The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – INSIDE PITCH
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez created a stir when he said on Friday that he wondered if B.J. Upton might be best served by a short stint in the minors as a way to get out of his hitting funk.
Forget about that now.
The center fielder’s second hit of the game on Saturday gave the Braves’ a 10th-inning victory over the Nationals and he smashed a home run his first trip up on Sunday in a 6-3 win over Washington.
The older of the Upton brothers is still hitting just .156 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 48 games, but maybe a corner has finally been turned.
“His at-bats keep getting better and better,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the B.J. Upton we want to see. Hopefully, he’ll run off 10 or 12 games like this.”
Signed to a five-year, $75.25 million free-agent deal to leave Tampa Bay, Upton had spent plenty of time trying to correct a timing problem with his front leg. But he hadn’t been able to carry improvements from batting practice to games.
Until Saturday and Sunday, that is. Suddenly, the boos he was hearing turned to cheers.
“It’s getting there,” B.J. said. “I still have some work to do, but I’m definitely feeling better up there. Hopefully, it will only get better as the season goes along.”
Meanwhile, Justin Upton had at least three hits for the fifth time this season on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with an intentional walk and a run scored in a return to form. He went 0-for-8 in the first two games of the series against the Nationals and had been in a 1-for-17 slump.
After a red-hot April, the younger Upton cooled off considerably in May. He was 4-for-32 in his final eight games and hit .211 with two homers and 10 RBIs during the month after smashing a team-record 12 homers in April and batting .298 with 19 RBIs.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 34-22
STREAK: Won two
PAST 10 GAMES: 6-4
NEXT: Pirates (A.J. Burnett, 3-5, 2.72) at Braves (Kris Medlen, 1-6, 3.48).
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Kris Medlen, who had to leave his start against the Blue Jays on Wednesday after two innings because he was hit by a line drive on his upper left calf, will start the Braves’ series opener against the Pirates on Monday night. Medlen took the loss in the abbreviated outing as his tough luck continued. He has gone nine starts since his lone victory, which came at Miami on April 9. Medlen is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA against the Pirates in five career games, three of them starts.
–1B Freddie Freeman continued his hot hitting with a two-run double and a single Sunday, lifting his average to .314. He finished May with 11 hits in his last 20 at-bats and hit .395 with three homers and 10 RBIs in the final 10 games of the month. Freeman leads the Braves with 36 RBIs in 43 games.
–OF Justin Upton had at least three hits for the fifth time this season, going 3-for-4 with an intentional walk and a run scored on Sunday. The singles came in his first three times up. He went 0-for-8 in the first two games of the series against the Nationals and had been in a 1-for-17 slump.
–OF Jason Heyward, hitless in his past 19 at-bats, was out of the lineup Sunday for the second time in four games. He struck out all three times up on Saturday and is 1-for-25 with 10 strikeouts in his past eight games. He is hitting .142 with two homers and eight RBIs in 31 games.
–RHP Tim Hudson continued his impressive work at Turner Field on Saturday, limiting Washington to three hits and an unearned run over 7 1/3 in a no decision. He is 3-0 with a 2.39 ERA in six home starts compared to 1-4 with a 7.67 ERA in six road outings. Hudson became the 174th major leaguer to reach 2,750 innings on Saturday and he is only the second active pitcher with that many innings. The other is LHP Andy Pettitte of the Yankees.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It was a big game for the brothers.” Manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Kris Medlen (calf contusion) left a May 29 game after two innings. He is expected to be able to make his next start June 3.
–LHP Eric O’Flaherty (torn ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list May 19. He saw Dr. James Andrews on May 20. He had his ulnar collateral ligament reconstructed by Dr. James Andrews on May 21 and will be sidelined for approximately 12 months.
–RHP Luis Ayala (anxiety) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 25 after suffering anxiety while dealing with high blood pressure. He was sent to Florida for strength and conditioning work after making five minor league rehab appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi.
–LHP Jonny Venters (torn ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He had season-ending Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery May 16.
–RHP Brandon Beachy (Tommy John surgery in June 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He pitched for the first time in an extended spring training May 14, and started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on May 19. He moved his rehab to Class A Rome on May 28.
–INF Blake DeWitt (lower back strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 20. He missed most of the second half of last season with back issues.
–RHP Cristhian Martinez (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7.
ROTATION:
RHP Tim Hudson
LHP Paul Maholm
RHP Kris Medlen
LHP Mike Minor
RHP Julio Teheran
BULLPEN:
RHP Craig Kimbrel (closer)
LHP Luis Avilan
RHP Cory Gearrin
RHP David Carpenter
RHP Anthony Varvaro
RHP Jordan Walden
LHP Alex Wood
CATCHERS:
Brian McCann
Gerald Laird
Evan Gattis
INFIELDERS:
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Dan Uggla
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Chris Johnson
INF Ramiro Pena
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Justin Upton
CF B.J. Upton
RF Jason Heyward
OF Jordan Schafer
OF Reed Johnson
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