While much attention was focused on the big hitting by Andrelton Simmons in his first game back from the World Baseball Classic, the shortstop wasn’t the only Braves hitter with two homers, a double and four RBIs on Wednesday.
Freddie Freeman had all those and a single during a 4-for-4 performance that continued the first baseman’s hitting surge and helped the Braves pound Pittsburgh 18-9, giving them 37 runs scored in their past two Grapefruit League games.
Freeman is 9-for-20 with five home runs in his past six games, raising his average to .373 with a team-high seven homers in 59 at-bats.
“Maybe the most naturally talented hitter we have in the lineup,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Freeman, 23, who hit .259 with 23 homers and a team-high 94 RBIs in his second season despite missing more than a week with vision problems and being affected much of the season by a finger injury.
Pitching roughed up: While the Braves have scored 35 runs in the past two games, against the Phillies and Pirates, Atlanta pitchers have allowed 19 runs in those wins, including 14 earned runs in nine innings against starters Kris Medlen and Mike Minor.
Minor was charged with 10 hits, five runs and three walks in four innings Wednesday against Pittsburgh, after giving up six hits, four runs and four walks in five innings of his previous start Thursday against the Cardinals.
The left-hander has a 5.50 ERA in five starts, allowing 23 hits, 11 runs and 12 walks with 15 strikeouts in 18 innings.
“I don’t know, it’s just one of those things where I threw a lot of fastballs again, a lot of first-pitch fastballs, and we didn’t throw many off-speed pitches,” said Minor, who pitched to backup-catcher candidate Evan Gattis. “We didn’t go inside a lot to righties. So those things will be different during the season.”
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he wasn’t concerned with Minor’s struggles in the past week.
“Just missed his command a little bit,” he said.
Minor said he recently began to work on a two-seam fastball (a sinker) that he didn’t locate well Wednesday.
Walden return: Pitching for only the second time all spring and first time since Feb. 23, Jordan Walden shook off some rust and said his troublesome back didn't given him any problems during an inning of work Wednesday. He gave up an infield single, one run and two walks and had one strikeout in the fifth inning.
He got an epidural for pain from a bulging disc in his back.
“I felt good, back was fine,” he said. “I’ve just got to work on my mechanics. I think everything will be fine. Ever since I got that epidural shot I really haven’t even felt it. Feeling good.
“Now I’ve just got to get my command and everything with pitching back on track.”
Gonzalez said it’s still possible Walden could start the season on the 25-man roster and not the 15-day disabled list.
Etc.: The Braves reassigned lefty reliever Dusty Hughes to their minor league camp Wednesday. The next round of roster cuts is expected after Saturday's split-squad games. … Reliever Jonny Venters hasn't pitched since his four-walk outing March 13, but the lefty and Gonzalez both said Venters is healthy and got time off from games only because the spring is longer than usual and because he made six appearances in the first 2 1/2 weeks of games.
