Atlanta Braves starter Mike Minor has been struggling mightily of late. In his previous eight starts, Minor supported a 7.65 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. He has been putting runners on base by the truck load and allowing them to score in bunches. Luckily for him, the Braves offense showed up early and gave him a comfortable lead, which resulted in an 8-3 victory by the Braves.

After a shaky first three innings, where Minor allowed one run on four hits and one walk, the Braves left-hander was able to settle down the next 4 2/3 innings after his lineup put a six spot on the board in the third inning.

The final pitching line for Mike Minor came out to 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while walking one and striking out six. After giving up a solo shot to Yangervis Solarte in the third, Minor gave up another solo home run to Padres catcher Rene Rivera in the sixth. The third and final run for the Padres came in the seventh inning after Minor had left the game. It was and RBI single by Tommy Medica off of Anthony Varvaro who came in for Minor.

It seemed Minor was on his way to another shaky outing, but after the Braves gave him the lead it seemed Minor was able to take a deep breath and focus on attacking hitters without fear of giving up a home run that would decide the game. Maybe this outing can jump start him season and start pitching with same results he did a year ago.

Atlanta’s lineup was clutch on Sunday afternoon as they were able to go 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position. It all started in the third inning with a leadoff double by Gerald Laird followed by another double by Andrelton Simmons that scored Laird and tied the game at one apiece. After an unsuccessful bunt attempt by the pitcher Minor, B.J. Upton laced a single up the middle the put runners at first and third. Tommy La Stella followed suit with an RBI single of his own that drove in Simmons and gave the Braves a 2-1 lead.

Padres’ starter Eric Stults walked Freddie Freeman on four pitches to load the bases. Justin Upton struck out the very next at-bat making it two outs and the bases still loaded for Chris Johnson. After fouling off a couple pitches Johnson was able drive the ball to right field past the first baseman Grandal to drive in two more runs putting the Braves up 4-1. On the very next pitch, Ryan Doumit smacked a 68 MPH curveball through the left side of the infield for a 2-run single expanding the lead to 6-1.

The Braves were able to add on two runs in the seventh inning after Eric Stults’ day was done throwing six innings allowing six runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out five. It all started with a 2-out single by B.J. Upton. After a stolen base by Upton, La Stella and Freeman walked putting the bases loaded with Justin Upton coming to the plate. Padres’ manager Bud Black made a pitching change, bringing in right-hander Blaine Boyer to replace the lefty Alex Torres. Upton was able to barrel up a fastball down in the zone for a double that scored two runs making the Braves lead 8-3.

That score held up as relievers David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve shut the door down in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

This Atlanta victory capped off a great day for Braves Country as three former Braves, Bobby Cox, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine were enshrined into the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown before the game. The Braves look pick up the series win on Monday afternoon. If they come away victorious, the Braves will finish the 11-game homestand with a winning record.

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About the author
Parker White
Sports journalist from Midlothian, Virginia. Co-editor and writer for the NBA and MLB sections at VAVEL USA. Follow me on Twitter @spudwhite1022