Coming into the 2015 season, 17-year veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski was supposed to be the backup to prized catching prospect Christian Bethancourt. Well over halfway through the season Bethancourt is back in Triple-A and the 39-year old Pierzynski is having one of his better seasons in recent memory. Tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers Pierzynski racked up three hits, including a solo homerun, to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory. This was Pierzynski’s third-straight game with at least three hits.

After leaving his major league debut early because of cramping and dehydration, left-hander Manny Banuelos (1-0, 0.82 ERA) was able to leave the game on his own power while picking up his first career victory. Banuelos had to work hard tonight as his command wasn’t crisp, but he battled and finished the game going 5.1 innings allowing only one run on five hits. However, he did walk three batters, which led to the high pitch count, and he struck out only one.

The Brewers sent a rookie of their own to the mound as right-hander Tyler Cravy (0-2, 3.00 ERA) is still on search of his first career win. Cravy didn’t pitch bad as he went six innings allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out three and walked only one.

Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy kicked things off in the first inning as he took Banuelos deep to right center, giving Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. That would be short lived as the other starting catcher A.J. Pierzynski matched him with a solo dinger of his own to left center field tying the game at one. Pierzynski would one-up Lucroy as he gave the Braves a 2-1 lead with a two-out bloop single to left field that would score Kelly Johnson.

Atlanta’s offense would continue to add on runs as Cameron Maybin upped his average with runners-in-scoring-position to .403 as he knocked in Eury Perez with a two-out triple, his first three-bagger of the season. Nick Markakis made it a 4-1 Braves lead with a broken bat single into center field to score Jace Peterson. All four runs by the Braves came with two outs tonight.

Playing in Miller Park no lead is safe. The Brewers offense would make it close as Shane Peterson drove in Khris Davis with a pinch-hit RBI double cutting the lead to 4-2. Adam Lind continued to show off his power stroke as he launched a solo home run to center field. That is Lind’s 15th home run of the season and his fourth in the month of July.

The Braves bullpen did a nice job to contain this high-powered Brewers offense which has bludgeoned teams in recent weeks. Arodys Vizcaino made his season debut after serving an 80-game suspension for PED’s, and it was successful as he forced a inning-ending double play. Mike Foltynewicz was called up today to give Fredi Gonzalez more depth in the bullpen. He didn’t fair to well as he only lasted two-thirds of an inning giving up one run on two hits and a walk. The newly promoted David Carpenter came in and ended the inning on a strikeout.

Atlanta closer Jason Grilli pitched his most dominant inning of the season as he struck out the side on 13 pitches, 12 of which were strikes, while picking up his 24th save of the season.

GAME THREE MATCHUP:

The Braves will look to sweep the Brewers tomorrow afternoon at 2:10 PM EST with Julio Teheran (6-4, 4.60 ERA) taking the mound. Teheran is coming off a nice outing against the Philadelphia Phillies as he went seven innings allowing one unearned run with four strikeouts. The Atlanta right-hander has been atrocious on the road as he supports a 1-4 record with 7.40 ERA.

Milwaukee will turn to right-hander Mike Fiers (4-7, 3.83 ERA) to avoid the three-game sweep at home. The Brewers should feel confident as Fiers has been great in his last three starts as he’s gone 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA.