After losing three of four to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it seemed the Braves were down and out as the offense continued to look lifeless. However, Friday night at Turner Field on Zombie night, the Braves offense ironically came to life defeating the Oakland A’s 7-2.
The Braves lineup teed off on Oakland A’s starter Jason Hammel for five runs in just three innings of work. All five of those runs were of the homerun variety. Justin Upton and Evan Gattis hit solo homeruns in the second inning, both of which were no doubters over the left field wall. Freddie Freeman cleared the center field fence in the third inning for a three-run homer to score Jason Heyward and Phil Gosselin giving the Braves a 5-0 lead.
Speaking of Phil Gosselin, the rookie utility infielder mashed his first career homerun in the sixth inning off Jessie Chavez for a two-run homerun. That homerun put the nail in the coffin bringing the Braves lead at 7-2.
That score would stand as Atlanta Braves starter Alex Wood pitched another solid game. Wood pitched six innings allowing two runs on four hits, while walking three batters and striking out only one.
Alex Wood endured only one jam and that was taken care of thanks to the replay system on a pickoff play. Wood’s pickoff attempt of Jonny Gomes at second base originally called Gomes safe, but after review Gomes was called out. It nipped, what could have been a potential big inning, in the bud. After walking Gomes and Josh Donaldson back-to-back, and later giving up a single to catcher Derek Norris, the challenge prevented a run from scoring as Gomes could have easily scored on the base hit.
The only mistake Wood made all night was in the fourth inning on a 3-1 fastball belt high to Oakland A’s first baseman Nate Freiman who deposited the ball over the left field wall for a two-run homer.
After single in the fourth inning by Alberto Callaspo, Alex Wood retired the final eight batters he faced. After Wood’s six innings of work, Fredi Gonzalez went to David Carpenter in the seventh. Carpenter had a quick 1-2-3 inning striking out two. Jordan Walden followed suite retiring the A’s in order. Recently acquired left-hander James Russell came in the 9th inning and had his best outing as a Braves retiring the A’s lineup 1-2-3 on 12 pitches, while striking out the final batter. The Braves pitching staff retired the last 17 batters in order.
This was a complete team win as the Braves offense broke the game open and the Atlanta pitching staff kept the Oakland hitters at bay all night. It may only be one game, but this might be a turnaround game for this Atlanta club. Who figured Zombie night at Turner Field would rejuvenate and bring this ball club to life?