Clippings Friday, May 1, 2015 Braves.com

Miller stung by Reds' consecutive HRs in 7th

By Mark Bowman and Michael Hunt / MLB.com | April 30, 2015

ATLANTA -- Mike Leake surrendered two hits over eight scoreless innings and accounted for one of the consecutive home runs allowed as the Reds claimed a 5-1 win over the Braves on Thursday night at Turner Field.

After teaming with Tucker Barnhart to begin the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs, Miller completed his 97-pitch outing in impressive fashion. The right-hander retired 19 of the last 20 batters he faced and did not pitch from the stretch after Chris Johnson drew a two-out walk in the fourth. Nick Markakis' infield single to begin the bottom of the first accounted for one of the four hits recorded by the Braves, who have lost 11 of their past 15 games.

"[Leake] threw strikes and he threw his breaking ball over, but I thought we weren't as patient as we had been before," Braves Fredi Gonzalez said. "I think we swung at some pitches out of the strike zone and made contact. Then, he beat us with the bat."

Miller shared a shutout bid with Leake through the first five innings and then was undone by a on a third strike that led to an unearned during a 29-pitch sixth inning.

The Braves' bullpen woes were extended when Todd Frazier began the eighth inning with a homer and Billy Hamilton added a solo shot in the ninth.

Freddie Freeman dropped an RBI into left off of Reds reliever Tony Cingrani in the ninth to account for the Braves' run.

"[Leake] was terrific," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He was locked in. He has a really good rapport with Tucker. He worked really quickly and attacked the zone. It's a nice lineup. They mix and match so well with players who have had success against Michael, and he pitched a dandy."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Leake does it all: Besides hitting his fifth career , including his second against the Braves, Leake shut down Atlanta. After giving up singles in the first and second innings, Leake allowed nothing else the next six innings for his first victory of the season.

Miller's misfortune: Miller might have been fatigued by the 29-pitch sixth inning, which began with Bethancourt allowing Hamilton to reach safely on a dropped third strike The right-hander had allowed just three homers over his past 58 1/3 innings before allowing Barnhart and Leake to deliver their back-to-back shots.

Bringing the power: The Reds four home runs, their most this season since hitting five against the Brewers on April 21. Cincinnati had scored three runs or fewer in five of its last seven games.

CJ to the DL: Atlanta's Johnson sustained a fractured left hand while attempting to steal second base with two outs in the fourth inning. Johnson, who exited after playing defense in the fifth, will go on the disabled list. The vacated roster spot will be filled by , who will make his first Major League start on Friday.

QUOTABLE "We were joking in the clubhouse. If [Hamilton] would've hit one, it would have been the most unexpected back-to-back-to-back [home runs] in Major League history." -- Barnhart, on the back-to-back homers

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Leake has gone 7-for-20 with two homers in his career against the Braves. He was 0-for-5 with three against Miller before going deep Thursday night. WHAT'S NEXT Reds: Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who leads rookies in strikeouts, will start Friday night at 7:35 p.m. ET against the Braves. Opponents are hitting .154 against DeSclafani, who came to the Reds in December from the Marlins in the Mat Latos trade.

Braves: Foltynewicz, a highly-regarded prospect who joined the Braves in January from Houston in the trade, will make his much- anticipated season debut on Friday. The 6-foot-4 right-hander went 0-3 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts with -A Gwinnett.

Miller takes no solace in solid outing

Right-hander tagged with consecutive homers, hurt by passed ball

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 12:04 AM ET

ATLANTA -- Through this season's first month, Shelby Miller has provided a clear indication that he has the potential to serve as Atlanta's ace for many years to come. At the same time, he has proven to be an unselfish competitor, who certainly does not take solace in tough-luck outcomes.

Miller fit this latter description as he spoke to reporters after the Braves experienced Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Reds at Turner Field. His effective seven-inning effort was blemished by consecutive home runs to begin the seventh inning and marred by a 29-pitch sixth inning that might have been much cleaner had Christian Bethancourt secured a strike-three pitch.

"Personally, I feel like I'm pitching well, but we needed a win tonight, and it's that simple," Miller said. "We didn't get the job done. I can talk about myself and how I'm doing, but we didn't get the job done. We didn't win tonight, and that is the biggest thing on my mind right now."

Miller had to take responsibility for allowing Cincinnati's No. 8 hitter Tucker Barnhart and starting Mike Leake to begin the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs. But at the same time, there was reason to wonder if things would have been different had Bethancourt not committed his miscue.

When the Braves removed Bethancourt from his starting role during the regular season's second week, they said they wanted him to earn the position. He has been lauded for his strong arm, but his inability to catch the third-strike fastball thrown to Billy Hamilton in Thursday's sixth inning conjured memories of the defensive struggles that frustrated the Braves late last year.

"I know passed balls and stuff like that are going to happen, and wild pitches," Miller said. "I think we did a good job of getting out of some trouble there in the sixth. There were a couple times we got out of some trouble with some good defensive plays."

After surrendering the game's first run on Joey Votto's double in the sixth, Miller escaped a bases-loaded threat without incurring any further damage. But the misplaced fastballs he threw to Barnhart and Leake in the seventh soured what was an otherwise impressive performance by the Braves' hurler, who has posted a 2.17 ERA through his first five starts.

"I thought Shelby Miller was outstanding today," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "If he goes out and gives you 28 more starts like that, he's going to have a [great] year."

