Thursday nights rubber match included a fight of children. Touki Toussaint took the mound for the Braves versus the highly-touted fireballer, Nate Pearson, for heaven Jays.
Pearson entered 2020 as the # 7 overall prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America, and his 100 MPH fastball was excessive for the Nationals to deal with in his first major-league start. It was Toussaints curveball and enhanced splitter that took the program on Thursday night.
Toussaint started the game with three best innings and was found a number of early runs when Freddie Freeman struck a towering two-run homer in his first at-bat. Perhaps the most remarkable part of his getaway was how he responded to the brief bit of misfortune he did experience. Toussaint made his very first mistake to Bo Bichette to start the 4th inning, and sadly, it ended up in the seats, cutting the lead in half. But that didnt stop Toussaint from attacking the strike zone. He retired 9 of the next 10 Blue Jays– six of them by means of strikeout, providing him a career-high nine on the night.
Toussaint encountered some difficulty in the seventh, but once again, he looked like an eight-year veteran the way he handled it. Heaven Jays started the frame with a single and a double, putting the connecting work on 2nd, however Toussaint was able to force two weak grounders prior to Brian Snitker ended and brought in Tyler Matzek with a runner on second. Regrettably, Matzek could not hold the league, offering up a single that connected the game, leaving Toussaint with a no-decision.
From there, it was a fight of the bullpens, which you might believe would prefer the Braves, but the back-end of heaven Jays bullpen has been equally as effective. Shane Greene and Mark Melancon took care of the eighth and ninth without allowing a baserunner, as they have basically every time theyve been called upon through the first 2 weeks of this season.
The top of the Braves order could not create a hit in the eighth, and Marcell Ozuna lined out to begin the ninth, bringing Nick Markakis to the plate with no one on in his very first full video game back considering that being triggered from the limited list, and he didnt disappoint.
Toussaint began the game with three ideal innings and was identified a couple of early runs when Freddie Freeman hit a towering two-run homer in his very first at-bat. Toussaint made his very first mistake to Bo Bichette to begin the fourth inning, and regrettably, it ended up in the seats, cutting the lead in half. The Blue Jays started the frame with a single and a double, putting the connecting run on second, however Toussaint was able to force 2 weak grounders prior to Brian Snitker pulled the plug and brought in Tyler Matzek with a runner on 2nd. Matzek could not hold the league, offering up a single that connected the video game, leaving Toussaint with a no-decision.
While Markakis will go down as the hero, Touki Toussaint is the real story from tonights video game.
It was an unbelievable moment for the 15-year-veteran, and it had to feel a little awkward for him as he jogged around the bases with no fans, but it seems like hes pretty happy to be back with the group.
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ATLs Markakis on social- distance walk-off celebration w/ teammates: “It was a little unusual. Thats the circumstance were in. Were still out here playing the game, still playing for everyone, still betting the fans. Whatever it is, whatever it takes, were gon na do it.”
— David OBrien (@DOBrienATL) August 7, 2020
While Markakis will go down as the hero, Touki Toussaint is the genuine story from tonights video game. Fried and the bullpen can just carry this group so far, but if Toussaint can keep pitching like that, things will be just great.
Welcome back, Nick! #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/cJlwVZzbQV
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 7, 2020
