll wait.

In almost every instance, the writer is actually using the won-lost record as merely one of multiple statistics in a pitcher’s body of work, or – and this is what makes this ongoing call-and-response cycle a joke – the writer or broadcaster or whoever is actually using the won-lost record precisely to show how remarkably out of whack it is with how well the pitcher has performed.

Yet that group of folks, the ones who just can’t stop themselves from responding with one of the above replies or a slight variation, either doesn’t exactly read closely enough to realize this, or to process this. Their only response is built-in, automated, they just have to spit it out, like they signed some agreement with the other “pitcher wins are meaningless” crowd, and they have to provide the same response even if that response is completely, utterly unwarranted in the specific case in which they’re providing it.

To wit: Today I posted that Shelby Miller has a 1.97 ERA at home — that’s the seventh-best home ERA in the NL, by the way – yet only a 2-4 record to show for it. I cited this to offer another example, another measure, of just how ridiculous his bad luck and poor support have been this season. I cited it to show just how well he’s pitched despite the record, to show that the record is in no way an indication of how he has performed.

And yet, somehow The Group still felt compelled to respond. To note that “won-lost records are entirely meaningless,” as one said. And that “there are many metric stats that are far better” to illustrate a pitcher’s performance. Another responded with, “Haven’t we all agreed that won-lost records are meaningless?”

I mean, seriously, this is crazy. You folks need to read carefully and think about Tweets before responding. They are only 140 characters, there aren’t a lot of subtleties buried within. You can surely grasp that, in this case and so many others, we are using the won-lost record to point out precisely how crazy it is that this particular pitcher has not been rewarded with more wins. And if Miller was, say 8-6, it wouldn’t even be worth noting. But he’s not.

This is a very extreme case of one pitcher having the worst run-support in the majors, the worst among all qualified starters at 2.64 runs per nine innings pitched. And the reason this is worth noting is because among most of us who’ve followed the game a long time, and those who’ve played or managed a long time, we’ve never seen a pitcher have quite this degree of buzzard’s luck.

(Update: When I picked up the Braves game notes just now, there was this statistic, courtesy of Elias: Miller is just the second pitcher of the live-ball era, since 1920, to have a winless streak of 14 starts with an ERA as low as Miller’s during that stretch. The other was the Mets’ Craig Swan in 1978, the year he won the National League ERA title.)

Usually this stuff starts to balance out over the course of a season, or the pitcher himself has several bad outings and his ERA rises a bit and it no longer looks so ridiculous that he has more losses than wins. But not in the case of Shelby Miller. This is remarkable, how well he’s pitched and how many times the Braves have lost those games. That’s why we’re pointing out the won-lost record and the fact he’s gone 14 starts without getting a win. Is it really that hard to understand why this is worth noting? To understand that we’re not making any statements about the value of won-lost records when we cite his?

Or is this crowd simply unable to discern the difference in how the won-lost record is used? Is everything black or white with you folks? There’s no human element in sports, no clutch hitting, no pressure that a pitcher or batter feels when a game is on the line and the crowd is roaring, etc. – we all get that most of you in The Crowd feel that way, and we’ll agree to disagree. No worries. Maybe you’re right. (You’re not, but maybe.) But in the case of this won-lost thing, can you really not read a little closer to understand that most of us – at least in my case – am not putting any more value on a won-lost record, not making any statement about the worth of the ‘W’, when I use it to cite how bad Shelby Miller’s luck has been by noting that he’s gone 14 starts without getting a win, that the Braves have scored zero or one run while he’s been in 10 of those starts, that they’ve lost 11 of his past 12 starts, etc.?

Miller was 5-1 with a 1.33 ERA in his first eight starts, and the Braves scored 4.5 runs per nine innings he pitched in that span. He’s 0-7 with a 3.14 ERA in his past 14 starts, and the Braves have scored just under 1.50 runs per nine innings he’s pitched in that span. They’ve lost 12 of his past 13 starts including each of the past nine. That’s extreme. That’s why it’s notable.

