Perez Shines, Bats Win
Martin Perez Delivers Heroic Start as Offense Powers Team to Comfortable Win
Anonymous
Martín Pérez flirted with a no-hitter and Atlanta's bats came alive in an 8-3 Braves victory over the Washington Nationals, according to AP News. Pérez held Washington hitless through six innings before the spell was broken in the seventh, powering Atlanta to its third straight win in the series.
Pérez was not even supposed to start the game. He stepped in at the last minute for Reynaldo López, who was scratched due to knee inflammation, according to Yahoo Sports. The Venezuelan left-hander made the most of his surprise opportunity.
Pérez Dominates Before Seventh-Inning Hit Breaks Spell
Pérez cruised through the first six innings without allowing a single hit. The Nationals finally broke through in the seventh inning, ending his bid for a no-hitter. Despite the late hiccup, his performance was remarkable for a pitcher who got the call on short notice, according to Battery Power.
Pérez had also turned in a strong first outing against Washington earlier in the series, according to Battery Power. His second start proved even more dominant. The Braves' pitching staff held the Nationals to just 3 runs on the day.
Acuña, Olson, and Smith Power Atlanta's Offensive Outburst
Atlanta's lineup did serious damage at the plate. Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Dominic Smith all hit home runs in the contest, according to AP News. Those three blasts helped the Braves build an 8-3 cushion and gave Pérez plenty of run support to work with.
The multi-home run performance showed Atlanta's offensive depth. Three different players going deep in one game signals a lineup firing on all cylinders. It was a commanding showing from a Braves team that has now won three games in a row against Washington, according to Rockdale Newton Citizen.
López Injury Opens the Door for Pérez's Surprise Showcase
Reynaldo López was originally set to take the mound for Game 2 of the series. Knee inflammation forced him out before the game started. That opened the door for Pérez to step into the spotlight, according to Seattle PI.
Injury replacements rarely go this well. Pérez not only held the opposition hitless for most of the game but also gave Atlanta a quality, deep start. The Braves got exactly what they needed from an unexpected source on a day when their regular option was unavailable.
Atlanta Completes Series Sweep With Commanding Final Score
The 8-3 final gave Atlanta its third win in a row against the Nationals. Sweeping a series requires consistency in both pitching and hitting. The Braves delivered both, according to Idaho State Journal.
For the Nationals, the series was a tough stretch. They could not solve Atlanta's pitching rotation, and their offense was nearly blanked for much of the game. Washington managed only 3 runs and found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided series result.
Sentiment
NeutralNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
14
Articles
13
Reach
14
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor