Atlanta Braves Clippings

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Braves.com

Braves edge Reds on wild pitch

By Mark Bowman and Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 2:20 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- An Aroldis Chapman wild pitch scored Phil Gosselin in the top of the ninth inning, proving to be the difference in a 2-1 victory for the Braves over the Reds on Monday at Great American Ball Park.

Following Sunday's walk-off defeat vs. the White Sox, Chapman has suffered losses on back-to-back days for only the third time in his career. With one out in the ninth inning of a 1-1 game, Gosselin delivered a pinch-hit single through the middle and Nick Markakis followed with a single to center field. Andrelton Simmons was batting when Gosselin stole third base. Freddie Freeman was up when Chapman's 0-1 pitch, a 103-mph fastball, sailed outside and past the glove of Tucker Barnhart. The catcher slipped and fell as he retrieved the ball, preventing a play at the plate.

"They're getting the ball in the air and through the infield -- not a lot of extra-base damage but singles," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "They took advantage of his slower delivery to steal third base. Things we have to work on, for sure, because we can't just give away third base there."

The Braves snapped a three-game losing streak while the Reds have dropped three in a row. Both teams have identical 15-17 records. Reliever Luis Avilan earned the victory for Atlanta with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth inning.

It was a no-decision night for both starting pitchers. Braves starter Shelby Miller pitched seven innings and allowed one run and three hits, while Reds starter Mike Leake gave up one run and eight hits over six innings.

The game began following a one-hour, 40-minute rain delay.

"The offense came around in the ninth against one of the best closers in the game, which is pretty special," said Miller. "So, you tip your cap to them. We made some nice plays and got out of some jams. We needed this win bad."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Small ball prevails: The three singles the Braves registered in the ninth inning equaled the hit total Chapman had surrendered in his previous 11 2/3 innings against the Braves. Before sparking the rally with a one-out single, Gosselin had recorded four hits in the 13 at-bats he had totaled dating back to April 22. The one-run advantage was preserved by Jim Johnson, who notched the save in place of closer Jason Grilli, who has battled a sore back over the past three days.

Mowed 'em down: After Leake departed with 101 pitches, lefty reliever Tony Cingrani took the top of the seventh and struck out the side. Facing Simmons, Freeman and pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes, Cingrani threw 16 pitches -- all fastballs. His hardest pitch was strike three to Gomes at 95 mph.

Miller regains his groove: Coming off of last week's three-hit shutout against the Phillies, Miller allowed the Reds to load the bases before he recorded his first out of the second inning. But he minimized the damage to Barnhart's sacrifice fly and began a streak in which he retired 15 straight before issuing Brandon Phillips a leadoff walk in the seventh. Phillips was left stranded at third when Miller finished his 100-pitch night with a Skip Schumaker groundout.

Scoreless streak over: Leake's scoreless streak of 19 innings came to an end in the top of the fourth when Simmons hit an 0-2 pitch to left-center for a leadoff homer and a 1-0 Braves lead. Leake encountered more trouble in the same inning, with three more hits loading the bases with one out. But he escaped without more Atlanta runs crossing. Leake finished with one earned run and eight hits over his six innings with two walks and one strikeout.

"They had a better approach today," said Leake, who pitched eight scoreless innings at Atlanta on April 30. "They were a lot more aggressive early in counts today, so it made me be a little more choosey with my pitches on the plate. They made me throw a few extra pitches. They had a better plan. And it showed."

QUOTABLE "First pitch, [Chapman] was slow, so I decided if he does it again, I'm going to take my shot and go for it. I got a good jump. I almost fell halfway there, but luckily I stayed on my feet and got in there." -- Gosselin, on his steal of third base in the ninth inning

"We had chances to win that game and didn't do anything to win that game. We have to go out and take that victory. We had some opportunities early to pick up a run here and there and it didn't happen. You end up getting in a situation where you make one mistake and it costs you the game. That's what happened today. We just didn't play very well." -- Price, on Monday's loss

REPLAY REVIEW The Braves proved unsuccessful with their challenge that Barnhart was blocking the plate when A.J. Pierzynski attempted to score on Miller's bases-loaded fielder's choice with one out in the sixth inning. Though the plate-blocking rule was challenged, the umpires also reviewed whether Barnhart had applied his shoulder-high tag before Pierzynski touched the plate and confirmed the initial ruling.

WHAT'S NEXT Braves: Mike Foltynewicz will attempt to notch his third consecutive win when Atlanta and Cincinnati resume their three-game series on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Foltynewicz limited the Reds to three runs (two earned) over five innings during his first Major League start on May 1.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani will get the start for Cincinnati and try to halt a trend he hasn't been happy with. All of DeSclafani's last three starts have lasted only five innings. In those 15 innings, he has given up 11 walks while he and the Reds have gone 0-3.

Report: Class A Mudcats' bus involved in crash

Seven players, team trainer taken to hospital after accident en route to Myrtle Beach

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 9:10 AM ET

A bus carrying the Braves' Class A Advanced Carolina Mudcats team crashed on a road in North Carolina early Tuesday, injuring several passengers, according to a report from wralSPORTSfan.com.

According to the report, the Trailways bus was en route to Myrtle Beach, S.C., when it crashed near the North Carolina-South Carolina border. The report cites county emergency services director Kay Worley as saying the crash happened at about 3:45 a.m. ET.

There was no information available about the cause of the crash, but Worley said seven players and a team trainer were taken to a local hospital for attention. The bus was carrying 33 passengers.

The team's Tuesday night game in Myrtle Beach has been canceled, according to the report.

Pierzynski playing key role in Miller's development

Right-hander fans eight over seven innings vs. Reds

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 1:31 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- As Shelby Miller exited the Citizens Bank Park bullpen before his Aug. 23 start against the Phillies, he told then-Cardinals catcher A.J. Pierzynski that he was ready to begin routinely throwing the sinker he had developed over the previous couple of weeks with Justin Masterson's assistance.

Now with the Braves nine months later, Pierzynski finds himself still influencing the impressive evolution Miller has made from thrower to one of baseball's top pitchers.

When Miller encountered trouble during the second inning of Monday night's 2-1 win over the Reds, Pierzynski comforted the young Braves pitcher and then saw him quickly regain the dominant form he has displayed throughout the early part of this season.

"He came out and just got me back to where I needed to be," Miller said. "He saw some things with my mechanics and fixed it from there. It's nice to have somebody who I've thrown to for a while who knows your mechanics and knows what to see in the pitcher."

Coming off last week's three-hit shutout of the Phillies, Miller opened Monday night's outing by walking Billy Hamilton, and then uncorked an errant pickoff attempt to an unguarded second base. He escaped that jam unscathed and then limited the Reds to just one run after they loaded the bases with none out in the second inning.

After Miller hit Kristopher Negron with a pitch to load the bases, Pierzynski quickly offered a few words of advice and then saw his pitcher retire each of the next 15 batters he faced.

"He controlled his emotions and did what he needed to do," Pierzynski said. "I wish we could have scored some runs so he could have gotten a win because he deserved it, the way he pitched."

The three hits the Braves recorded off Aroldis Chapman in the decisive ninth inning might not have mattered had Miller not limited the Reds to three hits and just one run over seven innings. This strong 100-pitch effort lowered his ERA to 1.60 through this season's first seven starts.

Miller has produced a National League-best 1.83 ERA (min. 12 starts) in the 14 starts he has made dating back to that Aug. 23 outing in Philadelphia, when he and Pierzynski were serving as batterymates for the Cardinals.

