2/28/19 4:15pm
9th inning comeback falls short in Braves 6th Spring Training Game of 2019
Cover Photo: MLB.com
By. Andrew Rodberg
In the sixth Spring Training game of 2019, the Braves sent Touki Toussaint to the mound to take on the Tigers. In his first appearance of 2019, Touki gave up 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 strikeouts in 2 innings.
On Thursday afternoon, the Braves remained at home (Orlando) for a matchup with the Detroit Tigers. With a 1:05 start, the Braves faced the Tigers’ Matt Moore. For the Braves, they sent out starters: Inciarte, Albies, Freeman and Markakis. The Tigers sent out multiple starters and former Brave, Dustin Peterson.
In the 1st inning, Touki started his afternoon on a negative note as he hit his first batter and then responded by giving up two singles, a walk, a home-run and a double to allow the Tigers to build a 5-0 lead. (Dustin Peterson 3-run HR)
Touki Toussaint: 1IP, 1BB, 1K, 4H’s, 5ER’s,
Connor Johnstone entered the game in the second inning and looked to make a good impression in his second appearance of 2019. He struck out one of his three batters and issued the Tigers their first scoreless inning of the game.
Connor Johnstone: 1IP, 1BB, 1K, 1H, 0ER
In the third, Jonny Venters took over and did what he’s done since rejoining the Braves in 2018 with yet another clean inning. With a quick inning where he forced two ground-outs and line-out, Venters looks to make a strong push for an Opening Day Roster spot.
Jonny Venters: 1IP, 0BB, 0K, 0H, 0ER
The Braves were unable to get anything going after having a lead-off baserunner, but that all changed in the bottom of the third. Pedro Florimon got things started with a 2-run home run that put the Braves on the scoreboard 5-2.
In the top of the fourth, Sam Freeman got the ball for his second appearance of 2019 and showed that nothing has changed as his first pitch went for a solo home-run to Tigers’ Willi Castro. Freeman was able to stop the bleeding with a double-play and earned himself another inning. Freeman came out in the fifth and once again had trouble as he gave up a single and walk that chased him off after 1.2 IP.
Sam Freeman: 1.2IP, 1BB’s, 1K, 3H, 1ER
Jordan Harrison relieved Freeman in the top of the fifth and forced a line-out and then came out in the sixth and earned two strike-outs and a fly-out to give himself a scoreless appearance.
Jordan Harrison: 1.1IP, 0BB, 2K’s, 0H, 0ER
The young prospect, Ian Anderson took the mound and had some difficulty finding the strike-zone. He issued a four pitch walk to his first batter and two singles to follow that allowed the Tigers’ to score another run. 7-2
Ian Anderson: 1IP, 1BB, 0K, 2H, 1ER
In the bottom of the seventh, the Braves showed they could be patient as they drew three consecutive walks and loaded the bases with no outs. Sadly, the next two batters couldn’t get the ball out of the infield and the inning ended with a Drew Waters K and Andrés Blanco double play ground ball.
Jesse Biddle entered in the top of the eighth and his first batter reached on a fielding error by Braves’ SS, Graffanino. Biddle then got a much needed ground-ball that was turned for a double-play. Another ground-ball from the third bater he faced allowed him to get out of the inning clean.
Jesse Biddle: 1IP, 0BB, 0K’s, 0H, 0ER
The Braves made it interesting yet again after giving themselves bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. Drew Waters got another chance to get an RBI and he did with a fielder’s choice infield hit (7-3). Andrés Blanco earned a sac-fly (7-4). Drew LugBauer hits a 2 run home-run to bring the Braves within one run. (7-6). A groundout ended the game as they fall to the Tigers 7-6. They now will stay home (Orlando) to face the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow at 1:05pm.
NOTABLES:
Pedro Florimon: 1-2, 1HR (2-run HR), 2RBI’s
Ozzie Albies: 2-3
Drew Lugbauer: 1-3, 1HR (2-run HR), 2RBI’s
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