Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski is closing in on 2,000 hits for his career as he starts to produce for a lineup that can use consistent hitters.
Pierzynski hit singles in each of his first three at-bats against the Mets on Friday at Turner Field to give him 1,999 for his career. Only nine catchers in Major League Baseball history have collected 2,000 hits, a list that is led by Ivan Rodriguez (2,844). Johnny Bench (2,048) is eighth.
Pierzynski had a chance to get his 2,000th hit in dramatic fashion. He went to bat in the seventh inning with two base runners and the Braves trailing 6-3, but Mets lefty reliever Jerry Blevins came on to strike him out.
Pierzynski was on deck when Adonis Garcia grounded out to end the game.
“He will get it,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Maybe not tomorrow but he will get it. That’s a hell of a career.”
Pierzynski is 6-for-14 in his past four games with two walks to raise his batting average to .256 and his on-base percentage to .326.
Pierzynski, 39, had a resurgent season in 2015 while batting .300, his best average since 2009. He was expected to split time at catcher with Christian Bethancourt but ended up starting 104 games because Bethancourt faltered and Pierzynski was one of the team’s most consistent hitters