"The first two innings I was kind of rushing a little bit," Miller said. "[Pierzynski] saw some things with my mechanics, which was nice. After that we settled in pretty good. I was just trying to put up zeroes. We did a good job of that as well."

Johnson steps in for Grilli and closes out win

Right-hander works scoreless ninth for save vs. Reds

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 1:48 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- The Braves exited Sunday afternoon's loss to the Nationals knowing they might have preserved their eighth-inning lead had Jim Johnson not been held back to serve as the closer in place of Jason Grilli, who has battled a sore back over the past three days.

But instead of rushing Grilli back into action, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez opted to give his veteran closer one more day of rest. His decision proved to be prudent when Johnson showed he can still handle the ninth inning by locking down Monday night's 2-1 win over the Reds.

When Gonzalez met with reporters late Monday afternoon, he indicated Grilli would be available if a save situation arose. But after meeting with his trainers a short time later, he opted not to rush the 38-year-old reliever back into action.

"It was my decision to give him one more day," Gonzalez said. "He told us he could probably go. So, let's just give him one more day to make sure. Everything was good with him, I just wanted to give him one more day."

Johnson, who is just two years removed from a second consecutive 50-save season, worked a scoreless ninth to notch the save in place of Grilli, who began feeling some back discomfort after returning to his hotel after Friday night's game in Washington, D.C.

With Grilli unavailable on Sunday and Johnson being reserved for a save situation, the Braves saw rookie reliever Cody Martin blow a one-run, eighth-inning lead.

Grilli, who has converted nine of his 10 save opportunities, will likely be available again as early as Tuesday.

"[Grilli] told me, 'I'm a 38-year-old guy, sometimes [a back] can be cranky,'" Gonzalez said.

DeSclafani leads Reds against Foltynewicz, Braves

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | 5/12/2015 12:26 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- When Anthony DeSclafani and Mike Foltynewicz opposed each other on May 1, the former owned the National League's best ERA, and the latter was making his first Major League start.

Foltynewicz got the better of DeSclafani that evening at Turner Field and will attempt to do the same when he takes the mound for the Braves during Tuesday night's game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Though he has not yet completed at least six innings, Foltynewicz has won the first two starts of his career. Meanwhile, DeSclafani has seen his ERA go from 0.86 to 2.50 over the course of his past three starts.

Things to know about this game

• Foltynewicz notched his first career hit -- a two-run double -- off DeSclafani and limited the Reds to three runs (two earned) over five innings earlier this month. But the Reds also proved successful with five stolen base attempts against the right-hander, who has added a slight hip turn to his delivery in attempt to gain more consistent command.

• DeSclafani is 0-3 with a 4.80 ERA over his past three starts. He has issued 11 walks, including a season-high five on May 1, within the 15 innings he has completed during this skid.

• Reds catcher Brayan Pena, a member of the Braves organization from 2000-08, has batted .370 (17-for-46) with a .453 on-base percentage over his past 14 games.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after Monday’s 2-1 win at Cincinnati

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CINCINNATI — Braves quotes from Shelby Miller, A.J. Pierzysnki, Phil Gosselin and Fredi Gonzalez after Monday’s 2-1 win against the Reds.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On Gosselin in the 9th — single, steal, scores on wild pitch

“He’s a great piece. We always talk about his baseball IQ. He’s never going to miss a sign. Today he got a base hit off a tough left-hander, Chapman, and was able to steal third. We knew that (Chapman) had some big numbers (slow to plate). I don’t know if he’s your typical stolen-base threat, but he had a great jump, great lead, and beat the throw to third base and was able to score on a passed ball/wild pitch, whichever way they scored it. It was a good way to end a losing streak, 2-1 game.”

“Shelby Miller was about as good as you could want him to be. Got himself out of some jams early, made some big pitches. It was a good team effort. We out-hit them; I think we got (11) hits, they got four. We put Leake on the ropes a couple of times and he showed why he is what he is. He was able to get out of it.”

Shelby seemed to pick up right where he left off in his last start

“He sure did. He’s a special guy. Glad we get to see him every fifth day.”

On Grilli not pitching the ninth, after Gonzalez said before game that his back spasms had subsided

“We talked, Jason and I and our trainers, shortly after you (reporters) left (before the game). It was my decision, I said you know what, let’s give it one more day. He told us he could probably go. So let’s give him one more day so the probably becomes more, ‘I can.’ Everything was good with him, just wanted to give him one more day.”

Miller really seemed to be fired up that seventh inning after giving up the two-out hit

“He’s a competitor, man. I’m glad that we were able to get him out of the inning, because he’s one of those guys you hate to go out there and get the ball from him. Because he ain’t going to give it to you that easily. And that’s a nice trait. I think he’s learned that with the Cardinals and those tough starters that they have up there. It’s a great trait. Good for us that we have that young man pitching for us.”

More on Shelby Miller

“It’s too bad we couldn’t get him the W. But shoot, if he pitches like he did today, he’s got a lot of chances to win a lot of games.”

To clarify, on the play at the plate, you have to challenge plate-blocking so they’ll review both parts of the plate, because if you challenge the tag they can’t review the plate-blocking element, correct? And if you challenge the plat-blocking they review both it and the tag and whether he was out?

“Correct. I challenge (the plate-blocking) rule. It was almost identical to the play in New York that we (challenged and) won, with Pierzysnki running. And this one they didn’t (overturn).”

“It could have gone either way. We’ve got replay and they can slow it down, but I think it still comes down to interpretation (of the plate-blocking rule).”

**SHELBY MILLER

On getting in groove after the early run

“The first couple of innings we were kind of rushing a little bit. A.J. came out and saw some things that were going on in my mechanics, so he came out and fixed that, which was nice. But after that we settled in pretty good, just trying to put up zeroes. We did a good job of that tonight, as well. The offense came around in the ninth against one of the best closers in the game, which was pretty special. Got to tip your cap to them. And made some good plays, got out of some jams. Overall good night, we needed this win bad.”

When A.J. came out to talk to you, did he just tell you to slow down?

“Yeah, just kind of got me back to where I need to be, saw some things with my mechanics. It’s nice to have somebody that I’ve thrown to for awhile who knows my mechanics and knows what to see in a pitcher. That was nice for him to come out and kind of give me an idea what I was doing wrong. We settled in nice from there and played a great game all-around.”

Nice to come into this ballpark and keep that streak alive of two or fewer earned runs in every start this season?

“Yeah, this is obviously a tough ballpark to pitch in. They’re a team that hits pretty good at home. They hit a lot of home runs, have a lot of power throughout the lineup. I just try to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible, get groundballs, get quick outs. And we did a good job of that tonight, especially against a team like that in this ballpark. So, just keep grinding away.”

**AJ PIERZYNSKI

On Miller taking his game to another level since late last season with Cardinals

“Yeah, he’s throwing the ball great. I mean, what can you say about it? I know in the last game he pitched (against the Reds) they got (two) homers off of him. I know from being with St. Louis, that’s kind of their game, is hit home runs and put pressure on you. He did a really good job of slowing the game down after the first couple of innings. We talked about how the rain delay kind of got him messed up. It was a rush. It was like 8:20 and they said, ‘The game’s at 8:50.’ And we’re all kind of, ‘We’ve got to go.’ And that kind of got him out of his normal routine. But after the second inning he really settled down and came back to the way Shelby’s been throwing. He threw the ball great. Seven innings, only (three) hits, one run. He controlled his emotions and did what we needed to do.

“I wish we could have scored some runs and got him the win, because he deserved it with the way he pitched.”

On Gosselin coming off bench to start rally against Chapman

“He’s a good little player, man. That’s a perfect swing for Chapman. You can’t get big (with swing) off him, he throws 100. Up the middle, he did it, and obviously Markakis with the hit, and stealing third – it was a good baseball inning.”

**PHIL GOSSELIN

On his hit off Chapman to start the rally in ninth

“I was able to lay off a couple of off-speed pitches and then get that fastball and put a good swing on it.”

Key to success off him, keep the swing short?

“Yeah, keep it short, see something down in the zone and just try to put it in play. You can’t try to do too much because if you try to swing hard it’s going to be by you.”

You see the wild pitch are you thinking ‘go’ right away?

“Yeah, I was ready for anything, obviously look for something in the dirt and try to score there. That’s a tough at-bat for Freddie, left on left, so I’m trying to do anything I can to score.”

On stealing third

“First pitch (to Simmons) was pretty slow, so I said to myself if he’s slow again, I’m going to try to take a shot here and go for it. I got a good jump. Almost fell halfway there, but fortunately stayed on my feet and got in there.”

Braves score in 9th, snap skid with 2-1 win over Reds

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CINCINNATI — They didn’t score their second run early enough to get Shelby Miller the win that the Braves’ new ace deserved. But the Braves scored it against the most dominant closer in baseball right now and beat the Reds, 2-1, Monday night.

Phil Gosselin had a pinch-hit single against Reds closer Aroldis Chapman with one out in the ninth, went to second on Nick Markakis’ single and then stole third before scoring on a two-out wild pitch to snap a 1-1 tie.

Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his second save as the Braves ended a three-game losing skid win in a series opener at Great American Ball Park.

“He’s a great piece,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Gosselin, a utility player. “We always talk about his baseball IQ. He’s never going to miss a sign. Today, he got a base hit off a tough left-hander, Chapman, and was able to steal third.

“We knew that (Chapman) had some big numbers (slow to the plate). I don’t know if he’s your typical stolen-base threat, but he had a great jump, great lead, and beat the throw to third base and was able to score on a passed ball/wild pitch, whichever way they scored it.”

Miller limited the Reds to three hits and one run in seven innings, trimming his ERA to 1.60. He had two walks and eight strikeouts and and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all seven starts.

Braves closer Jason Grilli was held out of a third consecutive game with back spasms, even though his condition had improved significantly.

Chapman lost consecutive appearances for the first time in three years. He gave up a run and three hits in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday, the first run he allowed in 28 appearances since Aug. 17.

Andrelton Simmons again made Great American Ball Park feel like his person playpen. He hit a game-tying leadoff homer in the fourth inning, his fourth homer in his 30th at-bat at Great American Ball Park.

The Braves left the bases loaded in that inning — they got three singles after the Simmons homer — and left them loaded again in the sixth, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in six innings against Reds right-hander Mike Leake.

Miller got in a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second inning and got out with minimal damage. After two groundball hits to start the inning, Kristopher Negron was hit by pitch to load the bases. Tucker Barnhart’s sacrifice fly gave the Reds a 1-0 lead, but Miller induced a fielder’s choice grounder from Leake for an out at the plate, and Billy Hamilton popped out.

Beginning with Barnhart’s sac fly, Miller retired 15 consecutive Reds before a leadoff walk in the seventh inning.

“Shelby Miller was about as good as you could want him to be,” Gonzalez said. “Got himself out of some jams early, made some big pitches. It was a good team effort. We out-hit them; I think we got (11) hits, they got four. We put Leake on the ropes a couple of times and he showed why he is what he is. He was able to get out of it.”

Miller also gave up a two-out single that inning before retiring pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker on a slow roller in front of the plate that catcher A.J. Pierzynski fielded. After the single Miller had pounded his fist into his glove and shouted at himself.

“He’s a competitor, man,” Gonzalez said. “I’m glad that we were able to get him out of the inning, because he’s one of those guys you hate to go out there and get the ball from him. Because he ain’t going to give it to you that easily. And that’s a nice trait. I think he’s learned that with the Cardinals and those tough starters that they have up there. It’s a great trait. Good for us that we have that young man pitching for us.”

The Braves got Miller from the Cardinals as the other principle in the November trade that sent Jason Heyward to St. Louis. He’s 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA in his past 12 starts, and has allowed more than two earned runs just once in that stretch, and that time it was three earned.

“He’s throwing the ball great,” said Pierzynski, who also caught some of Miller’s starts last season in St. Louis. “I mean, what can you say about it? I know in the last game he pitched (against the Reds) they got (two) homers off of him. I know from being with St. Louis, that’s kind of their game, is hit home runs and put pressure on you. He did a really good job of slowing the game down after the first couple of innings.”

Pierzysnki said a one-hour, 40-minute rain delay before the first pitch threw off everybody including Miller a bit, since they all rushed to get ready when told only 30 minutes before the game was going to start.

“The first couple of innings we were kind of rushing a little bit,” Miller said. “A.J. came out and saw some things that were going on in my mechanics, so he came out and fixed that, which was nice. But after that we settled in pretty good, just trying to put up zeroes.”

We did a good job of that tonight, as well. The offense came around in the ninth against one of the best closers in the game, which was pretty special. Got to tip your cap to them. And made some good plays, got out of some jams. Overall good night, we needed this win bad.”

Simmons, who bounced a ground-rule double over the right-field fence in the first inning, homered to the left-field bleacher on an 0-2 cut fastball to start the fourth inning, his third homer this season. The shortstop has 14 hits (three homers) and seven RBIs in seven career games at the ballpark often referred to derisively as “Great American Small Park.”

Braves 2, Reds 1

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How the game was won: Phil Gosselin scored on a two-out wild pitch in the ninth inning by Reds flamethrowing closer Aroldis Chapman to break a tie and send the Braves to a 2-1 win in a series opener at Cincinnati. Gosselin hit a one-out pinch single, advanced on a Nick Markakis single, then stole third. Andrelton Simmons, who had homered in the fourth inning, struck out for the second out in the ninth. But with Freddie Freeman batting, Chapman threw a wild pitch and Gosselin raced home with the go-ahead run, only the second allowed by Chapman this season.

Number: 1.60. Shelby Miller’s ERA after the Braves pitcher limited the Reds to one run and three hits in seven innings, with two walks and eight strikeouts. He’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in all seven starts this season.

What’s next: The Braves and Reds play the second game of their three-game series Tuesday night (7:10), with rookie Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 5.23) making his third career start and facing Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (2-3).

Braves closer Grilli held out another day for back spasms

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CINCINNATI — Braves closer Jason Grilli stiff back, which kept him out of two close weekend losses at Washington, was much improved Monday, and manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would likely be available for the rain-delayed series opener Monday night against the Reds.

“He came out today and played a little catch, did some running around,” Gonzalez said before batting practice Monday afternoon. “We’ll see between now and game time, but I think it’s all good. I think he’ll be available tonight.”

But that outlook apparently changed soon after Gonzalez said that to reporters. He met with team trainers and Grilli, and Gonzalez decided to give Grilli another day for precautionary reasons. When the Braves and Reds went to the late innings tied, Grilli sat at the front of the bullpen behind the outfield wall, watching the game in his uniform pants and a team sweashirt.

“We talked — Jason and I and our trainers — shortly after you (reporters) left (the pregame media session with the manager). It was my decision, I said you know what, let’s give it one more day. He told us he could probably go. So let’s give him one more day so the probably becomes more, ‘I can.’

“Everything was good with him, just wanted to give him one more day.”

Grilli has converted nine of 10 save opportunities, but last pitched Wednesday. The Braves were off Thursday and were beaten, 9-2, in Friday’s series opener against the Nationals. Grilli, 38, had back spasms that worsened after the team arrived in Washington.

“I think it happened around Saturday morning, or maybe Friday night when he went to bed,” Gonzalez said. “But I remember Bubba (Braves head trainer Jeff Porter) came to me on Saturday and said he wasn’t available.”

Gonzalez said Grilli let him know soon after the pitcher arrived at the ballpark Monday in Cincinnati that he felt a lot better after two days of treatment and rest.

“That’s what he told me, ‘Fredi, it’s a 38-year-old guy, sometimes it can be cranky,’” Gonzalez said. “And I believe him. There’s a lot of innings, a lot of pitches on that body. And it’s stressful pitching, at that. I told him, I said just let me know. But he came in and before he even went out and ran around he said, ‘I feel great.’ The medicine has kicked in a little bit. So it’s good.”

The Braves rallied from a 6-1 deficit Friday by scoring five runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but rookie Cody Martin gave up a two-run walkoff homer to Bryce Harper in the ninth for an 8-6 loss. Martin had entered with two out in the eighth and returned to pitch the ninth, while top setup man Jim Johnnson was being held back for a possible save situation.

On Sunday, the Braves again rallied from an early 3-0 deficit and took a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning, but Martin gave up two runs in the eighth inning of a 5-4 loss.

“We could have used Johnson (Saturday if Grilli hadn’t been out), and again on Sunday,” Gonzalez said. “But you know what, going forward you’re going to have those days. You’re going to have days where Johnson is not going to be available because he’s thrown two days in a row, or Grilli is not going to be available because he’s thrown two days in a row. So we need to figure out who’s going to be that guy who can jump in there and take that seven or eighth inning.

“I mean, Cody Martin has done a hell of a job, but he didn’t sign up for that. He barely made the team out of spring training and he was going to be the long guy, and because of circumstances all of a sudden he’s pitching in the eighth.”

Some Braves hitters eager to play at Cincy ballpark

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CINCINNATI —

The Braves are playing their only series of the season at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, and several of them will look for the statistical boost that the hitter-friendly ballpark can provide.

Among the Braves who’ve thrived most at the ballpark were Andreton Simmons, who was 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers, six RBIs and an .893 slugging percentage in six games there before Monday’s series opener, and Kelly Johnson, who had a .302 average (29-for-96) with five homers in 24 games at the hitters’ haven on the Ohio River.

“Here and Philly are two places that stand out, where you kind of look forward to going,” Johnson said before Monday’s game. “And Colorado. There’s definitely some good hitters’ parks, and whenever you get a chance to go to those places you want to come out with some damage and you want to get locked in.

“But baseball’s full of coincidences and all sorts of things, and there’s no rhyme or reason to who does whatever. But yeah, I think it’s obviously one of the top few ballparks to hit in for a reason.”

Curiously, the Braves’ best hitter, Freddie Freeman, had a .208 career average (10-for-48) with no homers and a .250 slugging percentage in 13 games at Cincinnati.

Jonny Gomes, who played for the Reds ini 2009-2011, entered with a .252 average and 29 homers in exactly 500 career at-bats (166 games) at Cincinnati, with 91 RBIs and a .482 slugging percentage.

Braves rookie reliever Martin handling setbacks well

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CINCINNATI — Only two National League relievers pitched more innings than Cody Martin before Monday, but the Braves rookie insisted fatigue hasn’t been a factor in his recent struggles.

After posting a 1.54 ERA and .220 opponents’ average in his first 10 appearances, Martin has a 7.71 ERA and .370 opponents’ average in his past six outings. That included consecutive weekend losses at Washington, where he got both decisions and gave up three runs and two hits in each game after the Braves had rallied to tie or take the lead.

He gave up a two-run walkoff homer to blistering-hot Bryce Harper Saturday, and on Sunday Martin gave up a leadoff single to Ian Desmond and walked Jayson Werth to start the eighth inning. One out later, the Nationals got consecutive RBI hits.

“I feel good,” Martin said before Monday’s series opener at Cincinnati. “Just not (throwing strikes) consistently. I mean, they’re taking pitches all the way, they don’t even have to think about it. It keeps them comfortable when I do throw them over the plate.”

So he’s not tired?

“No,” Martin said. “In baseball you’re going to have ups and downs. I got off to a really good start, obviously, which I’m sure nobody thought would happen. I got the opportunity to pitch in some tight games there and things didn’t go my way.”

He was thrust into the eighth and ninth innings of tied or one-run games because closer Jason Grilli was dealing with back spasms, and setup man Jim Johnson was held back in case of save situations.

Grilli felt better Monday and was expected to be available for the series opener against the Reds. Manager Fredi Gonzalez planned to rest rookies Martin and Cunniff, who pitched in all three games at Washington.

Cunniff’s .059 opponents’ average was tied with Yankees standout Andrew Miller for the majors lead before Monday, and even with seven walks in 13 appearances his .211 opponents’ OBP was still more than 100 points lower than any other Braves reliever who’d pitched in more than three games.

The Braves’ lack of bullpen depth has been exposed in recent weeks, but without Grilli this weekend it was all the more glaring.

“It exposes (lack of depth),” Gonzalez said. “And we always talk about putting guys in situations where they’re going to be most successful. It’s a great learning thing for them, it really is. Because a week from now, 10 days from now, we may be back in that same situation. I hope (Martin) takes the positive — experiencing those emotions that happen in the eighth inning in a tie game — and learns from that.”

Gomes has fond memories of time with tradition-rich Reds

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CINCINNATI — The thing that Braves outfielder Jonny Gomes remembers most about playing in Cincinnati was how different it was going to a town with such a long and storied baseball history, and how the city responded when the Reds got good again in 2010.

Before Gomes signed with the Reds as a free agent in January 2009, the only organization he’d played for was Tampa Bay, spending parts of six seasons in the majors with the Rays. Gomes played 2 ½ seasons with the Reds and had career-highs of 86 RBIs, 146 games played and 571 plate appearances for the 2010 team that won 91 games and the National League Central title.

“Lot of the same faces,” Gomes said before Monday’s Braves-Reds series opener, his first game back in Cincinnati since Aug. 2011, when he played a series six weeks after being traded to Washington. “This city … I came from the youngest organization in baseball in Tampa, to the oldest organization (here). This place really took off.

“The history of the game — in Tampa there really wasn’t much. Coming (to Cincinnati) and learning about the Big Red Machine in the ‘70s, the wire-to-wire team in the ‘90s, and so many of the greats, the alum of the Reds, are still around. (Back then) I’m seeing Johnny Bench and Barry Larkin and Eric Davis, and Billy Hatcher’s on the staff. Seeing them all the time. Pete Rose is in and out. So that really kicked off my passion for the history of the game.”

The Reds had gone 14 years without a first-place finish before the 2010 team ended the drought. They lost to the Phillies in a division series.

“The fan base was there,” Gomes said. “We brought them out in 2010, the place was rocking. You’re talking about the oldest organization right here in Cincy. It’s not like the Braves, who moved around a little bit (from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta). They just moved stadiums right here in Cincy. First night game (was played in 1935 at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field). All the old posters.

“Pretty cool place to play.”