C. Johnson goes on DL with broken left hand

Braves third baseman injured on headfirst slide

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | April 30, 2015

ATLANTA -- Braves third baseman Chris Johnson's frustrating season took a downturn when he fractured his left hand while sliding headfirst into second base during an unsuccessful steal attempt in the fourth inning of Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Reds.

The Braves placed Johnson on the disabled list Thursday night and revealed that his roster spot would be filled by pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz, who will make his first Major League start during Friday night's game against the Reds.

"Being on the DL will stink for me because I just want to be out there and playing baseball," Johnson said. "But it will get better and I'll get back."

After serving as Atlanta's primary third baseman the past two seasons, Johnson has been in the starting lineup for just 11 of this season's first 22 games. Now, the 30-year-old will have to delay his bid to prove he deserves more playing time.

Johnson's hand will be placed in a cast and undergo an MRI on Friday morning to determine the extent of the ligament damage. The Braves will evaluate the results of this exam before revealing a potential timetable for his return. After his hand stuck in the dirt during his slide, Johnson shared a brief exchange with second-base umpire Jerry Layne and then took his position at third base. Though he felt some discomfort while fielding warmup tosses from , Johnson did not exit the game until he was examined by the Braves' medical staff in the middle of the fifth inning.

"After the trainer looked at it, he told me I was done pretty quick," Johnson said.

Veal latest addition to Braves' bullpen mix

Club continues to give successful Triple-A relievers a shot to impress

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 1:54 AM ET

ATLANTA -- As the Braves attempt to find the right pieces for their bullpen, they might continue to provide some of their Minor Leaguers a chance to prove whether they can be productive at the Major League level.

Before Thursday's series opener against the Reds, the Braves purchased left-handed reliever Donnie Veal's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. Right- handed reliever John Cornely, who made his Major League debut on Wednesday night, was optioned to Gwinnett to create a roster spot for Veal.

"Donnie is pitching well down there," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said before Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Reds. "We just wanted to bring a guy in who can help us down in the bullpen. I think it's going to be a case where some of our deficiencies are in the bullpen. So, if some of those guys in Triple-A are paying attention and pitching well, we're paying attention up here."

Veal, who allowed one run (a home run) on two hits, with a walk and a , in the eighth inning Thursday, has struggled with his command during his pro career, which includes 101 relief appearances at the Major League level. But the 30-year-old issued just two walks while recording 11 strikeouts over 8 2/3 scoreless innings for Gwinnett this season.

Veal joins a bullpen that now includes Trevor Cahill, who lost his rotation spot this week. The Braves committed $5.5 million to Cahill when they acquired him from the D-backs on March 31. Thus, they are expected to provide him a chance to rejuvenate his career while serving as a long reliever for at least the next few weeks.

"When I talked to [Cahill], I told him this is not a permanent move, a lot of things can happen," Gonzalez said. "For right now, I think he can help us out of the [bullpen]."

The Braves are also expected to bring right-handed reliever Brandon Cunniff back to the Major League level on Monday. Cunniff had surrendered just one hit over nine innings before he was sent to Gwinnett last week, primarily because he needed some rest after appearing in three consecutive games (April 22-24).

Braves' Foltynewicz makes first start against Reds

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | 5/1/2015 1:12 AM ET

Mike Foltynewicz will make his much-anticipated first Major League start for the Braves as they attempt to halt their recent woes Friday night against the Reds.

Foltynewicz, who ranks as MLB.com's 77th prospect, will be facing a Cincinnati offense that tallied four home runs during Thursday night's series- opening victory at Turner Field.

The Reds will counter with Anthony DeSclafani, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his first four starts of the season. DeSclafani has limited opponents to a .154 batting average and a .214 on-base percentage. This will be his first career appearance against the Braves, who have lost 11 of their past 15 games.

Things to know

• Veteran A.J. Pierzynski will be back in the cleanup spot for the Braves after getting a chance to rest on Thursday night. Pierzynski has recorded a hit in each of the 12 games he has played this season. His .422 batting average made him the first Braves player (minimum 50 plate appearances) to exit April with a .400 batting average since Chipper Jones in 2008.

• The Reds might be without Atlanta-native Brandon Phillips again on Friday night. The veteran second baseman was scratched from Thursday's lineup with an unidentified illness.

• Foltynewicz completed at least five innings in just two of the four starts he made for Triple-A Gwinnett this season. But the hard-throwing hurler notched 18 strikeouts and surrendered just three runs over 13 innings during his two most recent starts Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after 5-1 loss to Reds

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after the 5-1 loss to the Reds on Thursday at Turner Field.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On Shelby Miller

He gave up one run (in the sixth) and worked his way his way out of an unbelievable jam. For him to only give up one run in that situation, you have to tip your hat. That’s pitching and that’s pitching really, really well. Couple of solo home runs got him, and the way we’ve been swinging the bats we should’ve won that game. And we didn’t. (Mike) Leake pitched better and he pitched better because he didn’t give up many runs. But I thought Shelby Miller was outstanding today. If he goes out and gives you 28 to 30 more starts like that, he’s going to have a hell of a year.

On Reds starter Mike Leake

He threw strikes and he threw his breaking ball over, but I thought we weren’t as patient as we had been before. I think we swung on some pitches out of the strike zone and made contact. And then he beat us with the bat, which we knew. He’s a good athlete. He can swing the bat, field his position and go out there and give you eight solid innings of pitching.

On if he was surprised the Braves couldn’t do more against Leake

No, this guy’s a pretty good pitcher. I was a little surprised at some of our approaches, but this guy had his slider going one way and his sinker and his four-seamer going and he threw strikes. We had nothing hit hard all night.