So, really, there is no need for the Pavolovian response when one of us cites a won-lost record in a case such as Miller’s. We’re with you: Won-lost records are not at all an accurate measure of a pitcher’s performance, and are, for the most part, not important during the course of a single season (I still firmly believe that won-lost records over a pitcher’s entire career are important, as things such as run support, the defense played behind him, ballpark factors, etc., tend to even out over 10-20 years, and a pitcher can’t get by on gaudy run support or string together 15 wins a season with smoke and mirrors over a career. But within a single season? No, the W-L record is not a reliable indicator of performance.)

Anyway, just one more thing: For those of you who keep saying the won-lost record is unimportant, that it’s meaningless, useless. Most who say this the loudest sure aren’t pitchers, because starting pitchers want to get W’s. Never getting them, or rarely getting them, makes it difficult to feel good about one’s work. If you don’t believe me, just ask one of them. Or even ask a position player.

Most players have become quite sophisticated when it comes to stats. Maybe not the most esoteric of metrics, but plenty of advanced stats, they keep up with. But unlike many in The Crowd, players aren’t so cavalier as to utterly dismiss the won-lost record and its importance to pitchers. (And by the way, if you don’t think it comes up anymore in contract negotiations and arbitration hearings, think again.)

Chris Johnson said after Tuesday’s game, when Miller gave up four hits and two runs and seven innings and came away with no decision in another Braves loss, that the hitters are thinking about it when Miller pitches now, that they might even be trying too hard, because it’s important to them that he start to get some wins.

“Absolutely,” Johnson said. “Because he’s a teammate, we care about him, and he’s been pitching great. For him to pitch as well as he has and not be able to come up with wins – cause that’s what a lot of pitchers on our team care about, is winning the game. A lot of people say ‘Oh, his ERA is good, so who cares?’ But that’s not the way he thinks. He wants to win ballgames, and we’re just not giving him the opportunity.”

Braves’ Markakis has been quiet leader and ‘ultimate professional’

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Before signing with the Braves last winter, Nick Markakis spent nine years with Baltimore, and in each of the first six of those seasons the Orioles lost at least 92 games and finished at least 27 games out of first place.

And so, the Braves’ current position is relatively mild in terms of dog-days-of-summer scenarios for teams he’s played on.

“I’ve been in this situation before,” Markakis said before Wednesday night’s series finale against the Giants. “It’s tough, but every bottom has a light at the top of it. You’ve just got to go about your business, play hard, set good examples and help your teammates any way you can.”

Markakis entered Wednesday with an 11-game hitting streak, and in past 14 games he’d batted .333 (20-for-60) with five extra-base hits (one triple, two homers)and seven RBIs.

Since getting to the 84-game mark with a .500 record, the Braves had lost 17 of 23 games including 10 of their past 13 before Wednesday. They were third in the National League East, eight games behind the Nationals and nine behind the division-leading Mets.

After a couple of significant injuries and a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rockies before the All-Star break, the Braves became sellers and traded veteran hitters Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson (to the Mets) and pitchers Alex Wood, Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan (to the Dodgers), getting back prospects and a draft pick – moves made for the future, at the expense of the present.

Markakis, 31, who signed a four-year, $44 million contract, has been neither dismayed nor surprised by the trades. He knew what he was getting into when he signed with a team that, beginning last fall, made move after move designed to keep the team respectable in the near-term, but more importantly to put it in position to contend for championships by the time the Braves moved into their new ballpark in 2017.

“We’re in this for the long haul, and there’s going to be changes next year, too,” he said. “You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do, help out any way you can. Everybody’s trying to go in that one direction and get to where we want to go. It’s going to be a long and exciting adventure. But we’ll get there.”

After the Orioles finished fourth or fifth in the American League East in each of his first six seasons, they won 93 games to finish two games out out of first place in 2012; finished third with 85 wins in 2013, and won the division title with 96 wins in 2014.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Markakis has been the same quiet leader throughout the season, and that his demeanor and work habits are unwavering.