Gomes hit .254 with 49 homers and 168 RBIs in 323 games for the Reds, and entered Monday’s series opener with a .252 average and 29 homers, 91 RBIs and a .482 slugging percentage in exactly 500 career at-bats (166 games) at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park.

He’s a part-time player now, starting in left field against all left-handers and some right-handers, and serving as the Braves’ top right-handed pinch-hitter. He wasn’t in the lineup Friday against Reds right-hander Mike Leake, with Kelly Johnson getting the start in left field. Johnson came in 5-for-16 with a homer against Leake.

Braves pitchers face challenge at Cincy’s bandbox

By David O’Brien

CINCINNATI – Given how the Braves have pitched in recent weeks, and the home-run barrage they absorbed while being swept in Washington, the last place they want to be right now is probably Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, aka “Great American Small Park,” so named for its extremely hitter-friendly dimensions.

But that’s where they’ll be for a three-game series starting tonight, and the Braves can at least be thankful that their new ace, Shelby Miller, will pitch the series opener. He gave the weary bullpen a day off the last time he pitched, throwing a three-hit shutout against the Phillies on Tuesday in Atlanta.

The Braves have won only one of four games since then while giving up 27 earned runs and nine homers in 35 1/3 innings, including 22 earned runs and eight homers in 24 1/3 innings against the Nationals while being swept in three games at Washington Friday through Sunday.

The Braves scored 12 runs in that series and rallied from deficits of three runs or more in each of the last two games to tie or take the lead, only to see their bullpen give it back, with Cody Martin give up two runs in each of the last two games to take losses in each.

Braves relievers have a 4.88 ERA that’s the third-highest in the NL, and their 14 homers allowed are second only to the Brewers’ 15. Atlanta starters have the league’s fourth-highest ERA (4.24), and the team’s 4.47 overall ERA is now the third-highest in the NL, ahead of the Brewers (4.64) and Rockies (5.47).

Good thing the Braves have Miller going tonight, because otherwise this is probably the worst time for their pitchers to be coming into Cincinnati. Fredi Gonzalez hates walks, and the Braves’ largely inexperienced pitching staff has issued 111 of them, the second-most walks in the NL. Only the last-place Phillies have more (122), while the division-leading Mets have issued barely half as many walks (58) as the Braves.

We’ll see after the clubhouse opens – or maybe not until later tonight, actually – whether closer Jason Grilli can go after sitting out the Nationals series with back spasms. If he can’t, it puts more stress on the ‘pen because Gonzalez will probably hold back Jim Johnson to close and thrust another pitcher into the eighth-inning role who’s probably either not ready for that pressure or has pitched so much lately that he might not be at his best (i.e. Cody Martin this weekend).

Haven’t heard anything yet, but won’t be surprised if the Braves make another bullpen move to get a fresh arm up from the minors.

• Tonight’s matchup: Provided rain delays don’t disrupt the game – forecast tonight isn’t good — and force the starters out early, it should be a great pitching matchup with Miller (4-1, 1.66 ERA) out to avenge his only Braves loss against Mike Leake (2-1, 2.47).

Leake is 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves, and the right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball against them in a win at Atlanta on April 30 to hand Miller not just his first loss as a Brave, but only loss in his past 13 starts going back to late August when he was with the Cardinals. Leake also homered off Miller in that game.

Miller gave up six hits, three runs (two earned) and two homers in seven innings in that 5-1 loss at Turner Field, with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Leake is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA and .150 opponents’ average in his past three starts, including eight scoreless innings in each of his past two starts, road wins against Atlanta and Pittsburgh. He has given up just 12 hits and three walks in 23 innings over his past three starts.

In his past two starts against the Braves — in Cincinnati in August and less than two weeks ago in Atlanta — Leake has given up a total of four hits and five walks in 14 2/3 scoreless innings, with nine strikeouts.

Three active Braves have at least 10 at-bats against him: Kelly Johnson is 5-for-16 with a homer, Andrelton Simmons is 5-for-13, and Freddie Freeman is 1-for-15 with a homer.

Miller is 2-3 with a 3.24 ERA in seven starts against the Reds, and in two of the losses he pitched a quality start and got zero run support from his Cardinal teams. He has fared better at Cincy’s ballpark than most visiting pitchers, going 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four starts, with three homers allowed in 22 1/3 innings. For this place, that’s a low number of long balls.

Even if his shutout last week came against the worst hitting team in the league (Philly), it was still a dominant performance, and left Miller with a 4-1 record and 1.66 ERA in his first six starts for the Braves, with two earned runs or fewer allowed in every start and six or more innings pitched in each of the past four.

In his past two starts, against the Reds and Phillies, he’s given up two earned runs and nine hits in 16 innings, with four walks and 17 strikeouts.

Eight current Reds have at least 10 at-bats against Miller, whom they faced plenty when he pitched for their division opponent Cardinals. Brandon Phillips is 6-for-17 with a homer against him, Devin Mesoraco is 3-for-10 with a homer, Joe Votto is 3-for-12 with a homer, and Todd Frazier is 3-for-17 with a homer. Jay Bruce is just 1-for-12 against Miller.

• Longball threat: The Reds have hit 19 homers in their past 13 games, and they’re probably licking their chops to hit at home against the Braves after finishing a 10-game road trip on Sunday. That’s right, they’ve hit 19 homers in their past 13 games, and only three of those were in Cincy.

They totaled seven homers in their last three-game home series against the Brewers before going out on the road.

Todd Frazier has seven homers in his past 17 games, and three of his past four hits (in five games) against the Braves have been homers. He hit two in the recent four-game series at Atlanta.

• Small park: Simmons is 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers, six RBIs and an .893 slugging percentage in six games at Cincinnati, and Kelly Johnson has a .302 average (29-for-96) with five homers in 24 games at the hitters’ haven hard by the Ohio River.

Jonny Gomes, who played for the Reds ini 2009-2011, has a .252 average and 29 homers in exactly 500 career at-bats (166 games) at Cincinnati, with 91 RBIs and a .482 slugging percentage.

Curiously, the Braves’ best hitter, Freddie Freeman, has a .208 career average (10-for-48) with no homers and a .250 slugging percentage in 13 games at Cincinnati.

• Home/road dichotomy: Nick Markakis has hit .345 (19-for-55) in 15 road games with 10 walks, five strikeouts and a .455 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, he’s hit .250 (15-for-60) in 15 home games with six walks, 15 strikeouts and a .318 OBP.

Cameron Maybin has had the opposite splits – he’s .332 (10-for-31) in 12 home games with three homers, seven walks and a .447 OBP and .613 slugging percentage, while he’s hit just .167 (6-for-36) with one homer, two walks, 14 strikeouts and a .211 OBP and .306 slugging percentage.

• No Teheran: The Braves pitchers with the best stats against the Reds, Julio Teheran, isn’t pitching in this series. He’s 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA in four starts against them, including six scoreless innings of four-hit ball in his only start at Cincinnati.

Then again, with the way Teheran has been struggling and giving up home runs, it might not be a bad time for him to miss a start at this long-ball haven.

ON THE BEAT

By Staff

The chatter

The Reds went into Monday’s game with hit 19 homers in their last 13 games and they must have been licking their chops to hit at home against the Braves after finishing a 10-game trip on Sunday. That’s right: 19 homers in 13 games and only three of them at the homer-happy Great American Ballpark.

They totaled seven homers in their past three-game home series against Milwaukee before heading out of town.

Todd Frazier opened the Braves series with seven homers in his past 17 games. Three of his past four hits against the Braves had been homers. He hit two in the recent four-game series at Turner Field.

Small park

As the series started, Andrelton Simmons was 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers, six RBIs and an .893 slugging percentage in six games at Cincinnati. Kelly Johnson had a .302 average (29-for-96) with five homers in 24 games at the hitters’ haven hard by the Ohio River.

Jonny Gomes, who played for the Reds in 2009-2011, had a .252 average and 29 homers in exactly 500 career at-bats (166 games) at Cincinnati, with 91 RBIs and a .482 slugging percentage.

Curiously, the Braves’ best hitter, Freddie Freeman, had a .208 career average (10-for-48) with no homers and a .250 slugging percentage in 13 games at Cincinnati.

Today’s numbers

Nick Markakis arrived in Cincinnati hitting .345 (19-for-55) in 15 road games with 10 walks, five strikeouts and a .455 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, he’s hit .250 (15-for-60) in 15 home games with six walks, 15 strikeouts and a .318 OBP.

Cameron Maybin has had the opposite splits. He’s .332 (10-for-31) in 12 home games with three homers, seven walks and a .447 OBP and .613 slugging percentage, while he hitting just .167 (6-for-36) with one homer, two walks, 14 strikeouts and a .211 OBP and .306 slugging percentage on the road.

Tuesday’s game

Who: Braves at Reds

Where: Great American Ballpark

When: 7:10 p.m.

TV; radio: FS1; 680, 93.7, 106.7

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 5.23) vs. RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-3, 2.50)

What’s new: Foltynewicz is gunning for a third consecutive victory in only his third major league start since he joined the roster from Triple-A Gwinnett. He and Shelby Miller have been a bright spot on a Braves pitching staff which has seen its bullpen struggle. After posting a 2.92 ERA through the first 18 games of the season, Braves relievers entered the Reds series with an 8.52 ERA over their previous 12 games, while getting hit at a .295 rate. Markakis is seeking redemption against the Reds after going only 1-for-15 in the four-game series against them at Turner Field April 30-May 3. Markakis started a six-game hitting streak once that series ended, going 8-for-26 (.308) against the Phillies and Nationals.

Prospect Primer: Weekly update of Braves top minor leaguers

By Carroll Rogers - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Matt Wisler, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 1 prospect by Baseball America

Wisler had his best two starts since coming to the Braves in the Craig Kimbrel trade, going 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his first two wins with Gwinnett to earn an International League pitcher of the week award. Wisler allowed one run in each of the two starts, going 5 1/3 innings in a 3-1 win in the first and a career-high eight innings in a 9-1 win in the second. He walked one and struck out nine in the two outings combined.

Jose Peraza, 2B, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 2 prospect by Baseball America

Peraza continued to swing a hot bat on the G-Braves’ recent road trip, going 8-for-27 (.296) with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored over six games. He was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases. By the end of the trip Sunday in Lehigh Valley, Peraza’s season batting average was up to .300 and his on-base percentage was .336.

Lucas Sims, RHP, high Single-A Carolina

Ranking: No. 5 prospect by Baseball America

Sims has strung together back-to-back impressive starts, allowing just two earned runs in 13 innings, walking two and striking out 10 against Frederick and Salem. Braves director of player personnel Dave Trembley and minor league pitching coordinator Rich Dubee watched Sims make a quality start against Frederick (two earned runs in six innings) and use better fastball command to snap a streak of three losses in which he’d given up 12 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings.

Ozhaino Albies, SS, low Single-A Rome

Ranking: No. 8 prospect by Baseball America

Albies entered the week on an eight-game hitting streak, with six of those games the multi-hit variety. Albies was batting a torrid .444 (16-for-36) over that span, with two doubles, two triples, seven RBIs and five stolen bases, while raising his season average from .256 to .314.

Rio Ruiz, 3B, Double-A Mississippi

Ranking: No. 11 prospect by Baseball America

The 6-2, 215-pound Ruiz, who came to the Braves from Houston along with Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman for Evan Gattis and James Hoyt, is off to a slow start. He hit .195 through his first 25 games and had yet to hit a home run. He’s coming off a .293 year with 11 homers in high A Lancaster in the Astros organization and was named a “Rising Star” in the Arizona Fall League.

Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Double-A Mississippi

Ranking: No. 13 prospect by Baseball America

Jenkins bounced back from a nine-run outing in 5 2/3 innings against Montgomery on May 1 by pitching six shutout innings his next start in Biloxi on Thursday. He gave up six hits, hit a batter, walked two and struck out five, while throwing 58 of his 97 pitches for strikes. Jenkins (1-2, 4.06 ERA) pitches again Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader against Mobile.

Manny Banuelos, LHP, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 14 prospect by Baseball America

Banuelos followed up his six shutout innings against Toledo with another six dominant innings in Lehigh Valley. The only run he allowed came on a solo homer. He walked only one to match a season-low and he struck out six. Banuelos is 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA through his first six starts in his second season back from Tommy John surgery.

Mallex Smith, CF, Double-A Mississippi

Ranking: No. 17 prospect by Baseball America

Smith started the week on a six-game hitting streak, during which he had gone 10-for-26 (.385), scored four runs and drove in two, including the decisive runs in a 4-2 victory Friday night. Smith stole a base Thursday night to snap a streak of nine games without a steal, a career-long streak for him. Smith led the minor leagues with 88 stolen bases last season.

Andrew Thurman, RHP, high A Carolina Mudcats

Ranking: No. 20 prospect by Baseball America

Since giving up six earned runs in five innings on April 23, Thurman has allowed only two runs — only one of them earned — over his past three starts. Thurman, a former Astros prospect the Braves got in return for Gattis, has gone 3-0 with a 0.55 ERA over his past three starts to improve to 4-2 with a 2.51 ERA in six starts.

Daniel Castro, SS, Triple-A Gwinnett

Ranking: No. 28 prospect by Baseball America

When Gwinnett shortstop Elmer Reyes went on the DL with a right hand contusion, the Braves promoted Castro from Mississippi to take his spot. Castro has been a bright spot in Double-A Mississippi, hitting .389 in 23 games there, including a 16-game hitting streak, which tied for fifth-longest in Mississippi Braves history.

Fox Sports South

Three Cuts: Gosselin, Braves beat Reds on Chapman's wild pitch

Cory McCartney

The Braves may lead the majors when it comes to producing with runners in scoring position, but this was all Phil Gosselin -- with a little help from Aroldis Chapman.

After stealing third base in the top of the ninth, the pinch-hitting utility infielder took advantage of a wild pitch by the Reds closer, delivering the go-ahead run to beat Cincinnati 2-1 Monday.

"A guy like that throws a lot of wild pitches when you throw that hard with that good stuff," Gosselin said. "I figured if I got to third with one out we had a pretty good shot to score."

It would be the second game in as many days the Reds' closer had allowed a run, who before Sunday had a scoreless streak dating back to Aug. 17.

Gosselin got things started as he came off the bench and delivered a single before taking second on a Nick Markakis base hit.

"I was just trying see a fastball down," Gosselin said. "He's got that good fastball. If he gets up in the zone you've got no shot. I was able to lay off the 1-1 pitch and get a fastball and put it in play."

Having dropped nine of their last 11 road games since starting out 4-0, the Braves were in need of a rebound, especially after being swept in Washington.

They got it, but before Gosselin's late heroics, Shelby Miller stayed hot, Andrelton Simmons went deep once again at Great American Ball Park and manager Fredi Gonzalez saw his string of overturned replays end.