On Chris Johnson leaving the game

We’re going to put him on the DL. It’s a fracture of the left hand. He’s going to go get some tests and find out more. With that move, we’re going to bring Foltynewicz up and he’s going to start for us tomorrow. We’ll leave the pitching as it is and go with the one less position player.

On Mike Foltynewicz getting called up

He’s earned the opportunity to come up and pitch. I hope he doesn’t think it’s a one-deal tryout and that he’s got to pitch extremely well or get sent down. I think we’re going to be patient with him, but I’m excited. He’s earned it. Hopefully he can rattle off the rest of the year.

**SHELBY MILLER

On how he felt tonight

I felt good. Overall, I felt great.

On allowing just one run in the sixth inning after the passed ball

We did a good job of getting out of that. It could’ve been a lot worse. I know passed balls and wild pitches and stuff like that are going to happen but I think we did a good job of getting out of some trouble there.

On if he’s pleased with his five starts so far

Personally, I feel like I’m pitching good. But we needed a win tonight, it’s that simple, and we didn’t get the job done. I can talk about myself and how I’m doing but that’s beside the point. We didn’t win tonight and that’s the biggest thing on my mind right now.

On the back-t0-back homers by Tucker Barnhart and Mike Leake in the seventh

Made two terrible pitches right down the middle. It’s terrible. We were in the ballgame at that point and give it away. It’s on me.

Reds pitcher Leake dominates Braves, who lose third straight

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Out went Braves slugger , a fan favorite. Back came Shelby Miller, a promising young right-hander with a short track record. Before his start against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Turner Field, Miller said he understood if Braves supporters were a bit suspicious of the new guy the team got from the Cardinals in exchange for Heyward. But he said the reception from fans had been warm so far.

“No ragging on me yet,” Miller said with a smile.

Braves backers still have no reason to jeer Miller. The pitching staff was in need of a quality start and Miller delivered, but the Braves could do little against Reds starter Mike Leake while losing 5-1.

The Braves lost their third consecutive game and are 2-8 in their past 10. They also saw infielder Chris Johnson suffer a fracture in his left hand while sliding into second base in the fourth inning.

The Braves placed Johnson on the disabled list. They called up right-hander Mike Foltynewicz from Triple-A Gwinnett and scheduled him to start on Friday against the Reds.

Pitching had been the problem for the Braves in their series loss to the Nationals with sub par results from starters Julio Teheran and Alex Wood. Miller (3-1) stopped that trend but he couldn’t match Leake (1-1).

“Leake pitched better and he pitched better because he didn’t give up any runs,” Braves manger Fredi Gonzalez said. “But I thought Shelby Miller was outstanding today. If he goes out and gives you 28 to 30 more starts like that, he’s going to have a hell of a year.”

The Braves only managed two singles and four base runners over eight innings against Leake. He needed just 97 pitches to get through eight innings and threw 62 strikes.

Leake retired 12 batters in a row from the fifth through eight innings and worked through the few jams the Braves created.

Right fielder Nick Markakis led off the Braves’ first inning with a single but Andrelton Simmons hit into a double play. Freddie Freeman followed with a walk before grounded out to end the inning.

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson’s two-out single in the second was followed by Eric Young Jr’s groundout. Chris Johnson walked with two outs in the third but was caught trying to steal second base.

Those were the only base runners the Braves got against Leake. He sat down the next 12 batters, starting with Christian Bethancourt to lead off the fifth inning and continuing until left-hander Tony Cingrani came on to pitch the ninth with the Reds leading 5-0.

Gonzalez said Leake was good but the Braves weren’t as patient at the plate as they had been while scoring a total of 24 runs in three games against the Nationals.

“I was a little surprised at some of our approaches, but this guy had his slider going one way and his sinker and his four-seamer going and he threw strikes,” Gonzalez said. “We had nothing hit hard all night.”

Miller allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) over seven innings with nine strikeouts. He allowed an unearned run in the sixth inning when Joey Votto doubled and then Tucker Barnhart and Leake hit consecutive home runs in the seventh.

Miller was perfect through three innings and retired three batters in a row after Skip Schumaker doubled to lead off the third. Jay Bruc elined into a double play to end the fourth inning.

Miller’s troubles started through no fault of his own. He struck out Billy Hamilton to begin the sixth inning but the ball got past catcher Christian Bethancourt, allowing Hamilton to reach base.

Zack Cozart followed with a single and Joey Votto doubled to score Hamilton. Miller limited the damage by striking out Todd Frazier and Marlon Byrd, with an intentional walk to Jay Bruce in between. Schumaker lined into a double play to end the inning.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Miller said. “I know passed balls and wild pitches and stuff like that are going to happen but I think we did a good job of getting out of some trouble there.”

But then Barnhart and Leake hit the back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning. It was just the third career homer for Barnhart, a rookie playing in his 25th game. Leake has five career home runs in five-plus seasons.

Barnhart’s homer came on a full count while Leake drilled Miller’s 2-1 pitch on a line drive to left-center.

“Made two terrible pitches right down the middle,” Miller said. “It’s terrible. We were in the ballgame at that point and give it away. It’s on me.”

Miller took his first loss and the Braves also lost for the first time with him on the mound. He still was the Braves’ most effective starter during the first month of the season.