“If I didn’t know the Braves’ record, and I sat down and talked to Nick or watched him, without knowing what was going on, I’d think that we were leading the National League East by 10 games,” Gonzalez said. “Because that’s just the way he behaves every single day. He comes in, gets his work done, gives everything he has on the field. I’ve enjoyed him. Everything people have told me about him is true, it really is…. He’s the ultimate professional.”

And the quietest leader that Gonzalez could recall being around.

“I was real fortunate my first two years here, Chipper (Jones)’ last two years, he was that player,” Gonzalez said. “He might have been little bit more vocal than Nicky. But (Markakis) is about as quiet and intimating a leader as I’ve ever been around. He doesn’t have to say much, he’s just got to look at you. In spring training when we set down in my office and talked for an hour, and he told me that he was going to take care of the clubhouse and do all this and do all that – he’s kept his word.”

When the Braves recruited him last offseason, Gonzalez said they explained their situation, and why they wanted to sign some veteran leaders such as Markakis (and later Jason Grilli, Jonny Gomes and A.J. Pierzynski) to help guide a young team.

“When we talked to him back in November, we told him the whole thing,” Gonzalez said. “And coming into spring training we had a good group of guys. We had built something special coming into spring training. Then (Fredi) Freeman was already down (injured) when Grilli went down with the Achilles (the last weekend before the All-Star break), that was a big blow to us. And we had to make a decision for the future (before the trade deadline) and all of a sudden, the next road trip we (trade) five major leaguers.

“But you know what? He’s never said one thing (negative about the moves).”

Two weeks after signing with the Braves, Markakis had neck surgery to repair a herniated disc. He was prohibited from running or lifting weights during the offseason and didn’t get clearance until the beginning of spring training. After missing most of the Grapefruit League schedule, he rushed to get at-bats in the final two weeks of camp and was in the opening-day lineup.

He was hitting a team-best .293 with a team-high 23 doubles before Wednesday, and was tied for ninth in the NL with a .371 OBP before Wednesday, when he made his team-high 106th start in the Braves’ 108th game. Markakis was

Markakis had just two homers before Wednesday, after averaging 14 per season and totaling at least 10 every year with the Orioles, but Gonzalez is confident that his power will return next season after a normal winter.

“He’s a big lifter, a big power-lifter guy, he likes to dead-lift and all that – and he couldn’t do anything the whole winter,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve still got 50-60 games left, and you’re starting to see him – I still don’t think we’ve seen the regular Nicky Markakis. I think next year after a solid offseason when he can get himself ready, I think you’ll see the power numbers coming back, and his arm, I think will come back a lot better.”

Freeman (oblique) headed to Orlando; Simmons (thumb) still not hitting

By Matthew Bain - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Just 12 days after leaving Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Braves slugger Freddie Freeman will return Wednesday to begin rehabbing a right oblique strain at the club’s minor league facility.

If Freeman, who went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, can return after 15 days as he did with the same injury in 2013, he could join the team Aug. 21 in Chicago. The Braves won’t know Freeman’s timetable for at least a few days.

“Right now, it’s the whole side (that hurts),” manager Fredi Gonzalez said Tuesday. “And in the next three or four days, it’ll start pinpointing (the pain) exactly. It kind of starts settling down a little bit and you can pinpoint it exactly and then you can treat that area better.”

Freeman was sidelined for almost six weeks by a right wrist injury before returning July 25. He played in 10 games before injuring his oblique on third-inning swing Monday against the Giants. He went 7-for-38 (.184) with two homers, four RBIs and six strikeouts in those 10 games.

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons remained out of the starting lineup for the fourth straight game Wednesday with a bone bruise in his right thumb.

He again threw and fielded ground balls on Wednesday, but coaches still haven’t let him hit.

