Atlanta Braves humiliated by Detroit Tigers 3-18 in Spring Training – MLB Update
Registering second consecutive loss in Major League Spring training 2012, Atlanta Braves suffered an out-an-out hammering at the hands of Detroit Tigers 3-18 at Joker Merchant Stadium Florida on Sunday, March 4 in their Grapefruit meeting.
Poor debutant Julio Teheran had a terrible time going for plenty conceding six homers in just two innings. His misery was compounded when the breeze steered to right field and as soon as he pitched the ball, he would see it travelling as it was accelerated
extra by the air speed.
Fortunately management is not growing restive with Teheran and realising that it was more the input of the breeze ruining his debut than his own deficiencies. Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez said, "It was a tough day for anyone to pitch. With the conditions
we had today, I am not about to count anyone out. When the wind is blowing the way it was today, all you are asking for is trouble."
Previously aiming at finding a role in team rotation, Teheran will go back and do some soul searching now.
Aided by the wind Prince Fielder sent the ball for a homer and Ryan Raburn achieved a grand slam, effectively taking the game away from the Braves. Languishing from a back injury, Braves’ ace Tim Hudson missed the play and as expected his absence actually
reflected on the result when the team found no one to step forward and do some damage control while the wind was betraying play.
Influence of the direction of the wind on the play was so much that every hitter was naturally leaned to hit over right field. This one-side approach rendered the evaluation of some of the players meaningless. Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland said, "This was
just one of those silly games. We just kept hitting everything to right field so that doesn't say anything about (Teheran). I don't like winning games like that.”
While Teheran endured a nightmarish Spring debut, Max Scherzer another debutant for the Tigers had a fairly decent time, giving away only three hits in two innings not conceding any score. Scherzer by recording a few more such performances can alleviate
his chances to make it to regular season games, something he loves to see coming.
If the game were to be that of a Major League regular season, score of six home runs coming off in the match will be the ninth time in Major League Baseball history.
Tigers’ icon Victor Martinez made his first appearance since going through knee ligament. Repenting his absence last season for the side owing to injury, he looked confident this time for the season.
After the loss, Atlanta can gather few positives going into the upcoming matches for example, possible inclusion of Tommy Hanson, a pitcher who met with an accident while arriving at the camp, is heartening.
Tags: