LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – B.J. Upton went 3-for-3 with three singles Sunday, but it was the Braves center fielder's 2-for-2 in the caught-stealing category that drew good-natured razzing from manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Upton was picked off by Marlins left-hander Wade LeBlanc after a leadoff single in the second inning of the Braves’ 10-2 loss, and picked off again to end the fourth inning.
Gonzalez said he told Upton that if he got on again he would pinch-run for him so he wouldn’t get picked off.
Upton was attempting to steal and took off too early in the second inning. LeBlanc threw to first baseman Jeff Mahoney, who threw to second baseman Chone Figgins for the tag. In the fourth, LeBlanc threw to first base and picked off Upton, who is 2-for-5 in stolen bases this spring.
“I said, what would you call three times getting picked off?” Gonzalez said, smiling. “He said, ‘stupidity.’”
Upton raised his batting average to .382 (13-for-34) with three doubles, a home run, no walks and eight strikeouts.
J.R. stays un-scored-upon: Hard-throwing Braves prospect J.R. Graham pitched two scoreless innings of two-hit ball with no walks and two strikeouts in the eighth and ninth Sunday. In four appearances this spring, the right-hander has allowed five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.
Graham has a repertoire that features a slider and overpowering fastball consistently clocked at 96-98 mph this spring. He went 12-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 26 starts at high-A Lynchburgh and Double-A Mississippi last season, and is expected to begin the 2013 season in the starting rotation at either Mississippi or Triple-A Gwinnett.
“The kid’s got plenty of stuff to be successful up in the major league level,” Gonzalez said.
Short hops: Reliever Eric O'Flaherty had no problems Sunday when he threw about 25 pitches in a batting practice session against two hitters from Braves minor league camp. The lefty has yet to make his spring debut after straining his groin early in camp. He could throw more batting practice or pitch in his first game in the next couple of days…. After using a designated hitter in the first 17 games, the Braves plan to have pitchers bat for most or all remaining Grapefruit League games, Gonzalez said, even if some opponents elect to use a DH…. The Braves play Washington Monday (1:05 p.m.) at Viera, Fla., with Paul Maholm facing Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg.