1. MILLER SHOWING VALUE IN OFFSEASON SHUFFLE

In terms of the offseason moves the Braves made in jettisoning both big-name players and big-time salaries, one deal has proven far more valuable at this point in time than the others.

Shelby Miller, acquired from the Cardinals for Jason Heyward, delivered another gem in putting the Braves in position to beat the Reds.

He also continues to be the surest thing in Atlanta's rotation, a statement that by itself would have seemed stunning considering this winter he was behind Julio Teheran and Alex Wood in most discussions of this staff.

But as Teheran tries to find consistency in his fastball and Wood has one quality start in his last four outings, Miller now boasts a 1.60 ERA after allowing one run and three hits in seven innings at Cincinnati. He's delivered five straight quality starts and has allowed three hits in four of his seven starts.

Monday was impressive not only for the no-out, bases-loaded jam he found himself in the second inning, one in which he limited the damage to one run. He would retire 15 straight, and this coming against a team that on April 30 tagged him for six hits and two home runs and he held the Reds -- third in the majors in producing the long ball -- in check in their launching pad.

In going so deep, Miller helped to take pressure off an Atlanta bullpen that threw 6 2/3 innings in three games vs. the Nationals over the weekend, but did so with closer Jason Grilli out with back spasms.

Only five pitchers have a better WAR than Miller's 1.6, who is also fifth with an ERA+ of 235. By contrast, Heyward entered the week with a .259 average and has hit no higher than sixth in St. Louis' order the last 10 games, including eighth on Sunday.

2. SIMMONS MAKES INSANE HOME RUN RATE AT GAB EVEN MORE INSANE

Nobody is going to start thinking of Andrelton Simmons as a power hitter. While he hit 17 home runs in 2013, hit first full season in the majors, he entered Monday night with less than 10 since then.

But when the shortstop steps into the batter's box at the Great American Ball Park, he gets in line at a stadium has produced the third-most long HRs in the majors since it opened its doors in '03.

In the top of the fourth inning, Simmons deposited Mike Leake's 91 mph cutter over the center field wall. It was his third home run of the season, but what's stunning is it was his fourth in just 30 at-bats in Cincinnati, which at the time gave him one every 7.5 at-bats at the park.

In all, Simmons was 2 for 5, with that AB/HR now sitting at 8.2. To put that into context, he has hit more homers at Philadelphia than anywhere outside of Turner Field with five, but that's one per every 19 ABs.

With two games to play in this series, Simmons is now tied with Ryan Braun and Khris Davis for the seventh-most homers by non-Reds at Great American since '13.

3. BRAVES' STREAK OF OVERTURNED CHALLENGES SNAPPED

A.J. Pierzynski popped up after being called out while trying to deliver the go-ahead run at the plate in the sixth inning, expressing his displeasure in umpire Laz Diaz's call.

Gonzalez asked for a review based on the home-plate collision rule, the argument that Reds catcher Barnhart didn't give Pierzynski a lane to get to the plate. The real issue, though, seemed to be that Pierzynski's leg appeared to get to the plate before Barnhart was able to apply the tag.

Given the way Leake and Miller were pitching, it was a valuable run, and given Pierzynski's knowledge of the collision rule being a fellow catcher, Gonzalez's decision was understandable.

Still, it was a point of contention on Twitter, with the criticism that Gonzalez challenged the wrong aspect of the call.

But in actuality, the entire play was reviewed, with the official in MLB's replay center in New York ruling that not only was their no violation of the collision rule, but also that Pierzynski was tagged prior to touching the plate.

The home-plate rule is one that Gonzalez has had success challenging, getting a call overturned on April 23 vs. the Mets, but Monday's ruling went against him and ended a string of three straight reviews that were reversed. In nine reviews on the season, Gonzalez is now 4-5.

ESPN

Braves' Miller turning out to be a bargain, to start against Reds

ESPN Stats & Information

Atlanta right-hander Shelby Miller (4-1) is coming off one of the best starts of his career and will face Reds right-handerMike Leake (2-1) on Monday night as the Braves visitCincinnati.

Below are some of the key storylines for the 7 p.m. ET game (ESPN, WatchESPN).

Miller was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in November along with Tyrell Jenkins for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden. Miller is making $535,000 this season and won’t be eligible for free agency until 2019. Heyward and Walden combined are making more than $11 million this season.

Miller is turning out to be a bargain.

On Tuesday, in his previous start, Miller threw a 99-pitch shutout against the Phillies, his first with fewer than 100 pitches (and the third shutout of his career).

Against the Phillies, Miller threw 22 first-pitch strikes, tied for the second-most in his career. Hitters were 2-of-18 with five strikeouts after falling behind 0-1. Hitters were 3-of-18 with three strikeouts against his fastball.

In addition to that fastball success last week, Miller has been featuring his cutter much more this season, throwing it 19 percent of the time (compared with 6 percent of the time last season). He has allowed a .069 batting average in at-bats ending in his cutter this season (2-for-29), third-best in baseball among pitchers who have thrown at least 50 cutters.

Freeman hitting his stride

After a rough start, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has bounced back. His success has coincided with him moving to the third spot in the order full time.

Freeman is seeing fastballs 59 percent of the time since April 25, compared with 46 percent before that. And he’s doing better against them -- hitting .359 against fastballs after April 25 compared with .297 prior.

Only Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who has a .292 hard-hit average, has hit the ball hard at a higher rate than Freeman (.286).

Sinker effective for Leake

Leake, the Reds’ starter, has allowed a .193 batting average with his sinker this season, second-lowest in the majors (toZach Britton’s .179 with the Orioles), and is on pace for a career-best mark. Last year, batters hit .295 against the pitch.

Leake gets ground balls on 59 percent of the balls in play against his sinker, sixth-highest among starters who have thrown at least 100 sinkers. The highest rate belongs to Trevor Cahill, with 68 percent.

Leake has induced 98 double plays since 2010. The only National League pitcher with more is Tim Hudson (105).

Hitters have put the ball in play on 47 percent of their swings in the past three seasons against Leake, the fifth-highest rate in the majors (minimum 50 starts).

Hamilton exploiting his speed

Billy Hamilton leads the major leagues with 16 stolen bases, four more than second-place Dee Gordon. Getting on base has been an issue, though: Hamilton’s .258 on-base percentage ranks outside the top 150 in baseball.

Hamilton has hit the ball hard in 8 percent of his at-bats, fourth-worst in the NL. Still, he has scored 20 runs as a leadoff hitter, third-most in the majors.

Hamilton hasn’t had a bunt hit this year, but not for lack of effort. He has attempted an MLB-high eight bunts this year.

He has bunted the ball 61 times since the start of 2014, most in the majors, and has 15 hits from them. Gordon has been much more successful when bunting: a major league-high 23 hits in 53 bunts.

MiLB.com

Bus carrying Carolina Mudcats crashes

Eight treated and released after bus flipped on its side in N.C.

By John Parker / MiLB.com

A bus carrying the Class A Advanced Carolina Mudcats lost control and flipped on its side early Tuesday morning in Columbus County, North Carolina. Seven players and one team trainer were taken to a nearby hospital and later released, according to WECT-6 in Wilmington.

Operated by Abbott Bus Lines, Inc., of Roanoke, Virginia, the bus was taking the Mudcats from Salem, Virginia, where they had just finished a five-game series, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a three-game set. It's a trip of about 300 miles. Tuesday evening's game is expected to be postponed.

Kay Worley, Columbus County's Emergency Services Director, told WECT that the bus crashed around 3:45 a.m. with 33 members of the team on board. The bus, which had flipped onto its right side and skidded down Clarendon Chadbourn Road, was pulled upright around 6 a.m.

