Atlanta Braves beat Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at PNC Park-MLB Update
Left fielder Martin Prado gave up a sacrifice fly in the first inning as Atlanta Braves beat Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 3, 2012 in the last match of the three game series.
Braves stepped on the field without their regular starter. With none of their pitchers throwing around six to seven innings as is expected from a starter, they had to use the bullpen frequently.
Total eight pitchers were employed on the mound by the Braves on Wednesday. Interestingly, all of them completed their respective spells scoreless. In turn, they protected Atlanta’s lead successfully.
Ben Sheets initiated the proceedings from the mound for Atlanta. He did not last for more than one inning.
Sheets is not part of the crew that will be throwing for the team in the playoffs.
Offensively Atlanta produced 10 hits in the game.
Their right fielder Jason Heyward was brilliant at the plate as he went on to slam two hits in the match in three at-bats.
In a low scoring game even a fewer number of hits can be extremely valuable.
Based on this fact, Heyward’s outing can be termed an incredible performance by him.
Third baseman for Atlanta, Chipper Jones speaks about how last years experience of collapsing in September has helped the team improve in the current season. Jones is ecstatic going into the post-season.
"A little bit different than last year as I recall," Jones said. "I think we'll look back on (last) September as a learning experience. No better example of that than the way we played this September."
Braves have proven the fact that by analysing weaknesses and addressing the issues meticulously, win-loss record in a season can be improved immensely.
Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez expresses his views regarding the victory on Wednesday.
"We got some stuff accomplished today and we got the win," said Fredi Gonzalez. "A lot of good stuff."
Confidence provided by the win will help Atlanta keep putting up better performances in the upcoming matches.
They will be hoping for huge home-runs from their batters in the playoffs so that pitchers can pull off wins for them.
The fans will be curious at the moment about how the Braves perform in the crucial games.
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