Atlanta Braves (10-9) vs. Washington Nationals (7-13) Game No. 20 April 28, 2015 Turner Field Atlanta, ga. RHP Julio Teheran (2-1, 4.64) vs. RHP A.J. Cole (MLB Debut) TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves play the second game of a 10-game homestand and battle the Nationals in the second game of a three-game series and the second of 19 meetings between the two clubs this season (nine at Braves vs. Nationals Turner Field, 10 at Nationals Park)...The Braves claimed an 11-8 edge in last season’s series, including an 6-3 mark 2014 2015 All-Time at Turner Field...The Braves own an all-time advantage of 339-301, including a 178-143 record in games played in Overall (since 1969) 11-8 1-0 339-301 at Atlanta 6-3 1-0 178-143 Atlanta (94-62 at Turner Field)...BACK HOME AGAIN: On Sunday the Braves concluded a nine-game, 10-day at Turner Field --- --- 94-62 road trip in which they went 3-6 at Toronto (2-1), New York (0-3) and Philadelphia (1-2)...Atlanta was on the road at Montreal/Washington --- --- 161-158 for 12 of its fi rst 18 games of the season...Eighteen of Atlanta’s fi rst 21 games are against teams from the National at Washington 5-5 --- 43-48 League East division...LOOKING AHEAD: After this series the Braves will battle Cincinnati in a four-game at Nationals Park --- -- 30-34 series this weekend and then will face the Philadelphia Phillies for three games, May 4-6. BRAVES OF LATE: The Braves have won two of their last three games, but have dropped fi ve of their last seven contests and nine of their last 14... Atlanta won its fi rst fi ve games of the season, including a season-opening RISP Results National League leaders in batting average with runners sweep at Miami. in scoring position: NICE NIGHT FOR KJ: Kelly Johnson went 3-for-4 last night with a homer (#3) and three RBI...It marked Team RISP Avg Johnson’s 52nd career game with three-or-more hits and the 17th time he had at least three hits and three RBI... 1. San Diego Padres .330 MILLENNIUM MAN: A .250 career hitter, Johnson stands just seven hits shy of 1,000. 2. Colorado Rockies .310 3. ATLANTA BRAVES .308 A.J.’s STREAK: Veteran C A.J. Pierzynski went 1-for-3 last night and has hit safely in all 10 of his games 3. Pittsburgh Pirates .296 this season (14-for-37, .378, 3 HR)...CAREER-BEST START: Pierzynski’s hot start marks his career-best hit- 5. Miami Marlins .285 ting streak to open a season...It’s the longest hitting streak to open a season by a Braves player since Martin Prado hit in 10 straight to begin the 2010 campaign...PARK IT: Pierzynski poked his second home run of the season and his fi rst career homer at Turner Field on 4/14 as part of a back-to-back effort with Freddie Freeman in the fourth Putting It in Play Active Major League leaders in plate appearances per inning...Pierzynski has homered in 31 different MLB ballparks...There are just three current parks in which he has at strikeout: least one plate appearance and has failed to homer (Citi Field, Nationals Park and Dodger Stadium). Player PA/SO IT’S CONTAGIOUS: The Braves committed just one error through their fi rst 12 games of the season, but 1. ALBERTO CALLASPO, Atlanta 11.16 have committed 11 in the last seven games, including two last night...The recent slump has dropped Atlanta from the 2. Yadier Molina, St. Louis 10.79 best overall fi elding percentage in the majors (.998) to seventh in the NL (.983)...Atlanta is last in the majors in fi eld- 3. Dustin Pedroia, Boston 10.69 4. Ichiro Suzuki, Miami Marlins 10.24 ing since (.957) over the last seven days (since 4/21)...TURN TWO: The Braves defense is third in the NL with 4. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels 10.17 23 double plays turned in 19 games this season...They turned fi ve double plays in their 6-5 loss at Toronto on 4/18. IN A PINCH: INF Alberto Callaspo poked his third career pinch-hit home run Sunday in the ninth inning at PHI...It was the second pinch homer of the season for Atlanta, after OF Jonny Gomes clubbed his 10th career pinch- Pinch Me hit home run on 4/17 with a solo shot in the eighth inning at Toronto...Gomes is the active Major League leader in Active Major League leaders in pinch-hit home runs: pinch homers (see chart at right) and ranks T17th in pinch homers over the last 42 seasons (since 1974). Player Pinch-HRs 1. JONNY GOMES, Atlanta 10 CLUB RECORD FOR GRILLI: Closer Jason Grilli made his seventh appearance of the season Saturday 2. John Mayberry, Jr., New York Mets 7 at PHI and posted a perfect ninth inning to seal the Braves’ 5-2 victory...It marked the seventh save for Grilli and, Seth Smith, Seattle 7 according to the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the most saves before the start of May by a Braves pitcher in his fi rst 4. Jeff Baker, Miami 6 season with the team...The old record was six, by Dan Kolb in 2005. