Atlanta Braves Clippings Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Braves.Com
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Atlanta Braves Clippings Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Braves.com Masset stung by Dodgers' homer spree in 8th By Mark Bowman and Steve Bourbon / MLB.com | 1:24 AM ET LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers launched three home runs off reliever Nick Masset in the eighth inning to beat the Braves, 6-3, on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Trailing, 2-1, at the seventh-inning stretch, Los Angeles tied the game on an Adrian Gonzalez groundout in the seventh and Andre Ethier gave the Dodgers the lead the following inning with a solo shot to right-center field. Alex Guerrero and Jimmy Rollins followed suit with homers. Dodgers starter Brett Anderson earned a no-decision, despite pitching seven innings and allowing two runs. The Dodgers got to Atlanta's bullpen, putting up five runs after starter Williams Perez left the game. In just his second career start, Perez also received a no-decision, pitching six innings, allowing one run and striking out seven. "I think just some of my pitches flattened out," Masset said. "I've had some good battles with these guys in the past. They put some good swings on it. That's just how the ball rolls sometimes." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Injury scare for Anderson: The Dodgers had another injury scare on the mound as Anderson was evaluated by trainers in the fifth inning. He threw a wild pitch and appeared to tweak his back, but stayed in the game after throwing three warmup pitches. The Dodgers have already lost two members of their Opening Day rotation to season-ending injuries. Catcher A.J. Ellis said he noticed Anderson was "stiff" after fielding a grounder from Andrelton Simmons in the fourth inning. Bullpen shuffle: With their latest attempt to strengthen their bullpen, the Braves signed Masset last week, immediately after he was released by the Marlins. His eighth-inning entrance was influenced by the fact Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez did not want to use closer Jason Grilli for a third straight day. So with Jim Johnson slated to serve as the closer, Gonzalez went with Masset, who surrendered a total of three homers in 51 appearances last year. The only previous time he had allowed two homers in a game came during a one-inning appearance for the Reds against the Marlins on May 1, 2011. Walking a thin line: Perez issued a bases-loaded walk to Ethier in the first inning and then induced a Scott Van Slyke double-play groundout with the bases loaded in the third inning. But Luis Avilan did not prove to be as fortunate when the Dodgers used a pair of walks and a single to load the bases for Gonzalez, who produced a game-tying RBI groundout. Bunting issues: Rollins attempted to lay down sacrifice bunts twice, only to have Atlanta cut off the lead runner both times, once in the first inning and again in the seventh. Mattingly said Rollins voluntarily bunted with a runner on second and no outs in the first inning, but it was a designed play in the seventh. Rollins has zero sacrifice bunts this season. QUOTABLE "People have labeled him soft in his career and injury-prone, but this is an example to us just how tough this guy is." -- Ellis on Anderson "He mixes his pitches really well. He's not afraid to throw his secondary stuff when he's behind in the count. That takes a while for even the most veteran pitchers. So far, I've liked the way he's pitched and progressed." -- Gonzalez on Perez, who despite encountering frequent trouble, has allowed just two runs in the 11 innings that have encompassed his first two career starts. SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Dodgers scored more runs in the eighth inning (four) than they had in any of the past eight games. DEFENSIVE GEM After the Braves scratched Alberto Callaspo from the lineup shortly before Monday's first pitch, it started to sound as if his days with the Braves could be nearing an end. Callaspo's value as a utility man has diminished as Jace Peterson has thrived as the everyday second baseman. Peterson added to his recent accomplishments when he saved Perez by racing into shallow right field to make a diving catch of Gonzalez's fly ball in the third inning. WHAT'S NEXT Braves: Julio Teheran will attempt to extend his recent success when the Braves and Dodgers resume their three-game series Tuesday night at 10:10 p.m. ET. Teheran has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his past four starts. But the average velocity of his fastball (88 mph) during last week's start against the Rays, created some concern. Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw will get the start for Los Angeles on Tuesday. Kershaw's ERA of 4.32 is the highest of his career, but he has fared well against Atlanta. The lefty holds a 2.11 ERA in five starts against the Braves. Masset's unexpected misstep raises 'pen concerns Braves manager gambles on reliever, but it backfires By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 1:25 AM ET LOS ANGELES -- If Cameron Maybin extends his recent success and Matt Wisler proves why he is such a highly regarded prospect, the Braves will likely spend the next few years continuing to feel thankful that the Padres were willing to pay the remainder of Melvin Upton Jr.s contract ($46.3 million) in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. But as this season's first two months have unfolded, the Braves have had to deal with the remains of a bullpen that was thinned by the April 5 Kimbrel trade, Shae Simmons' season-ending elbow injury and the performance-enhancing suspensions levied on two of their bullpen prospects (Arodys Vizcaino and Andrew McKirahan). When the Braves signed Nick Masset, immediately after he was released by the Marlins last week, they were taking a chance on him strengthening their 'pen with his experience. But as Masset surrendered a career-high three home runs in the eighth inning of Monday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers, there was reason to remember teams don't simply allow high-quality relievers to become available during a season. "It's definitely an embarrassment," Masset said. "I feel like I let my team down." A little more than an hour after Masset allowed the Dodgers to gain a lead with the home runs hit by Andre Ethier, Alex Guerrero and Jimmy Rollins, the Angels celebrated a walk-off victory courtesy of the hit and walk Kimbrel surrendered after entering a tied game in the ninth. Still, even as Kimbrel has posted a 5.63 ERA and allowed opponents to hit .270 against him this year, the Braves have to at least wonder if this season might have unfolded differently if he was still in their bullpen. Jason Grilli has been quite effective as Atlanta's closer, converting 13 of 14 save opportunities and limiting opponents to a .237 batting average. But if simply focusing on the on-field benefits of this season, the Braves' bullpen depth would have likely been less of a concern had the club stuck with its initial plan to use Grilli and Jim Johnson as Kimbrel's primary setup men. Because Grilli was not available to work a third straight day, Johnson was slated to serve as Atlanta's closer Monday. So, instead of using Johnson or impressive rookie Brandon Cunniff with the game tied in the eighth inning, Gonzalez stuck with Masset, who had surrendered just two earned runs and no home runs in the previous 12 innings he had worked this year for Miami and Atlanta. Heck, Masset had allowed a total of three home runs in the 51 appearances he made last year. So, it's safe to say nobody expected what was to come. Masset entered the game having limited left-handed hitters to a .160 batting average, but Ethier and Rollins hit their solo shots from the left. When Guerrero came to the plate as pinch-hitter, Gonzalez might have had some reservations given right-handed hitters were batting .476 (10-for-21) against Masset. But instead of going with Cunniff, who has not allowed a hit in the 30 at-bats right-handers have tallied against him, Gonzalez paid the price when Guerrero drilled his two-run homer. "You feel like you've got a pretty good matchup with Ethier and then you've got the bottom of the order," Gonzalez said. "It didn't materialize the way we wanted." So far, the Kimbrel trade has materialized exactly the way the Braves wanted. But if simply looking at the effect it has had on this season alone, there is certainly reason to wonder how much better the Atlanta 'pen might have been with the depth it had before the trade, suspensions and injuries. Peterson robs Gonzalez with great catch Braves second baseman fully extends for grab By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | May 25th, 2015 LOS ANGELES -- Jace Peterson proved that Andrelton Simmons is not the only Braves middle infielder who is capable of producing jaw-dropping defensive gems. Peterson certainly caught the attention of all who were watching when he robbed Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez of a single in the third inning of Monday night's game at Dodger Stadium, which the Braves lost, 6-3. The Braves second baseman sprinted into shallow right field and fully extended while catching the ball just before his body slammed into the outfield grass. "That was pretty amazing," Simmons said.