“Yesterday was good,” Gonzalez said Wednesday. “The only issue he told (trainer Jeff Porter) was that when he went to dig in for the ball in the glove, he kind of still felt it a little bit. Other than that, he’s making a lot of progress.”

Gonzalez said he’s hopeful Simmons will suit up by the end of the week.

Daniel Castro, called up from Triple-A to fill in at shortstop, went into Wednesday game 5-for-13 (.385) with a double and two runs scored.

“He’s a guy that you appreciate,” Gonzalez said. “The more you see him play, you appreciate him. And he’s got great feet around the bag, second base. He’s got short hands. He’s a guy, the more you watch him play, the better you appreciate him.”

Chris Johnson started at first base Tuesday and, after the Kelly Johnson’s trade, he’ll likely stay there for the bulk of Freeman’s recovery.

He went 2-for-4 with a homer after Freeman left in the fifth inning of Atlanta’s 12-inning 9-8 win Monday.

He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Tuesday. His mental gaffe in the field — he lost track of Giants’ outs — also cost starter Shelby Miller a run in the sixth inning of their 8-3 loss.

Braves revenue down $14 million, Liberty Media says

By Tim Tucker - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves owner Liberty Media disclosed Wednesday that the team’s revenue declined by $14 million in the first half of this year, compared to the same period last year.

Liberty, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said the drop was “primarily due to lower game attendance, decreased concession sales and fewer (home) games played” through June 30.

The Braves had played 35 home games at that point, compared to 39 through the same date last year. Attendance is down by an average of about 3,800 per game.

In its filing, Liberty also disclosed these financial details regarding the team:

For the new Cobb County stadium project, the Braves had borrowed approximately $185 million through June 30 from two credit facilities with a capacity of $350 million. The team had spent about $169 million on the stadium and adjacent mixed-use development through June.

The Braves, as of June 30, had long-term guaranteed contracts with players and coaches totaling $59 million in 2016, $61 million in 2017, $54 million in 2018 and $105 million thereafter.

The Braves’ Chris Johnson, master of the ‘total head spasm’

By Mark Bradley

So far as I can tell, Chris Johnson seems a nice enough guy. He answers questions in a thoughtful manner, and he does so without growling: If you’re a member of the media, that makes him a nice enough guy. Were I a salaried member of the Atlanta Braves, I’m not sure what I’d think of him.

Two days before the All-Star break, he didn’t run hard out of the box and got thrown out at second base on what should have been a double. That was a blatant case of Not Hustling, and Fredi Gonzalez showed his displeasure by benching Johnson the next day.

Last night Johnson was playing first base — not his first-choice position, granted — with the bases loaded in the sixth. Hunter Pence stroked a grounder that Johnson gloved and, cool as you like, trotted to the bag to record the out. (He even waved off pitcher Shelby Miller.) Johnson trotted a few more steps toward the dugout, whereupon he grasped what everybody else in the ballpark knew:

The out he’d recorded was the inning’s second. The run he’d allowed to score put the Giants ahead.

The Giants’ broadcast crew — the absolute best in the business, FYI — offered this commentary.

Mike Krukow: “He forgot there was (only) one out.”

Duane Kuiper: “Unbelievable. Unbelievable.”

Krukow: “That is a gift.”

Kuiper: “That’s likely a double play because it was hit so hard.”

Krukow: “(Johnson is) thinking, ‘All right, inning over, let’s go, let’s have a drink of water.’ ”

Kuiper: “If he’d have flipped the ball back to the mound, that would have really made it nice.”

Krukow: “Total head spasm from Chris Johnson.”

This wasn’t Not Hustling, not exactly. This was Not Paying Attention, and we can argue at length over which is worse. But the greater point is that another non-physical error (unless we count “total head spasm”) was committed by Chris Johnson, who barely plays anymore and who has made no secret of his desire to be in the lineup somewhere.