Miller made his third consecutive quality start, with at least six innings and no more than three earned runs. “Personally, I feel like I’m pitching good,” Miller said. “But we needed a win tonight, it’s that simple, and we didn’t get the job done. I can talk about myself and how I’m doing but that’s beside the point. We didn’t win tonight and that’s the biggest thing on my mind right now.”

Reds 5, Braves 1

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A recap of the Braves’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Thurday at Turner Field.

How the game was won: Reds starter Mike Leake held the Braves to two hits and four base runners over eight innings as Cincinnati won 5-1. Braves starter Shelby Miller held the Reds scoreless until allowing an unearned run in the sixth inning and back-to-back homers to Tucker Barnhart and Leake in the seventh. The Braves lost their third consecutive game and are 2-8 in their last 10.

Number: 12. Consecutive batters retired by Leake from the fifth through eighth innings.

Next: The Braves play the Reds at 7:35 p.m. Friday on Fox Sports South. TBD faces Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 1.04).

Braves prospect ‘Folty’ called up as C. Johnson goes to DL

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Braves placed infielder Chris Johnson on the disabled list with a left hand fracture and called up touted prospect Mike Foltynewicz to start on Friday.

Johnson suffered the injury while sliding into second base on a steal attempt in the fourth inning. The fracture occurred on the outside of his hand when he jammed it in the dirt on the slide.

Johnson said he was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to check the ligaments between the fracture and should know more about his timetable to return then.

“It stinks,” Johnson said. “I want to be out there playing baseball.”

The Braves now have 13 position players and 12 on the roster. Johnson had been sharing time at third base with Alberto Callaspo and his injury will mean more playing time for Phil Gosselin.

Foltynewicz is set to make his first big-league start. The Braves acquired the right-hander from the Astros in January and gave him a chance to be the fifth starter but decided to send him to Gwinnett to work on his command after he was wild during games.

Foltynewicz, 23, made 16 relief appearances for the Astros in 2014 while posting a 5.30 ERA with 14 strikeouts and seven walks. In four starts at Gwinnett he had a 2.08 ERA over 21 2./3 innings with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks.

“He’s earned the opportunity to come up and pitch,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I hope he doesn’t think it’s a one-deal tryout and that he’s got to pitch extremely well or get sent down. I think we’re going to be patient with him, but I’m excited. He’s earned it. Hopefully he can rattle off the rest of the year. “

Foltynewicz is 6-foot-4 with a hard fastball. Baseball America ranks him as the No. 2 Braves prospect.

Braves’ Bethancourt to see more time vs. Hamilton

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been the team’s best hitter in the early part of the season so there’s been no reason for manager Fredi Gonzalez to be concerned about getting Christian Bethancourt more starts.

Reds speedster Billy Hamilton gives him a reason, so Gonzalez wants Bethancourt’s big arm behind the plate for two games of the four-game series.

Bethancourt was in the lineup for the series opener on Thursday and Gonzalez said he plans to start him again on Sunday in the series finale. Pierzynski had started eight of the nine previous games. “This guy is a force behind the plate in the running game,” Gonzalez said. “I’d like to see him and Billy Hamilton—well, you know what, I take it back, I don’t want to see Billy Hamilton on the base path. But (Bethancourt) is a guy that, when he is catching, the other manager knows we can’t just run at will. He turns it around really, really well.”

Hamilton doesn’t get on base much—he had a .295 on-base percentage in 719 career plate appearances entering Thursday—but he’s a threat to run when he does.

Hamilton had 56 stolen bases in 79 attempts in 2014, his first full season in the majors. In his first 19 games this season he had a majors-leading 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts.

Bethancourt is considered one of the Braves’ top prospects in large part because of his strong throwing arm. During spring training Gonzalez said he wasn’t concerned with Bethancourt’s hitting and wanted him to focus on his defense after he allowed six passed balls in 79 innings last season, Bethancourt’s first full year in the majors.

Bethancourt entered Thursday batting .147 with six strikeouts and two walks in 36 plate appearances.

“I think the hitting will come—obviously he’s not going to hit .150 or whatever (all season)—but I still want him to develop as a catcher,” Gonzalez said.

Entering Thursday Pierzynski led Braves regulars in hitting (.422), (.689) and RBIs (14). Gonzalez said Pierzynski, 38, can continue as the primary catcher.

“He’s one of those guys who is not a prototypical backup catcher,” Gonzalez said. “This guy can crank up 100 games easy behind the plate and be productive. He’s strong as a bull. He puts the ball in play. To sit here and say I expected him to hit (.420)? No, I’d be lying to you.”

Braves’ Fredi G. says Cahill move to bullpen ‘not permanent’

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Braves demoted right-hander Trevor Cahill to the bullpen after three lackluster starts but manager Fredi Gonzalez said Cahill won’t necessarily stay there.

Cahill won’t make his scheduled start on Friday after he pitched two innings in relief on Thursday against the Nationals. Gonzalez said the plan is for Cahill to serve as the long reliever.

“I told him this was not a permanent move,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of things can happen, right? You think he’s going to be in the bullpen for a couple of weeks and then one of our guys sprains a toe and he’s back in the rotation. For right now, he can help us out of the bullpen.”

The Braves were to announce Friday’s starter after they played the Reds on Thursday night. They are expected to call up prospect Mike Foltynewicz from Triple-A Gwinnett to make the start.

The Braves acquired Cahill in a trade with Arizona near the end of spring camp. They sent minor league outfielder Josh Elander to the Diamondbacks, who also gave the Braves $6.5 million to offset most of Cahill’s $12.5 million salary this season.

