– NL Wild Card Series presented by Hankook Tire, Game 2: Thurs., twelve noon ET on ESPN
ATLANTA– Not long after delivering the walk-off single that offered the Braves a 1-0, 13-inning win over the Reds in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon, Freddie Freeman discussed the wave feelings felt in this historical nail-biter.
” It was an extremely demanding 4
” It was an extremely demanding 4 1/2 hours,” Freeman said. “Whatever feelings you feel, you just attempt to ride that wave. When it gets to the sixth, eighth and seventh innings with it still 0-0, I think everyone is on needles and pins. Thats simply how it is, particularly in a playoff video game.”
ATLANTA– Not long after delivering the walk-off single that provided the Braves a 1-0, 13-inning win over the Reds in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon, Freddie Freeman described the wave emotions felt in this historical nail-biter.
Video Game Date Time Matchup/Result TV/Highlights
Gm 3 * Oct. 2 && 3 p.m. CIN @ ATL ESPN
Gm 2 Oct. 1 ^ 12 p.m. CIN @ ATL ESPN
Before entering as a pinch-runner in the 13th, Pache had actually invested the day enjoying Max Fried and leading NL Cy Young Award candidate Trevor Bauer put up an impressive battle. They became simply the eighth beginning duo in postseason history– and the very first considering that Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard in the 2016 NL Wild Card Game– to complete seven-plus scoreless innings, however theyre the very first combo to do so without issuing a walk.
– Box rating
Gm 1 Sept. 30 12 p.m. ATL 1, CIN 0 (13) Watch
Being on needles and pins became quite a familiar sensation for the Braves and Reds, who were the first teams to stay scoreless through the first 11 innings of a postseason video game in Major League history. The 2 teams played for four hours and 39 minutes before Freemans single off Cincinnati lefty Amir Garrett scored leading prospect Cristian Pache with the games only run.
– A postseason initially: 11 innings, zero runs
” I think a few of these guys are too young to understand the history of the Braves in the postseason,” Freeman stated. “Im not one of those. I know what is going on. Getting Game 1 is huge.”
This significant just the fourth time considering that 1960 the Braves have tossed 13-plus scoreless innings in a video game. This impressive effort provided Atlanta its first Game 1 win in a postseason series because it won the opener of its 2001 NL Division Series versus the Astros. That playoff series versus Houston stands as the most current won by the Braves, who are trying to avoid ending up being the very first MLB team to lose 11 consecutive playoff series.
” It was some sort of job by that bullpen and Max,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker said. “I dont care who you are playing. If you toss up 13 innings of absolutely nos, its quite unique.”
Heres a take a look at how the Braves moved a win far from taking this best-of-three NL Wild Card Series:
” It was some kind of task by that bullpen and Max,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. This significant simply the fourth time given that 1960 the Braves have actually tossed 13-plus scoreless innings in a video game. That playoff series versus Houston stands as the most current won by the Braves, who are trying to avoid ending up being the first MLB group to lose 11 successive playoff series.
With runners at the corners and one out, Reds supervisor David Bell signified for Garrett, who enabled one hit in 23 at-bats against left-handed hitters throughout the routine season. Bell liked this lefty-lefty match much better than providing an intentional walking Freeman to bring the similarly hazardous Marcell Ozuna up with the bases filled.
A real postseason duelBauer enabled 2 hits and tape-recorded 12 strikeouts over 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He became the very first pitcher to produce 12 strikeouts and not permit a walk or a made run in a postseason video game.
” You forget where Matzek has actually been and what he has actually overcome and how big he has been for all of us year,” Snitker said. “Thats a really good story, too.”
” I think some of these guys are too young to comprehend the history of the Braves in the postseason,” Freeman stated. The Braves got the win mostly thanks to Fried, who set the tone by spreading six hits over 7 innings.
Matzek went into in the top of the 11th with 2 outs and the bases loaded, and he set out Mike Moustakas. The southpaw likewise recorded three straight strikeouts after enabling consecutive songs to start the 12th.
As Bauer strolled off the mound, he was seen moving his right arm in a chopping motion, mocking the longtime ritual of Braves fans.
” Its a difficult area,” Bell said. “Definitely analyzed all the circumstances. We had Amir prepared. Left on left, Amir is one of the best. Obviously, he is facing one of the very best– no concern. If we had the ability to get the strikeout there, get a huge out, that was certainly an option. Absolutely nothing against either one of the next 2 players. That would have been a possibility: To walk Ozuna and face another excellent player with the bases filled. Definitely, that was on the table.”
Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com because 2001.
” Thats fine,” Freeman said. Im just grateful we got the win.”
The Braves got the win mostly thanks to Fried, who set the tone by scattering 6 hits over seven innings. He pitched around consecutive songs to start the game and revealed no signs of rust as he finished his very first career postseason start. A lower back disorder and a turned left ankle had actually limited him to simply 6 innings over the previous three weeks.
Strikeout recordThe Braves and Reds integrated to strike out a postseason record 37 times. Bauer and the Reds was accountable for a bulk of them, but a few of the greatest strikeouts were taped by Tyler Matzek, the Braves lefty reliever who returned to the Majors this year for the very first time given that he developed the yips in 2015.
Thanks to Matzek, Fried, Freeman and many other factors, this Braves postseason story may have a better ending than a lot of the others authored over the previous two years.
” It was a fun one,” Fried stated. “You go out there and get that adrenaline going. Its all about competing. I cant say enough about the entire group.”
Since he feasted on right-handers and hit.245 with a. 713 OPS versus lefties, Freeman became a leading NL MVP Award prospect this year in big part. His game-winner came against a 1-2 slider that kept up enough time for the Braves initially baseman to serve it into center field.
Freemans winnerNick Markakis singled to start the bottom of the 13th versus Archie Bradley and was replaced Pache, who had actually been a pleasant surprise addition to the Wild Card Series lineup on Wednesday morning. Pache advanced to 2nd base on an Austin Riley single, then moved to 3rd on Ronald Acuña Jr.s fielders choice.
