MLB: Heyward Supplies 3 Hits in Atlanta's Second Win

The Atlanta Braves were 1-4 heading into the last game on their season-opening road trip.

They beat the Houston Astros Tuesday 6-4. On Wednesday the Braves were throwing Randall Delgado, a rookie who threw in seven games for Atlanta in 2011, posting a 2.83 ERA. Delgado gave up a deep home run to Houston’s J.D. Martinez (who extended his hitting streak to six games with the hit) in the first inning, and found himself with runners on base throughout the game. He settled after the blast, rebounding with a one-two-three-inning in the second and allowing only one baserunner in the third.  

After Jason Heyward singled to drive in his third RBI of the year in the second, the Braves broke the game open in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs started by a Chipper Jones single to center. Dan Uggla reached on an error, and David Ross doubled both runners home on a fly ball to center field, the deepest part of Houston’s Minute Maid Park.

Heyward scored on Jack Wilson’s sacrifice bunt, and the Braves held the lead for Delgado, who, despite loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth, finished his first 2012 start recording six strikeouts, giving up two earned runs in five innings. 

The Braves flexed their bullpen muscle (which they have in spades this year) by bringing in Christian Martinez, a right-hander with a double-play sinker, to polish off the sixth inning. Eric O’Flaherty, the lefty who is coming off a season when he recorded a career-low 0.98 ERA in 2011, looked shaky and loaded the bases.

With one out, Astros’ left fielder J.D. Martinez popped a ball down the right field line, but the out wasn’t deep enough to score the runner from third.  

With two outs and the bases loaded, Carols Lee stepped into the box to face O’Flaherty. Lee who was one for three in the game, walked and pushed a run across to cut the lead to just one run in the bottom of the seventh.

O’Flaherty retired Matt Downs, a pinch-hitter for John Buck, to end the inning, but with the lead slim, the Braves needed to get some runs home in the eighth to secure the lead for Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel to take over.  

Jason Heyward led off the eighth inning. Heyward had already singled home a run in the second inning to tie the game and spark Atlanta’s offense. Fernando Rodriguez, Houston’s reliever, threw a fastball on the outside third of the plate that Heyward turned on and belted into the seats in right-center. His fourth RBI and first home run of the season put the Braves up five to three heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Martin Prado scored from first on a Chipper Jones single to extend the Braves’ lead to six to three heading into the final frame. 

As is the custom nowadays for the Braves, Craig Kimbrel, the 2011 NL Rookie of the Year, took the hill in the bottom of the ninth and shut the door on the Astros. Kimbrel converted his second save in as many opportunities this season and gave the Braves their second victory, as they return home for their home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.  

Wednesday’s win was a strong offensive display and could jump-start the Braves as they settle into the long season. Chipper Jones, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward each had multiple hits, and Dan Uggla checked in with a hit and two runs scored. The wheels are turning for the Braves as the return home on Friday, and they can look to gain ground in the turbulent NL East.  

The offensive output is a good sign for the Braves, and they’ll need to keep that momentum as they head home to Atlanta.