The Braves penciled in Cahill as their No. 5 starter but he was 0-3 with an 8.03 ERA in his three starts. Cahill lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his Braves debut, pitched just four innings in his second start and gave up four runs in six innings in his third outing.

Cahill pitched two innings against the Nationals on Thursday for his 17th career relief appearance. He allowed six hits and four runs with a walk to raise his career ERA as a reliever to 3.64 and his walks and hits per inning pitched to 1.48.

In 173 career starts Cahill is 62-70 with a 4.16 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

“He’s had more success out of the bullpen than as a starter,” Gonzalez said. “We felt that he can help us bridge the gap to the back end of the bullpen and I think he still can. I think yesterday’s outing was the first time he was out of the bullpen after he started. Maybe he wasn’t as comfortable.”

Braves call up lefty Veal for bullpen help

By Michael Cunningham - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Braves called up left-hander Donnie Veal from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday to add depth to their beleaguered bullpen. Veal has 100 previous relief appearances in the big leagues from 2009 to 201 with a 4.87 ERA in 64 2/3 innings and 55 hits allowed, 70 strikeouts and 47 walks. Veal was with the White Sox the last three seasons.

The Braves entered Thursday with a 4.52 bullpen ERA, ranked 13th of 15 NL teams.

“Donnie is pitching well down there,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Just bring in a guy who can help us out of the bullpen, another lefty. I think it’s going to be one of those situations where—obviously our deficiency is in the bullpen—guys in Triple-A, they are paying attention and they are pitching well. We are paying attention up here.”

To make room for Veal on the roster, the Braves optioned right-hander John Cornely to Gwinnett. Cornely made his major league debut on Wednesday against the Nationals and allowed three hits and four runs in one inning.

In 10 relief appearances at Gwinnett this season Veal hasn’t allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts and two walks.

“This guy has a good arm, a resilient arm,” Gonzalez said. “If you look at his workloads, he can bounce back. The biggest issue is he has a history of not throwing strikes. But he has done a good job of that in Triple-A so … we give him an opportunity. Why not?”

Upcoming Braves’ opponent: About the Reds

By Carroll Rogers - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves’ opponent: Cincinnati Reds

Keep an eye on: Joey Votto. He’s tied for the National League lead in home runs with seven but he is just 2-for-his-past-20 over the past six games. The Reds have three of the top 10 home run hitters in the National League, led by Votto (seven), along with Todd Frazier (six) and Jay Bruce (5). Of their 24 home runs overall (eighth in the majors) the Reds have hit 14 of them at hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark.

Who’s hot: Stone Mountain’s Brandon Phillies is hitting .305 (18-for-59) over his past 14 games, with a double, a home run and nine RBIs.

Who’s not: The Reds bullpen is last in the National League with a 5.54 ERA.

Braves connection: Jason Marquis, 36, won a job in the Reds rotation after signing a minor league deal with them in January. He spent last season in the Phillies organization but hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2013 with the Padres. He’s 2-1 with a 5.48 ERA for the Reds heading into his start Saturday night against the Braves. Marquis is 4-5 with a 6.95 ERA in 10 career starts against the team that drafted him in the first round in 1996.

In the news: Reds manager Bryan Price made national news with his profanity-laced tirade at a Reds reporter over news revealed about the in- game availability of All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco. The blow-up was just a symptom of early issues for Price and the Reds, who’ve dealt with a weak bullpen and an elbow injury to . Mesoraco is still dealing with a hip problem and has been pinch hitting only for the past two weeks.

Fox Sports South

Three Cuts: Braves lose C. Johnson in loss to Reds, bring up Foltynewicz

Cory McCartney

ATLANTA -- A loss to the Reds was only one of the blows the Braves suffered Thursday night.

They announced afterward that one of their most productive bats is headed to the disabled list as Chris Johnson suffered a fracture to his left hand in the 5-1 defeat.

After a fourth-inning walk Johnson was caught stealing and as he slid his hand dug into the dirt, jamming it backward. He came out the next half inning to third base, which was when he realized something was wrong.

"(Freddie Freeman) threw me the ball and it kind of jammed my hand back," Johnson said. "I was like 'Eww, that doesn't feel good. I just played defense, came in and had the trainer look at it. He told me I was done pretty quick."

Johnson expects to have a better sense of his stay on the DL after he undergoes an MRI Friday to check if the ligaments between the fracture have been damaged.

"If those are alright and then we'll have a timetable, I think," he said.

Johnson, who was 0-for-1 in the loss, is hitting .279/.347/.372 with four doubles and five RBI. Without the third baseman, the Braves have called up right-handed pitcher Mike Foltynewicz. His rise, along with Shelby Miller's latest quality start and Christian Bethancourt's costly passed ball as we take Three Cuts from Turner Field:

1. MILLER GETS BREAKTHROUGH FOR BRAVES STAFF, THEN DELIVERS ONE FOR MLB PITCHERS

Atlanta's bullpen went into the evening ranked seventh in the majors with 71 2/3 innings, a figure that was largely due to not one of its starters having thrown seven innings through the first 21 games.

Miller delivered that breakthrough, then he proceeded to offer up another for all MLB pitchers.

He opened the seventh in a 1-0 hole -- a run that was unearned -- before catcher Tucker Barnhart hit a solo home run. Then Mike Leake followed with one of his own, backing up his own eight shutout innings on the mound by becoming the first pitcher to homer in 2015.

"Made two terrible pitches right down the middle," Miller said. "It was terrible. We were in the ballgame at that point and just gave it away. That was on me."

