:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54354689/usa_today_10020503.0.jpg)
BRAVES NEWS
Harper continues to torment Teheran as Nationals beat Braves
Giving up grand slams is generally a bad thing. Giving up two of them in one game is a really bad thing, and that pretty much encapsulates how Wednesday night’s game against the Nationals went for Atlanta. Julio Teheran was out of sync in this one, and things only got uglier as the game went on. On a positive note, Freddie Freeman continues to rake.
Freeman sets Atlanta record on home run
Mark Bowman of MLB.com writes about a franchise record that was broken by Freddie Freeman on Wednesday. It's no secret that the 27-year-old has begun this season on a tear, but his recent stretch may be the most impressive of his career:
Freeman extended one of the most impressive hot streaks of his career and secured another spot in the record book during Wednesday's 14-4 loss to the Nationals at SunTrust Park. His third-inning solo homer off Joe Ross made him the first player in Atlanta Braves history to reach safely in 12 consecutive plate appearances.
Before the record-setting streak concluded with a sixth-inning groundout against Ross, Freeman had collected seven hits and drawn five walks within a span of 12 plate appearances dating back to Sunday's sixth inning against the Padres. Freeman's streak marked the longest in the Majors since Boston's Dustin Pedroia reached safely in 12 consecutive plate appearances last August. It was the longest by a National League player since San Diego's Brian Giles was not retired over 13 straight plate appearances in June 2005.
How opening crowds compare in Atlanta Braves’ three stadiums
Tim Tucker of the AJC compares the opening crowds drawn to each of the Atlanta Braves’ three stadiums, using the first four games at each venue as a cutoff point. With all the excitement surrounding SunTrust Park it is interesting to see how it stacks up against the Braves’ former homes in terms of crowd size:
The Braves’ first four regular-season games at Atlanta Stadium (later called Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium) drew total attendance of 98,596 in April 1966, an average of 24,649 per game. The first game drew 50,671, but attendance fell off sharply for the next three home games.
The Braves’ first four games at Turner Field in April 1997 drew a combined 163,124, an average of 40,781 per game. The first two games drew 45,000-plus, while the fourth game drew 31,064.
And in their first four games at SunTrust Park, the Braves have drawn 143,961, an average of 35,990 per game. The first two games drew sellout crowds of 41,149, while the third and fourth had attendance of 37,147 and 24,516, respectively.
MLB NEWS
10 MLB rookies to watch right now
Anthony Castrovince of sportsonearth.com lays out ten rookies to watch right now, not including players who were expected to have big production like Andrew Benintendi and Dansby Swanson. The players highlighted by Castrovince include Trey Mancini of the Orioles, Amir Garrett of the Reds, do Mitch Haniger of the Mariners.
A Tiger catches toe, and Rays walk off
The Rays walked-off on what looked to be a routine double play that would win the game for Detroit, benefitting from a misstep by shortstop Jose Iglesias. For Iglesias this play went about as badly as it possibly could have, with him making an error to cost his team the game and the runner from first sliding into his face. Losing 14-4 doesn't seem so bad once you watch this play unfold.