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia 6 Reed Johnson, Washington 6 LEADING MAN: OF Nick Markakis has batted leadoff in the last three games (3-for-12, four runs, three walks)...Markakis ranks T12th in the NL in batting average (.333) and fi fth in on-base percentage (.436)...11 OF 14: Markakis had his eight-game hitting streak snapped Friday (0-for-3) at PHI, but has hit safely in 11 of his last Recent Braves Transactions 14 games, going 19-for-50 (.380) with a .483 on-base pct. in that stretch...He went 13-for-32 (.406) on the just- April 24: Optioned RHP Brandon Cunniff and RHP completed nine-game road trip, including 7-for-10 in the three-game series at Toronto (with a 4-for-4 game on 4/17). Sugar Ray Marimon to Gwinnett (AAA); Purchased the contract of RHP John Cornely and RHP Michael NICE INHERITANCE: The Braves’ bullpen leads the majors by allowing only 10% (4-of-40) of their inher- Kohn from Gwinnett. ited runners to score so far this season. April 21: Recalled LHP Ian Thomas from Gwinnett (AAA). RISPY BUSINESS: The Braves rank third in the National League and fourth in the majors with a .308 bat- April 20: Major League Baseball announced that LHP ting average with runners in scoring position...They ranked 13th in the NL last season with a .236 RISP average. Andrew McKirahan received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Ipamorelin. CHART TOPPER: INF Alberto Callaspo’s career rate of 11.16 plate appearances per strikeout is the best April 13: Designated RHP Juan Jaime for assignment; among all active players in the majors (see chart at right)...RARE DAY: Callaspo struck out twice at the plate on Purchased the contract of RHP Sugar Ray Marimon 4/18 at TOR - his fi rst two strikeouts of the season...In the 890 career games in which he’s had at least two at-bats, from Gwinnett (AAA); Released OF Carlos Quentin. Callaspo has fanned two-or-more times in a game just 48 times. April 6: Acquired the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Com- petitive Balance Round B pick (75th overall) in the FRONT RUNNERS: The Braves have scored fi rst 10 times this season and have gone 7-3 in those games. 2015 First-Year Player Draft in exchange for minor- MARTA SHUTTLE ALERT: The Atlanta Braves Shuttle provided by MARTA will operate out of the West league OF Victor Reyes. End Station and will remain in place for the duration of this season (the Braves Shuttle was previously operated out April 6: Recalled RHP Brandon Cunniff from Gwin- nett (AAA); Placed LHP JOsh Outman on the 60- of the Five Points Station)...All fans will be picked up and dropped off at the north end of the West End Station, and day disabled list, retroactive to 3/27 (thoracic outlet the shuttle will continue to operate starting 90 minutes before each game and will run throughout the game until syndrome); Designated OF Carlos Quentin for as- one hour after the fi nal out...The West End Station is located at 60 Lee Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310...For more signment. information on the West End Station go to: www.itsmarta.com. April 5: Acquired OFs Cameron Maybin and Carlos Quentin, as well as minor-league OF Jordan Parou- BRAVES TO HONOR DON SUTTON WITH HOF INDUCTION: Longtime broadcaster Don Sutton beck, minor-league RHP Matt Wisler and the Padres’ will be inducted to the Braves Hall of Fame on Monday, July 20, at the 755 Club at Turner Field...A pregame ceremony Competitive Balance pick (41st overall selection) in will follow that evening when the Braves take on the Dodgers...Before his broadcast days, Sutton had a stellar playing the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, in exchange for OF career that spanned 23 seasons...His Major League career was highlighted by 324 wins with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Melvin Upton, Jr., and RHP Craig Kimbrel. Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels. Sutton began his career in 1966 with the Dodgers, where he stayed for 16 years and achieved many of his personal bests...Following his time with the Dodgers, he spent intervals of Upcoming Milestones time with the Astros, Brewers and Angels before retiring in 1988...Sutton ranks seventh on baseball’s all-time strikeout list with 3,574 and appeared in more than 750 games throughout his career...In 1989, Sutton joined Turner Sports as an analyst Needs For Jonny Gomes 28 Runs 500 for Braves telecasts on TBS and spent 18 years covering Atlanta.