Before heading north to Atlanta via cars or team charter flight, the Braves needed to complete their Grapefruit League schedule Thursday afternoon against Houston. They did it quickly.
Andrelton Simmons hit a home run, and Paul Maholm and five relievers combined for a five-hitter in a 2-0 win at Champion Stadium that lasted just 2 hours, 9 minutes. Soon afterward, Wide World of Sports and Disney World were in rearview mirrors.
“We’re ready to go,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said a couple of minutes after his team closed the 35-game Grapefruit schedule with their 20th win. “Guys are champing on the bits to get it going.”
The Braves have an exhibition game against some of their prospects Saturday at Double-A Mississippi, then a workout Sunday at Turner Field before opening at home Monday night against Philadelphia.
Maholm faced two batters over the minimum in a four-inning tuneup before his Game 2 start against the Phillies. He allowed two hits and one walk with two strikeouts and induced a double-play grounder after a first-inning single.
Maholm was gone before reporters entered the clubhouse. He finished 4-1 with a 1.53 ERA in seven spring starts.
Kimbrel settles down: The first three Astros that Craig Kimbrel faced in the sixth inning reached on a walk, a hit-by-pitch and another walk. Pitching coach Roger McDowell went out to talk with the Braves closer, who retired the next three on a pop-up, strikeout and fly to center.
“I think he just got the hamster back on the wheel,” Gonzalez said. “He got out of his delivery a little bit.”
Kimbrel had only two “clean” innings (no walks or hits) in eight Grapefruit League appearances and had a notable rough outing in a Team USA loss to the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He had as many walks (seven) as strikeouts (seven) in eight innings with the Braves.
Walden ready: With reliever Jonny Venters (elbow) out indefinitely, the Braves feel fortunate Jordan Walden seems ready after missing nearly four weeks with a bulging disc in his back. He had two strikeouts in a perfect inning Thursday in his fourth appearance in nine days since getting an epidural.
Etc.: Simmons missed 3 1/2 weeks of spring games while playing for Netherlands in the WBC, then went 7-for-24 with two doubles and three home runs in eight games after rejoining the Braves. … Lefty Daniel Rodriguez was reassigned to Triple-A Gwinnett after Wednesday's loss against Washington. The Braves still had 29 on the camp roster, but that included Venters and rehabbing Brian McCann, Paul Janish and Brandon Beachy, who'll all go on the DL.
