NL ROUNDUP: BRAVES POUND METS; PHILS SHUTOUT BUCS; BREWERS CRUISE

steemsports (80)in #steemsports • 6 years ago

SteemSports Presenter:@thesportsguy

SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets

It was a busy day in the National League on Thursday. The Atlanta Braves started off a huge 4-game NL East series with a 12-4 thumping of the first-place Mets. In the National League game of the day, the Phillies were up to the task and got a terrific outing from Jake Arrieta as they blanked the Pirates, 7-0. In Milwaukee, the Brewers used a 7-run sixth inning to route the visiting Marlins, 12-3.

We start in Atlanta, where Mets' ace Matt Harvey was roughed up a bit in his 6 innings of work. He gave up 3 in the first and 3 more in the third before settling in and getting through 6 innings on the night. Harvey gave up 8 hits and the 6 runs on the night, while walking 1 and striking out 4. Braves starter Matt Wisler was able to take advantage of the early lead, and cruised through 7 innings, giving up just 2 hits and 1 run, while striking out 8 and not issuing a walk. After making 45 starts between 2015-16 for the Braves, Wisler only made a single start a year ago. It was his first appearance of 2018, and it was a great sign for Atlanta going forward. Wisler came in with a career record of just 15-22, so the dominant effort was a pleasant surprise for Braves' fans.

Catcher Kurt Suzuki led the way going 3 for 4 with a Home Run and 3 RBIs. He hit a 2-run homer in the third and drove in another in the eighth. Preston Tucker joined Suzuki with a big day at the plate, going 2-4 with a pair of doubles and driving in a game-high 5 RBIs to lead the Braves' to a 12-4 route. The Braves improved to 11-7 with the victory, and moved within 2 games of the first-place Mets, who dropped to 13-5.

In Philadelphia, the Phillies got their 4-game series with the Pirates started off in commanding fashion. Jake Arrieta was dominant for the Phils, as he tossed 7 innings of 1-hit shutout ball. He walked 2 and struckout 10 on the night. For Arrieta, it was a return to his dominant form, as he had only recorded 1 strikeout in his previous start over Tampa Bay. He improved to 2-0 and dropped his ERA down to 2.04 with the dominant outing. For the Pirates, it was a dismal performance at the plate, as they only managed a pair of singles all game long, and only managed 4 base-runners total in the game.

Cesar Hernandez led the way for Philadelphia, going 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs at the plate. Odubel Herrera also had a pair of hits, as he went 2-4 with 2 RBIs. That was about it for the Phillies, to despite scoring the 7 runs, they also struckout 16 times in the game. Pirates' reliever Richard Rodriguez was about the only positive for Pittsburgh in this one, as he went the final 2 2/3 innings of the game and gave up no runs, while striking out 6. For the Phillies they improved to 11-7 on the season and the Pirates dropped to 12-7.

In Milwaukee, the Brewers used back-to-back Home Runs from Ryan Braun and Orlando Arcia as part of a big 6th inning, to blow their game with the Marlins wide-open. After the Brewers had already put 2 runs across the plate in the 6th, Braun came on as a pinch-hitter and crushed a 3-run homer to left-center field. Shortstop Orlando Arcia followed with a solo Homer to cap the scoring and propel the Brew Crew to a 12-3 route of the Marlins.

First baseman Jesus Aguilar had himself a big day for Milwaukee as well, going 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored, 2 doubles and 3 RBIs. Offseason pickup Lorenzo Cain also registered 3 hits, going 3 for 4 with 4 runs scored, 2 doubles, a Home Run, and 3 RBIs. It was a huge day at the plate for the Brewers as they scored a season-high 12 runs. Young center-fielder Lewis Brinson was the only positive light in the game for the Marlins, as the former Milwaukee prospect went 2 for 3 with 2 Home Runs and drove in all 3 for the Marlins. Brinson had been off to a very slow start to the year, as he came over in the trade for outfielder Christian Yelich this past off-season. Miami dropped to 5-13 and the Brewers improved to 11-9. The two will square off once again tonight from Miller Park in the second game of their 4-game set.

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