Braves pummel Mat Latos, trounce Marlins 12-2

Braves hitters greeted Mat Latos rudely in his debut with his new team, knocking him out with seven first-inning runs en route to a 12-2 beatdown of the Marlins.

Latos couldn't fool anyone in his brief start. He allowed six hits, three of them doubles, and walked two, the first being Eric Young to start the game. Nick Markakis, Freddie Freeman, and Christian Bethancourt delivered run-scoring hits following the leadoff walk; Chris Johnson drove in a run with a double, and Andrelton Simmons singled home another. Atlanta batted around in the first, and Young's RBI single forced Latos to leave the game amidst a chorus of boos, recording just two outs.

Alex Wood should've had an easy outing, but found himself in trouble in the first inning when he loaded the bases with nobody out. Fortunately, he escaped unscathed thanks to yet another double play.

Wood racked up a high pitch count and left after just five innings, but not before giving up a pair of runs in the fifth on Donovan Solano's RBI triple and Dee Gordon's groundout.

Atlanta didn't score again until the seventh. In fact, Brad Hand allowed only two base runners in 4.1 innings of relief once Latos departed. Freddie Freeman's second hit of the game chased home Jace Peterson for Atlanta's eighth run. They then put the finishing touches on the win in the ninth with four runs against Steve Cishek; even Alberto Callaspo and Cameron Maybin contributed RBI hits in the inning.

Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin debuted for the Braves in relief of Alex Wood. Both pitched a scoreless inning, but Martin struck out four in two innings.

Latos: 0.2 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 2 BB, 0 K; 94.50 ERA
Wood: 5 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 BB, 4 K
Markakis: 2-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Freeman: 3-5, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBI
C. Johnson: 2-5, 1 double, 1 run, 2 RBI
Simmons: 3-5, 1 run, 2 RBI

Win Expectancy