(To be fair, Johnson had two key hits in the Braves’ rally Monday night. Still, two big knocks don’t give you a lifetime pass on paying attention.)

If Johnson throws to second base — or to the plate — it’s probably (as Kuiper noted) a double play. Afterward Gonzalez sought to make half an excuse, saying it would have been “a hard double play,” but eventually the manager conceded the point: “There’s no excuse for not knowing how many outs.”

To his credit, Johnson admitted the obvious, calling it a “stupid mental error.” (Differentiating it, we assume, from smart mental errors.) But it gifted the Giants a run in a game they trailed 3-2 after seven innings, and had the deficit been 3-1 things mightn’t have unfolded– this is one of those we’ll-never-know deals — as they did in the eighth. The Braves would lose 8-3.

Johnson is in tonight’s lineup, again playing first base, but who else is there? Freddie Freeman’s on the DL. Kelly Johnson’s playing for the Mets. Joey Terdoslavich’s hitting .143. Fred McGriff’s 51 years old.

Chris Johnson has said he’d like to be traded — believe me, the Braves have endeavored to oblige — but stuff like this makes him radioactive to interested buyers, assuming any exist. He’s due to make $16.5 million over the next two seasons and he has compiled a WAR value of minus-2.1 since 2013 and — pause for effect — he’s also an airhead! (Remember when he bounced his batting helmet off Terry Pendleton?) Who’d want him?

We say again: The $75 million the Braves bestowed on Melvin (nee B.J.) Upton Jr. was a terrible investment. The three-year extension for $23.5 million the Braves’ then-GM granted Johnson last May was worse. Other teams were bidding for Upton’s services. Nobody in this world valued Chris Johnson that highly — except Frank Wren.

Braves’ upcoming opponent: Miami Marlins

By Carroll Rogers Walton - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves’ opponent: Miami Marlins

Keep an eye on: Dee Gordon. The Marlins’ second baseman led the majors in batting average for much of the first half and had been named the National League’s starting second baseman in the All-Star game when he dislocated his left thumb sliding into first base July 11. He wasn’t able to play in the All-Star game but did return to action for the Marlins on July 28. He’s just 5-for-26 (.192) since his return but was still batting .328 entering Wednesday, which was tied for third in the National League.

Who’s hot: Christian Yelich is 10-for-32 (.313) over his past eight games, with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs.

Who’s not: Catcher J.T. Realmuto is 1-for-18 (.056) over his past six games.

Braves connection: Martin Prado sprained his right shoulder after stumbling past first base trying to beat out an infield hit on June 14 and missed a month. He was hitting .273 in 18 games since his return entering Wednesday. Prado played nine game at second base in Gordon’s absence and is now back at third base. Former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Darren Dietrich has begun playing some left field to maximize his chances to get in the lineup. He was the Marlins’ opening day second baseman in 2014 and has also played third.

In the news: Giancarlo Stanton is still working his way back from June 29 surgery on a broken bone in his left hand and still feeling some pain hitting off a tee. Stanton was initially expected to be out four to six weeks but now there’s no timetable for his return. When he got hurt, Stanton was leading the majors in home runs (27) and RBIs (67). The Marlins traded the likes of closer Steve Cishek, starters Dan Haren and Mat Latos, and first baseman Michael Morse, at the deadline in an effort to pick up prospects and continue building toward the future.

Thursday’s game: Braves vs. Marlins

By Carroll Rogers Walton - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Where: Turner Field

When: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: SPSO/680, 93.7, 106.7

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Mike Wisler (5-2, 4.44 ERA) vs. RH Jose Urena (1-5, 4.37)

What’s new: The Braves are 7-2 against the Marlins this season, including 6-0 during two series sweeps in Miami. The Braves lost the only series in Atlanta, on April 13-15, 2-1. The Braves have posted a 2.56 ERA in those nine games while scoring 4.3 runs per game. They haven’t faced the Marlins since May 17, when Shelby Miller completed a three-game sweep in Miami by taking a no-hitter through 26 outs. A.J. Pierzynski and Nick Markakis, two of the Braves’ hottest bats in August, have been their hottest hitters against the Marlins this season. Pierzynski is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with a double, two homers and five RBIs against them, while Markakis is hitting .345 (10-for-20) with two doubles and four RBIs against them.

