With all the off-season moves the Atlanta Braves have made it looked like this could be a painful season. However, after Opening Day the Braves and their fans can be thrilled as they go on the road and defeat the revamped Miami Marlins 2-1.
The one moment that decided the direction of this game came in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Marlins had the bases loaded with nobody out. Braves left-handed reliever Luis Avilan came in the ballgame and was able to get Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to ground into a 5-2-3 double-play, keeping the Braves up 2-1 with two-outs in the inning. Newcomer Jim Johnson came in the seventh and forced Adeiny Hechavarria to pop out to end the threat.
After trading beloved closer Craig Kimbrel less than 24 hours ago, veteran right-hander Jason Grilli took over the closer’s role for the Braves. He would go on to record his first save as a member of the Braves with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, including two strike outs.
Atlanta got on the board early as rookie second baseman Jace Peterson recorded and single and moved to second base on a balk by Henderson Alvarez. New starting right fielder Nick Markakis took advantage of the situation and knocked a single up the middle, putting the Braves up 1-0. Markakis would drive in the Braves second run as he grounded into a fielder’s choice that drove in Eric Young Jr. from third base after he led the inning off with a double.
One of the biggest storylines of the game was how would Marlins franchise player Giancarlo Stanton perform in the batter’s box, as this was the first at-bat for him in a regular season game since getting hit in the face by Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers with a fastball. Stanton ended the game going 1-for-4 with a single and two strikeouts. Obviously, it will take some time for Stanton to get going as he has to adjust mentally, and to the new faceguard he is wearing on his helmet to protect his repaired face.
Braves starter Julio Teheran looked very good in his first outing of the season as he continues to be known as Atlanta’s ace. In six innings pitched he allowed eight hits, one runs, and struck out four batters. Teheran was very strong early, but he did fade toward the end as he loaded the bases in the seventh inning before he was taken out of the game.
Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez wasn’t too shabby himself as he went seven innings allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out only two batters. Alvarez’s sinker was rolling today as he recorded 14 of his 21 outs via the groundball.
The Braves only have six players who were on their Opening Day roster last season, (Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons, Chris Johnson, Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, and Luis Avilan). This is a completely different looking team and they will have to win in a totally different way if they want to compete. How they played today is what they will need to do, and that is good pitching, good defense and team offense. This is only one game but Atlanta should be happy with how fundamentally sound they played.
Tomorrow night will be game two of this Opening Day series between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. LHP Alex Wood will start for the Braves, while the Marlins will send out RHP Mat Latos.