Cincinnati would add another run in the eighth -- this off a Todd Frazier homer -- and one in the ninth -- coming via a Billy Hamilton HR -- but it was Miller's rough seventh that all but sealed his first loss since Aug. 11. That snapped a 12-start winning streak.

Still, it was another strong outing overall from Miller, who has been the Braves' most consistent starter to date. He's now 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA and Thursday represented his highest pitch count of the season at 112 and the third time in the last two outings in which he's thrown at least 100 pitches.

"I thought Shelby Miller was outstanding today," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "If he goes out and gives you 30, 28 more starts like that, he's going to have a helluva year."

He also worked his way out of a jam in the sixth inning, which was started off by a passed ball by Christian Bethancourt that allowed Hamilton to get on and later score. But with the Reds with runners at second and third and zero outs, Miller struck out Frazier, walked Jay Bruce to load the bases and then retired Marlon Byrd (strikeout) and Skip Schumaker(line out).

"Worked his way out of an unbelievable jam," Gonzalez said. "For him to only give up one run in that situation, you have to tip your hat, that's pitching. That's pitching really, really, really well."

2. FOLTYNEWICZ'S TIME HAS COME

The wait is over for Foltynewicz, who has had enough seasoning for the Braves to add their second-ranked prospect to the rotation.

Foltynewicz will make his first major league start on Friday, filling the spot vacated by Trevor Cahill, who has ben moved into the bullpen and a long relief role.

Foltynewicz, 23, challenged for a spot in the rotation this spring, but with a 5.84 ERA over six games, he opened in Triple-A Gwinnett. He produced a 2.08 ERA in four starts and in his last two outings, racked up 18 strikeouts over 13 innings.

"He's earned the opportunity to come up and pitch," Gonzalez said.

He appeared in 16 games with the Astros last season with a 5.30 ERA in 18 2/3 innings of relief work, but in 10 games between Aug. 17 and Sept. 23, Foltynewicz had a 1.93 ERA over 9 1/3 with eight strikeouts and six walks.

He'll be the latest piece in the Braves' offseason haul of prospects, following second baseman Jace Peterson. Foltynewicz was acquired along with and for Evan Gattis.

With a 5.11 ERA over the last 14 games heading into Thursday, the back end of the Braves' rotation is in need of a lift, especially when you consider the way Cahill helped to balloon that ERA.

Acquired in an April 2 deal with the Diamondbacks, Cahill struggled, going 0-3 with an 8.03 ERA. HIs debuted by giving up four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings to the Marlins on April 14, then followed by allowing three in four innings vs. the Metson April 21, and allowed four more in six innings against the Phillies on April 26.

He made his first appearance out of the bullpen on Wednesday against the Nationals, giving up four runs on six hits in two innings.

Gonzalez stressed that this isn't a fill-in start and he expects Foltynewicz to have time to prove he's ready to stay in the rotation.

"Hopefully he can rattle off the rest of the year," Gonzalez said. "He seems very capable of doing it."

3. PASSED BALL ISSUE COMES UP AGAIN AS BETHANCOURT MISCUE GETS BRAVES IN HOLE A.J. Pierzynski's red-hot bat -- he has an MLB-best .422 average among players with a minimum of 50 plate appearances -- has limited Bethancourt's time behind the plate.

Heading into the series opener against Cincinnati, he had caught in just five of the last 12 games. However, the threat of Hamilton, who leads the majors' with 13 steals, and the fact that Pierzynski caught runners at just an 18 percent rate last year led Gonzalez to go with Bethancourt, the better defensive player.

"This guy is a force behind the plate in the running game," Gonzalez said. "I'd like to see him and Billy Hamilton -- well, you know what, I take it back, I don't want to see Billy Hamilton on the base path. But (Bethancourt) is a guy that, when he is catching, the other manager knows we can't just run at will. He turns it around really, really well."

With Hamilton up in the sixth inning, Miller appeared to have successfully kept him off the base paths for the third straight time, fanning the Cincinnati center fielder on three pitches. But Bethancourt would lose a 75-mph on strike 3 and Hamilton reached first.

Passed balls have been a continued problem for Bethancourt, who had six in 260 1/3 innings last year in Atlanta and 82 over the last seven seasons in the minors.

The latest one set the stage, but the Bethancourt vs. Hamilton duel wouldn't happen, though, as Zack Cozart singled on the next pitch. A batter later Joey Votto doubled to score Cincinnati's leadoff man.

Having already thrown out the Marlins' Dee Gordon (tied for second in MLB with eight steals), doing the same to Hamilton would be an impressive feat for Bethancourt and he'll at least get another chance at that showdown. Gonzalez disclosed before the game that he also plans to start Bethancourt in Sunday's series finale.

Marietta Daily Journal

The Sports Xchange

Reds' starter Mike Leake takes it upon himself in win over Braves

By Guy Curtright

ATLANTA — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Mike Leake took it upon himself to make sure he finally got his first victory of the season.

Leake allowed just two singles over eight scoreless innings and hit the fifth homer of his career as the Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Thursday night at Turner Field.

Leake, who had gone at least seven innings in each of his previous three starts with just a loss to show for it, retired the final 12 batters in faced. He struck out three, walked two and faced just two batters over the minimum thanks to a double play and caught stealing.

Catcher Tucker Barnhart, third baseman Todd Frazier and center fielder Billy Hamilton also homered for the Reds. First baseman Joey Votto had two doubles and an RBI.