MiLB.com

Gant burns Biscuits with nine strikeouts

Braves righty strikes out nine in second start in new organization

By Jake Seiner / MiLB.com

When John Gant was traded from the Mets to the Braves last month, it kicked off a homecoming more than 10 years in the making. He isn't back to his Georgia roots yet, but if he can replicate Wednesday's results a few times, he could be driving down Peachtree Street soon.

The Braves' No. 24 prospect had his best start yet at Double-A in his Mississippi home debut. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out nine over six scoreless innings in a 3-2 win over Montgomery.

The 23-year-old right-hander struck out the side in the first, then allowed just one hit and two walks the rest of the way.

"I felt like I had pretty good command with all my pitches," he said. "My curveball was a little shaky early in the game, but it came around later. … Overall, I'd just say it was command. I felt comfortable throwing all my pitches."

Gant (1-0) was traded to the Braves with right-hander Rob Whalen for big league infielders Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson on July 26. He made his organization debut on July 31, limiting Birmingham to an earned run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven in a 4-3 victory.

Gant was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1992 but moved to Florida with his family just over a decade later.

"It's awesome to be in a Braves uniform. I was always a Braves fan," he said. "When I got the news [about the trade], I was happy to hear it. No disrespect to the Mets, they obviously have a great organization. But I didn't grow up a Mets fan."

Gant pitched all of last year with Class A Savannah and the Mets aggressively skipped him over Class A Advanced to Double-A Binghamton to open this season. He didn't stick there, though. After posting a 4.75 ERA in seven starts, he was demoted to St. Lucie in the Florida State League. He dominated there, going 2-0 with a 1.79 ERA in six starts.

The Mets bumped him back to Binghamton in July and he managed a 4.63 ERA in four starts prior to the trade.

The nine strikeouts on Wednesday represented a career best at Double-A -- he had a 4.70 ERA overall with Binghamton and never fanned more than seven there. He reached double-digit punchouts six times at lower levels, including a career-high 11 on June 11 with St. Lucie.

The big difference of late for Gant has been command, something he credits to adjustments made with St. Lucie pitching coach Phil Regan.

"I think toward the beginning of the season, I was a little off mechanically," he said. "I didn't feel so comfortable. When I went down to St. Lucie, [Regan] really tweaked a couple things mechanically that I think really helped and gave me a step in the right direction."

Through two starts with Mississippi, Gant is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.

Jorge Reyes came on in the seventh and surrendered two runs on two hits and three walks in 1 1/3 frames before Kyle Kinman recorded the final five outs for his third save.

The Sports Xchange

Bumgarner dominates Atlanta in series finale

By Guy Curtright

ATLANTA — Madison Bumgarner came into Wednesday night’s start against the Braves with a 4.50 road ERA, but pitching in Atlanta is like a home game for the San Francisco ace from North Carolina.

Bumgarner struck out nine over 7 1/3 dominant innings to improve to 12-6 as the Giants defeated the Braves 6-1 to take the three-game series.

The left-hander is 4-1 in five starts at Atlanta, including the clinching victory in the 2010 National League Division Series.

Bumgarner allowed seven hits and didn’t walk a batter, lowering his ERA to 3.28 in the 116-pitch outing. He had gone 19 1-3 consecutive innings at Turner Field without allowing an earned run until catcher Ryan Lavarnway followed a single by second baseman Jace Peterson with an opposite double in the seventh inning.

Second baseman Kelby Tomlinson, making his first major league start, drove in three runs on a pair of singles to start his career 3-for-3 after a pinch double in the series opener, and catcher Buster Posey had hits in his first three at-bats to back Bumgarner.

