As much fun as Braves fans have had watching back-to-back ninth inning heroics out west, and a six-run barrage Friday night, the Braves won those games on the strength of three consecutive quality starts from Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, and Tommy Hanson.
When the Braves got back to the rookie portion of the rotation, and Randall Delgado, things got a little more adventurous. The Braves were left with a 4-2 loss to show for it, as the Pirates evened the series 1-1 on Saturday night.
The bullpen kept it close, and the Braves manufactured a run in the seventh, but they got no closer after going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and striking out 14 times overall.
“I thought Livan (Hernandez) and (Cristhian) Martinez did a terrific job keeping those guys right there,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Our offense just didn’t do it today. They’ve been doing it for the last three weeks.”
Without Brian McCann who’s resting a sore ribcage muscle and Chipper Jones who took a scheduled day out of the lineup, the Braves offense was left to other devices. Michael Bourn, Martin Prado and Tyler Pastornicky had multi-hit nights, but the Braves struggled to convert in the clutch.
The Braves have managed only three runs in 11 innings against starters A.J. Burnett and Erik Bedard in the first two games of the series.
“They made pitches and didn’t miss too many spots,” said Jason Heyward, who doubled, stole a base and scored to cut it to 4-2 in the sixth. “When they threw a strike, it was where they wanted it or off the plate.”
The Braves have lost only four times in their past 17 games, and the 22-year-old Delgado took half of them.
He got beat on a grand slam by Gerardo Parra in his previous start in Arizona, but the Pirates went more for a slow burn on Saturday while amassing four runs in a season-low 4 1/3 innings from Delgado.
“We’re trying to keep running him back out there, keep trying to get him through some stuff and he just couldn’t get it going today,” Gonzalez said. “Couldn’t get his breaking pitches over.”
The Pirates were averaging 2.21 runs entering the game -- worst in the major leagues -- but jumped on Delgado with three runs on six hits in the first two innings. That was as many runs as they’d scored in the previous four starts by Erik Bedard.
The eight-year veteran of the American League took advantage by winning his first game as a Pirate to move to 1-4 with a 2.48 ERA. He struck out nine in five innings and left after 98 pitches, having allowed only a run.
Earlier in the week, the Braves sent the struggling Jair Jurrjens to the minor leagues when many thought it would be Delgado, especially after the rookie’s five-run outing in Arizona. But the fifth starter’s job remains his. The Braves optioned Cory Gearrin to Triple-A Gwinnett after Saturday’s game to make room for Tim Hudson when he comes off the disabled list for Sunday’s start.
A second straight loss by Delgado fueled the Kris Medlen starter-vs-reliever debate over whether he should replace Delgado in the rotation. But the Braves still want Medlen in the bullpen keeping the back end fresh, while Delgado starts.
“There’s something to keep working towards with him,” Gonzalez said of Delgado. “I think (pitching coach) Roger (McDowell) picked up some stuff. A couple days from now they’ll be in the bullpen and make some adjustments. He’s a quick learner and wants to learn. He wants to pitch in the big leagues and he’ll be fine.”
Delgado threw only 11 strikes in a 22-pitch first inning while walking two batters. He gave up three hits in a four-batter span in the second inning, as Alex Presley and Jose Tabata drove in two more runs. His first clean inning came in the fourth after which he’d already thrown 84 pitches. Delgado’s ERA climbed to 6.30 and his night ended after back-to-back doubles ended his night in the fifth.
Delgado said he struggled with his fastball command -- something the veteran Heyward can see affecting him.
“Up here as a pitcher, you’ve got to throw offspeed for strikes more often than your fastball sometimes to get ahead,” Heyward said “From what I’ve seen playing with Randall, his best pitch is his fastball. When he’s not able to go up there and say ‘let me get this over and then let’s go to offspeed’ (he struggles). It’s going to take some adjustments.”
The Braves cut the Pirates lead to 4-2 off former Brave Chris Resop using Heyward’s leadoff double, but stranded Pastornicky after he singled and took third on a Tabata error. A pinch-hitting Jones grounded out to strand him there.
Pastornicky had fought for 10 pitches – all fastballs – before timing one to right field. That single gave him seven hits in 12 at-bats since his return from a three-day breather to clear his head. He’s raised his average from .175 to .259 in four games.
“I think it might be my longest at-bat ever,” Pastornicky said. “I felt like I was in the box for 10 minutes. All fastballs. He saw Chipper on the on deck circle so I think he was trying to get me out. I was lucky enough to get a pitch I could handle.”
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