The Braves managed five hits in the game and all the hits came in only two innings. Justin Upton and Freddie Freeman each had two hits while Brian McCann added one. All the scoring came in one inning, which is happening too frequently for Atlanta. Upton hit a solo homer, his 25th of the year, and then McCann hit a two-run shot, his 20th of the year, both in the fourth inning. Atlanta was also back to its striking out ways, doing it eleven times as a team, including two times each by Evan Gattis, Jordan Schafer and Andrelton Simmons.
Hale, a rookie making his first Major League start, did a fantastic job and it appeared he was going to win his first game before the bullpen blew it. He pitched five innings and gave up no runs on four hits while striking out a franchise record nine batters in his first start. Luis Ayala struggled and gave up two runs on three hits in an inning-plus. Luis Avilan and David Carpenter combined to get all the outs and get out of the jam Ayala created in the seventh. Jordan Walden came in to pitch the eighth and the first ball he threw of the inning was sent over the right field fence by Chase Headley to tie the game. Walden ended up only getting two outs while giving up two runs and suffering the loss, he is now 4-3 on the year. Scott Downs returned from his finger injury and gave up the eventual winning run that Walden had allowed to get on base. Kameron Loe pitched the ninth and did a lot better than his spot start a few weeks ago and used only eleven pitches to have a perfect inning.
The Braves are now 88-59 on the year and they will play the Padres again tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m. Kris Medlen (13-12) will start against the Padres' Robbie Erlin (2-2).
David Hale struck out a franchise record nine batters in his first Major League start but unfortunately the Braves' bullpen blew the game in the eighth inning.
Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports
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