With the victory, the Giants remained two games back of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and took the season series from the Braves 4-3 after a four-game split earlier in San Francisco. Williams Perez (4-2) allowed just four hits over seven scoreless innings at San Francisco on May 30 for his first major league victory. The Giants, though, got to the rookie right-hander for 10 hits in six-plus innings this time, with five of the six runs earned.

Perez left after giving up a two-run double to third baseman Matt Duffy and right fielder Hunter Pence delivered an RBI single off reliever Jake Brigham to put the Giants even farther ahead.

The Braves got more than one runner on base against Bumgarner just twice, the first time in the sixth inning when Nick Markakis doubled and left fielder Jonny Gomes singled too sharply for the Braves right fielder to score.

Markakis had a leadoff single up the middle for the Braves, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, then Bumgarner retired 11 straight batters before first baseman Chris Johnson lined a hit to center field with two outs in the fourth.

Perez, who gave up four runs before getting an out in his return from the disabled list last Friday in Philadelphia, retired the Giants in order in the first inning only to have a hiccup in the second.

First baseman Brandon Belk was hit by a pitch with two outs and Perez followed by giving up consecutive singles to shortstop Ehire Adrianza and Tomlinson. One of the two runs driven in by Tomlinson was unearned because Adrianza had earlier moved up on a bobble by center fielder Eury Perez.

Then Adrianza and Tomlinson struck again in the fourth inning with a double and RBI single to give Bumgarner an early three-run cushion.

Associated Press

Bumgarner, Tomlinson lead Giants in 6-1 victory over Braves

By GEORGE HENRY (Associated Press)

ATLANTA (AP) -- Madison Bumgarner loves how the San Francisco Giants have returned to their winning ways with a tough part of the schedule coming up.

San Francisco is about to begin a month-long stretch that includes eight series against contending teams. Bumgarner likes his team's chances.

''It's getting about that time where we start hitting our stride,'' he said, ''and everything's coming together for us.''

Bumgarner pitched into the eighth inning, Kelby Tomlinson drove in three runs and San Francisco beat the Atlanta Braves 6-1 on Wednesday night.

Matt Duffy added a two-run double and Hunter Pence had an RBI single for the Giants, who have won 16 of 21.

Bumgarner (12-6), last year's World Series MVP and a three-time All-Star, allowed seven hits, one run and struck out nine in 7 1-3 innings. Just two baserunners made it into scoring position against the big left-hander.

''He got us where he needed to because the bullpen's really been used a lot,'' San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. ''He saved some guys out there that needed a break.''

Williams Perez (4-2) surrendered 10 hits, two walks and six runs in six-plus innings for the Braves, who have lost 11 of 14.

Bumgarner gave up a leadoff single to Nick Markakis in the first and retired 10 straight before Chris Johnson singled in the fourth.

Tomlinson's opposite-field single made it 2-0 in the second, and San Francisco was up 3-0 in the fourth when Ehire Adrianza doubled and scored on Tomlinson's single up the middle.

Duffy and Pence drove in their runs in the Giants' three-run seventh.

Bumgarner gave up Ryan Lavarnway's RBI double in the seventh and left in the eighth after Eury Perez's infield single.

Bumgarner's performance reversed a personal season-long trend on the road. He had gone 6-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts away from home, a considerable contrast from the 11-4 record and 2.22 ERA he had in 18 road starts last year.

Maybe facing the Braves at Turner Field had something to do with it.

He won his fifth straight decision against Atlanta and had plenty of support of a couple dozen many family members and friends in attendance from his hometown of Hickory, N.C.

''There may be something to it, but he's pitched well about everywhere, you know?'' Bochy said. ''He's good. He's one of the best.''