Mudcats director of broadcasting and media relations Greg Young told WECT that he had dozed off before hearing the driver become frantic and lose control. The passengers exited through the hatch in the bus' roof.

Young later tweeted, "Thank you everyone for your concern. I can't speak for everyone involved, but I think we are all doing well. As well as can be expected."

With Minor League teams traveling thousands of miles by bus every season, often late at night, accidents are a concern. The Class A Short Season Williamsport Crosscutters were involved in a collision in Staten Island, New York, in 2011 that saw six passengers treated at a hospital and released. In 2013, a bus carrying the Elizabethton Twins north from Spring Training was part of a fatal collision near Jacksonville, Florida. No players were injured.

The Washington Post

Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski gives Washington fan an early Mother’s Day present

By Helena Andrews May 11 at 11:48 AM

Jonesing for a jolt of post-Mother’s Day feels? This story should do the trick.

On Saturday night, Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski took his mom out for a fancy pre-Mother’s Day dinner at Béarnaise on Capitol Hill. Nothing too shocking there, we know. Pierzynski was in town for the Braves’ series against the Nats and his mother, Mary Jane Harrelson, came up from Florida to cheer on her son.

When Pierzynski and his mom walked into Spike Mendelsohn’s French resto, they noticed a young boy sporting Pierzynski’s number 15 jersey. The teenage Braves fan was also there for a cozy mother and son dinner. The MLB veteran, his mini fan and both moms exchanged high fives before heading to their separate tables.

Here’s the feel-good part. On his way out, Pierzynski pulled his waiter aside, according to our tipster, to ask for a small favor.

“There is a kid and mom sitting in the front,” Pierzynski reportedly told his server. “The kid has a Braves jersey on. Can you put their meal on my tab?”

All together now, awww.

Associated Press

Braves rally off Chapman, beat Reds 2-1 to end losing skid

By JOE KAY (AP Sports Writer)

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Pinch-hitter Phil Gosselinwaited for a 100 mph fastball that he could handle and sent it right back up the middle. He was just getting started.

Gosselin singled off Aroldis Chapman to open the ninth, stole a base and scored on the closer's 103 mph wild pitch, rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

''The offense came around in the ninth off one of best closers in the game, which is pretty special,'' Braves starter Shelby Miller said.

The Braves snapped a three-game losing streak and sent Cincinnati's best reliever to his second loss in two days. Chapman (1-2) also gave up a ninth-inning run during a 4-3 loss to the White Sox on Sunday - the first run he had allowed all season.

Gosselin took second when Nick Markakis singled on a 98 mph fastball, and then decided to steal third because Chapman was being slow in his delivery.

''On the first pitch, he was pretty slow, so I said to myself if he's slow again, I'm going to take a shot again and go for it,'' Gosselin said. ''I got a good jump and almost fell halfway there, but I stayed on my feet on got there.''

With one out and Freddie Freeman at bat, Chapman threw a 103 mph fastball that sailed off the end ofTucker Barnhart's mitt and went to the backstop, allowing Gosselin to score easily.

''We always talk about his baseball IQ,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''He's never going to miss a sign. He's lurking all the time.''

Left-hander Luis Avilan (1-0) retired all three batters in the eighth. Jim Johnson gave up a single in the ninth while getting his second save in three chances.

Both teams wasted bases-loaded chances to break it open.

Andrelton Simmons ended Mike Leake's scoreless streak at 19 innings when he led off the fourth with a homer. The Braves went on to load the bases with one out, but Leake escaped the threat.

The Braves had another bases-loaded, one-out threat in the sixth but couldn't score.

The Reds loaded the bases with none out in the second, when Miller gave up a pair of singles and hit Kristopher Negron in the shoulder. Barnhart's sacrifice fly was all the Reds could manage.

Miller didn't allow another runner until the seventh inning, when the Reds stranded two more. Miller gave up three hits in seven innings. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his seven starts.

STREAKS

Freeman extended his hitting streak to eight games (16 for 32) with a single off Leake that left him 2-for-17 career off the right-hander. ... Markakis' single off Leake extended his hitting streak to seven games.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Gonzalez unsuccessfully challenged a call in the sixth. Plate umpire Laz Diaz ruled A.J. Pierzynski out at the plate on a fielder's choice, with catcher Tucker Barnhart taking the throw while straddling the plate. The Braves contended the catcher violated the collision rule, but the call was upheld.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: Closer Jason Grilli played catch and ran on the field before the game, testing his achy back. He felt fine afterward and told Gonzalez he was available to pitch. The manager decided to rest him one more day.

Reds: Shortstop Zack Cozart was a late scratch because of a sore left wrist, which was hit by a pitch on May 3. It was the fourth game he's missed with the injury.

UP NEXT

Braves: Mike Foltynewicz (2-0) tries for his second straight win over the Reds. He went five innings and gave up two earned runs for a 4-3 win at Turner Field on May 1.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (2-3) tries to get out of his five-inning rut. He has lasted only five innings in each of his last three starts, all losses, because of high pitch counts.

Braves-Reds Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO (STATS Writer)

The Cincinnati Reds' bullpen is already the worst in the majors, and now Aroldis Chapman is struggling.

After their All-Star closer took a second loss in as many games, the Reds will likely need to rely heavily on their relievers again with Anthony DeSclafani again getting the ball versus the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

Cincinnati's bullpen has a 5.47 ERA - 1.36 higher than last year. The Reds' relievers have allowed 11 runs and issued seven walks in 12 2-3 innings of a 1-4 stretch, and Chapman's struggles have them facing a potential season-high four-game slide.

He's given up the winning run in the ninth in back-to-back games, including Monday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta in the opener of this three-game set. Chapman allowed Phil Gosselin to steal third before he scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. He hadn't allowed a run through 12 2-3 innings of his first 13 games, converting all six save chances.

"They take advantage of a slow delivery, which is something we have to work on," manager Bryan Price said. "We can't afford to just give up third base in that situation."

Going to the bullpen early has been necessary with DeSclafani (2-3, 2.50 ERA) on the mound.

The right-hander has lost three straight starts with a 4.80 ERA and 11 walks in 15 innings, getting knocked out before the sixth each time. That includes a 4-3 loss at Atlanta on May 1, when the right-hander gave up four runs and issued a career-high five walks in five innings.

DeSclafani walked four more Thursday, allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings of a 7-2 loss at Pittsburgh.

"I thought he did do a great job of battling," Price said. "It can be so frustrating when you're throwing the ball and you're not sure where it's gonna end up in the zone."

The Braves (15-17) will again counter DeSclafani with Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 5.23), who is trying to become the first pitcher to win his first three games with the Braves since Ben Sheets in 2012.

The right-hander allowed three runs - two earned - in five innings against Cincinnati (15-17) on May 1. He followed that up Wednesday by yielding one run with seven strikeouts through five innings before giving up three and leaving with one out in the sixth of a 7-5 win over Philadelphia.

Foltynewicz is also proving to be solid with the bat, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly against the Phillies after connecting for a two-run double versus the Reds.

"You got to feel the competition, too, with these guys," Foltynewicz told MLB's official website of trying to follow Shelby Miller in the rotation. "You want to go out there and try to one-up someone."

He gets that chance again since Miller shut down the Braves on one run and three hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of the series opener.

Freddie Freeman is on a tear, going 16 for 32 with six doubles and eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak, and was 2 for 4 on Monday.