Leake was pulled after 97 pitches and Tony Cingrani gave up an RBI double to Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman with two outs in the ninth inning.

Leake’s homer off Shelby Miller in the seventh inning immediately followed a leadoff blast Barnhart, as the Reds finally got to the Braves starter.

Miller, who had been charged with an unearned run in the sixth, gave up Barnhart’s second homer of the season on a 3-2 fastball, the drive lined into the right-field seats near the foul pole.

Then Leake, who had been hitless in his first four starts this season, connected with a 2-1 fastball and reached the seats in left-center field.

Miller, who had won his first three decisions for the Braves, allowed six hits, walked three (one intentionally) and struck out nine.

The sixth of Miller’s strikeouts led to an unearned run in the sixth inning as rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt couldn’t handle the pitch and Hamilton reached on the passed ball.

Votto followed a single by shortstop Zack Cozart with his second double of the game and 17th RBI of the season.

Miller got out of a bases-loaded situation to keep it 1-0, but then Barnhart and Leake struck it the seventh inning. The Reds made it a four-run game when Frazier hit his seventh homer of the season into the seats in left-center field against Donnie Veal leading off the eighth inning.

Then Hamilton connected for his second homer off the year against Ian Thomas leading off the ninth inning, the ball also going out to left-center field.

Miller needed just 21 pitches to retire the Reds in order during the first two innings, then he stranded second baseman Skip Schumaker at third base in the third after a leadoff double.

It looked like the Reds would break through in the fourth when Votto doubled to the right-center field fence after a leadoff walk by Cozart.

Third base Jim Riggleman, though, held up Cozart with no outs and Miller got out of the jam by striking out Frazier and seeing right fielder Jay Bruce line into a double play.

Leake faced just one batter above the minimum through five innings thanks to a double play and a caught stealing. The Braves didn’t have a runner reach second base in that time.

NOTES: The Reds scratched 2B Brandon Phillips from the lineup after he reported to the ballpark ill and started INF-OF Skip Schumaker in his place. … The Braves have called up RHP Mike Foltynewicz from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Friday’s game against the Reds. The rookie, who was acquired from Houston in the Evan Gattis trade, had a 2.08 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. Rookie RHP Anthony DeSclafani, who leads National League starters with a 1.04 ERA, will pitch Friday for the Reds. … LHP Donnie Veal, who appeared in 100 games for Pittsburgh and the the past four seasons, was purchased from Gwinnett to give the Braves a fresh bullpen arm. He hadn’t allowed an earned run in Triple-A while striking out 11 in 8 2/3 innings. … Rookie RHP John Cornely was optioned to Gwinnett by the Braves after he allowed four ninth-inning runs in his debut Wednesday against Washington.

Foltynewicz earns opportunity with Braves

ATLANTA — Mike Foltynewicz didn’t win a spot in the Atlanta Braves rotation during spring training, but the 23-year-old right-hander is there now.

Foltynewicz will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and will start Friday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field.

He takes the place of Trevor Cahill, who pitched in relief on Wednesday and will work out of the bullpen for now.

Foltynewicz was 0-3 with Gwinnett, but had a 2.08 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

“He’s earned the opportunity to come up and pitch,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Foltynewicz, acquired from Houston in the Evan Gattis trade, tried too hard to impress this spring. Gonzalez doesn’t want him to feel like Friday is “one-deal tryout and he has to pitch extremely well or be sent down.”

Said Gonzalez, “I think we’re going to be a little patient with him. … Hopefully he can rattle off the rest of the year.”

Cahill, acquired from Arizona at the end of spring training, struggled in three starts and will pitch in long relief for now.

The Braves are on the hook to pay $5.5 million of Cahill’s $12 million salary, but a key part of the deal with the Diamondbacks was to gain the 75th overall pick in the June .

Foltynewicz’s best outing for Gwinnett came on April 20 at Norfolk, when he allowed one run over eight innings. He struck out nine and walked one while throwing 61 of his 93 pitches for strikes.

“Folty has been really, really good,” Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker said. “I’ve been very impressed.”

Foltynewicz made his major league debut last season with the Astros, appearing in 16 games out of the bullpen.

Associated Press

Leake pitches, hits Reds past struggling Braves

By GEORGE HENRY (Associated Press)

ATLANTA (AP) -- Mike Leake had a five-run lead and was just one scoreless inning from earning his first career shutout.

He and Reds manager Bryan Price agreed, however, that there was no sense risking injury this early in the season. ''Yeah, I was getting a little tight,'' Leake said. ''I didn't feel like I should push it.''

Leake pitched eight strong innings and hit his fifth career home run to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Thursday night.

Todd Frazier, Tucker Barnhart and Billy Hamilton also had solo homers as the Reds won for the third time in four games. Joey Votto had two hits and drove in a run.

Leake (1-1) allowed just four baserunners, retiring the last 12 batters he faced. The right-hander, who struck out three, threw 62 of 97 pitches for strikes.

Leake gave up singles to Nick Markakis in the first and Jace Peterson in the second, and walked Freddie Freeman in the first and Chris Johnson in the fourth.

But Price saw no reason to push Leake's arm to an extreme.

''We had that conversation,'' Price said. ''I love starters staying in the game. I'm a huge fan of it. He was done. If you get a starter that says he's done, I'm not going to run him back out there. That's creating problems.''

Cincinnati, which ranks second in the NL with 31 homers, went up 4-0 in the eighth on Frazier's seventh homer and 5-0 in the ninth on Hamilton's second.