KEEP BANGING

The Giants' offense has had plenty of success on the road, scoring nearly five runs a game to rank second in the majors. ... C Buster Posey went 3 for 5 and is hitting .421 with 34 RBIs in his last 31 games. ... Duffy went 2 for 5 and is batting .383 in his last 21 games. ... Tomlinson, who joined the Giants on Monday after getting his contract purchased from Triple-A Sacramento, has hits in 3 of his first 5 at-bats.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: Bochy said 2B Joe Panik's lower back showed no major problems other than inflammation following an MRI and a CT scan. Panik will be evaluated again in two weeks. ... SS Brandon Crawford was given the night off to rest.

Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman, who went on the disabled list Tuesday with a right oblique strain, has returned to the team's minor league complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to rehab. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said it's too early to give a timetable for Freeman's return. Freeman spent a couple of days at the complex two weeks ago while on the DL with a right wrist injury. ... SS Andrelton Simmonsmissed his fourth straight game with a bruised right thumb. He still hasn't been allowed to swing a bat, but he's taking grounders and throwing.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Chris Heston (11-5) will face the Chicago Cubs for the first time when San Francisco begins a four-game series at Wrigley Field.

Braves: RHP Matt Wisler (5-2) will face Miami for the first time as the Marlins visit Turner Field.

Marlins-Braves Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON (STATS Writer)

Far out of contention in the NL playoff race, theMiami Marlins and Atlanta Braves continue to struggle offensively as they enter what appears to be an irrelevant final two months.

They'll be hoping for at least a temporary respite with two rookie starters on the mound in Thursday night's opener of a four-game series in Atlanta, especially after facing two of the game's best pitchers.

The Marlins (43-65) are only one game ahead of major league-worst Philadelphia and rank last in baseball with 3.5 runs per game. They've scored fewer than four runs nine times while dropping 10 of 12 and had collected seven hits or fewer in seven consecutive contests before a late rally Wednesday. Miami recorded just two hits during Matt Harvey's seven-inning start, but tallied seven and scored six runs in the ninth inning of an 8-6 loss to the New York Mets.

"These guys showed heart and didn't quit and battled back to bring the winning run to the plate in the ninth," manager Dan Jennings said.

The Braves (48-60) failed a tough assignment of their own, striking out nine times during Madison Bumgarner's 7 1-3 innings in a 6-1 loss to San Francisco.

Atlanta has averaged 2.5 runs while dropping 11 of 14, totaling four runs in back-to-back losses after seemingly encouraging six and nine-run outputs in wins Sunday and Monday.

Jose Urena (1-5, 4.37 ERA) will try to extend the Braves' woes. He gave up five runs over 4 2-3 innings in his first career start May 26 at Pittsburgh, but has posted a 3.40 ERA in seven outings since. He's just 1-4 in that span, however, averaging 2.5 runs of support.

The right-hander may have taken a step back Saturday against San Diego, surrendering five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 5-3 loss.

Urena enjoyed a successful major league debut in Atlanta on April 14, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of relief in the Marlins' 8-2 win.

Atlanta counters with another first-year hurler in Matt Wisler (5-2, 4.44), who comes off his first loss in six starts after being hit hard by Philadelphia on Saturday. Wisler yielded a season-high seven runs over 4 2-3 innings in a 12-2 road loss.

He allowed two homers for the first time in his career, including a three-run shot by Cameron Rupp.

"I need to pitch better than that," he said. "The three-run homer just can't happen."

Wisler, 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three outings at Turner Field, can become the majors' first pitcher to win the first four home starts of his career since Yu Darvish, who won his first seven home outings for Texas in 2012. He'd join Ron Piche as the only other Brave to accomplish the feat since 1914. Piche won his first four at County Stadium for the then-Milwaukee Braves.

For all of Atlanta's offensive issues, Nick Markakis and A.J. Pierzynski own 12- and 10-game hitting streaks, respectively.

Dee Gordon's .358 career average against Atlanta is his highest against any of the 17 teams he's played at least seven times, and he's batting .391 while hitting safely in 11 straight matchups.

The Braves lead the season series 7-2 while limiting Miami to 25 runs.