Mike Minor has seen the inconsistent Atlanta Braves offense in action this season, so he decided to do something about it himself, driving in the game’s first run and scoring another on two hits, including a leadoff double in the 8th. His offensive “explosion” sparked the Braves to a 6-1 victory over the New York Mets Thursday night.
Minor (6-8) also pitched a gem for the fourth straight outing, garnering his 6th win of the season. He went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, and allowing no walks while striking out five. Minor was perfect through the first four innings before Lucas Duda flared a single just out of the reach of a leaping Andrelton Simmons.
In his last four outings, Minor is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.22 (FIP 3.13), pitching 28 1/3 innings, striking out 24, and only allowing seven walks (0.847 WHIP). At one point over his last two starts, only one of 39 batters reached base against Minor. As important as the improved pitching is the improved inning count, pitching into or past the 7th inning in each appearance.
Simmons started the scoring in the 2nd with a two out walk. He advanced to second on a single by Laird, and came around to score on a sharp single by Minor.
In the 8th, Minor led off with a double. Emilio Bonifacio, who went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI, followed with a wind-aided triple over the head of Juan Lagares (which is HARD to do), driving in Minor for the second run. Freddie Freeman then singled home Bonifacio to plate the third run.
The Braves added three more in the 9th on a 2-run homer by pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit and a Bonifacio single that scored Jason Heyward.
David Carpenter and Anthony Varvaro closed out the game with an inning each for the Braves.
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