Leake leads the majors in hits by a pitcher with 70 since he debuted in 2010. Despite his success at the plate, Leake takes more pride in what he does on the mound.

''I've got to say the pitching,'' he said. ''It's fun not feeling the ball come off your bat, but my job's to pitch.''

The Braves have dropped three in a row and eight of 10.

Atlanta starter Shelby Miller (3-1) gave up six hits and three runs - two earned - with three walks and nine strikeouts in seven innings.

It marked the third straight game that the top of the Braves' rotation struggled. Atlanta's starters began the night with a 5.11 ERA over their previous 14 games.

Miller began the sixth with Hamilton reaching on a passed ball strikeout. After Zack Cozart singled, Hamilton scored from second on Votto's RBI single for a 1-0 Reds lead. Barnhart and Leake had back-to-back homers to make it 3-0 in the seventh.

''Made two terrible pitches down the middle,'' Miller said. ''We were in the ballgame at that point and just gave it away. It's on me.''

Frazier homered off Donnie Veal, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day. Hamilton homered off Ian Thomas.

Tony Cingrani pitched the ninth for Cincinnati, allowing Freeman's RBI double before Jonny Gomes popped up to end the game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was scratched from the lineup 90 minutes before the game with sickness. Skip Schumaker took his place and went 1 for 3. ... Manager Bryan Price said C Devin Mesoraco (hip) was still getting treatment but was available to pinch-hit. Price said the team won't know a longtime plan for RHP Homer Bailey (elbow), on the 60-day disabled, for another day or two.

Braves: Johnson left the game before the bottom of the fifth with a fractured left hand. He will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday.

UP NEXT

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (2-1) will make his fifth start of the season and career-first against Atlanta. DeSclafani leads NL rookies in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.

Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, a top prospect acquired in January in the deal that sent Evan Gattis to Houston, is expected to get called up from Triple-A Gwinnett and make his Atlanta debut. RHP Trevor Cahill is still listed as Friday's starter, but he pitched two innings of relief Wednesday and is 0-3 with a 9.42 ERA.

Reds-Braves Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON (STATS Writer)

Cincinnati's lineup is driving the ball out of the park, and Joey Votto's bat might be coming back to life. Meanwhile, Atlanta could be in more trouble against Anthony DeSclafani after a listless offensive performance in the series opener.

The Reds seek their fourth win in five games Friday night against the Braves at Turner Field.

Cincinnati (11-11) enjoyed a strong all-around showing in Thursday's 5-1 victory, getting eight scoreless innings from Mike Leake, who hit his fifth career home run. Todd Frazier and Tucker Barnhart also went deep for the second straight game and Billy Hamilton supplied a solo shot, giving the Reds 10 homers over their last three games. Their 31 this season rank second in baseball.

Votto, hitting a team-high .317, doubled twice and is 4 for 10 over his last three games after going 0 for 15 with seven strikeouts in his previous four. He also has seven doubles in his last 11 against Atlanta.

The Braves (10-12), losers of eight of 10, were held to four hits and have only four home runs in their last 11 contests.

They've never seen DeSclafani (2-1, 1.04 ERA), who has been one of the NL's toughest pitchers through the first month, though he failed to record a quality start for the first time Sunday against the . He gave up five runs over five innings in a 5-2 loss, though only one was earned as Cincinnati committed two errors behind him in the fourth inning.

Regardless of the defensive miscues, DeSclafani wasn't thrilled with his performance.

"I was missing too much over the plate," said the right-hander, who had a 16-inning scoreless streak snapped. "I didn't have a really effective slider."

Opponents are still batting just .154 against him.

With Trevor Cahill demoted to the bullpen, the Braves are giving 23-year-old Mike Foltynewicz a shot in the rotation. Cahill was 0-3 with an 8.03 ERA in his first three starts, then gave up four runs in two innings of relief in Wednesday's 13-4 loss to Washington.

Foltynewicz, one of three players acquired from Houston in January in exchange for Evan Gattis, was 0-1 with a 5.30 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Astros last year. The 23-year-old struggled in spring training, going 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA, prompting the organization to send him to Triple-A Gwinnett.

He went 0-3 in four starts despite a 2.08 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 21 2-3 innings. The 23-year-old failed to log more than five innings in three of his four outings.

Though Atlanta's pitching wasn't hit hard again like it was in giving up 26 runs and 30 hits over back-to-back defeats to the Nationals, the bullpen struggled again. Braves relievers allowed two of Cincinnati's home runs and have surrendered 18 runs in 12 innings over the last four games.

Chris Johnson will be placed on the disabled list after breaking his hand sliding into second base in the fourth inning, freeing a roster spot for Foltynewicz.

A.J. Pierzynski didn't play Thursday but has hit safely in all 12 games, batting .422 with 14 RBIs.

Braves to call up Mike Foltynewicz, put Chris Johnson (broken hand) on DL

ATLANTA -- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez says right-hander Mike Foltynewicz will be called up from the minors to make his first career start Friday.

To make room for Foltynewicz on the roster, third baseman Chris Johnson will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left hand.

Foltynewicz, a top prospect acquired in the January trade that sent slugger Evan Gattis to Houston, went 0-3 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts at Triple- A Gwinnett this month. He struck out 30 in 21 2/3 innings.

In 16 relief appearances with the Astros last year, Foltynewicz went 0-1 with a 5.30 ERA. Houston drafted him in the first round of 2010.

Johnson was injured while sliding into second base in the fourth inning of Thursday's 5-1 loss to Cincinnati.