‘Folty’ earns win as Braves end losing streak at three

Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz made his Braves debut Friday, and as advertised, he threw sizzling fastballs from his first pitch until his last.

It doesn’t matter how hard Foltynewicz throws, though, if he can’t keep those fastballs low against big-league hitters. It bodes well for the rookie that he settled down and found his command and poise during his first career start while also adding some surprising punch at the plate.

Foltynewicz earned the win in the 4-3 Braves victory at Turner Field. He allowed two runs in the first inning, but just one more, an unearned run, while making it through five innings. He also smacked a two-run double for his first career hit.

“It’s awesome,” Foltynewicz said. “It’s something you dream about is pitching in the major leagues, and getting a win is pretty incredible.”

Braves outfielder Kelly Johnson’s two-out, two-run home run in the fifth inning put the Braves ahead for good. The Braves’ bullpen pitched four scoreless innings to secure the victory.

The Braves acquired Foltynewicz from the Astros for catcher Evan Gattis. He began the season at Triple-A Gwinnett after a rocky performance in spring training, but was called up to be the Braves’ fifth starter after Trevor Cahill was sent to the bullpen.

Foltynewicz allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings with three walks and two strikeouts.

“There is a lot to like about him,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He’s a guy that’s got a lot of ability. He’s got a good fastball. He’s a big, strong kid. He’s a young guy, so there’s a lot of upside there.”

Nearly as impressive as Foltynewicz’s pitching was the two-out, two-run double that trimmed Cincinnati’s lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning. It was Foltynewicz’a first career hit in only his second professional plate appearance. He never batted in the minor leagues or in 16 relief appearances for the Astros last season.

Before the game Gonzalez said he’d be happy if Foltynewicz just got a sacrifice bunt down. The pitcher never got the chance to do that because he went to bat with two outs in both his at-bats.

Foltynewicz grounded out to pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (2-2) in the second inning.

“I felt comfortable after the first at-bat,” Gonzalez said. “He looks like he’s going to put the ball in play. Obviously you don’t know he’s going to split a gap and get two runs and help himself get his first victory in the big leagues.”

After Andrelton Simmons singled and Eric Young Jr. walked in the fourth inning, Foltynewicz ripped DeSclafani’s first pitch to left-center.

“I was a little late on the first one, so I told myself I was going to swing right when he let it go the second time, and I hit it,” Foltynewicz said. “It was pretty cool.”

The Reds teed off on Foltynewicz’s high fastballs for an early 2-0 lead.

After Billy Hamilton led off the game with a long fly out to right field, Zack Cozart and Joey Votto hit back-to-back singles and later advanced on a double steal. Jay Bruce walked to load the bases, and Brandon Phillips followed with a two-run single. Marlon Byrd’s drive to left died in the wind and fell to Johnson at the warning track.

Hamiton smacked a two-out double to right in the second inning before Cozart lined out to left on another ball hit hard. Foltynewicz induced just one ground ball through his first three innings, an out by DeSclafani.

“Nice crowd out there today and his first start in a Braves uniform, and I think he was just a little ramped up,” Gonzalez said.

Foltynewicz seemed to settle down from there. He got Todd Frazier to ground into a double play in the third inning after walking Frazier. Foltynewicz allowed a run on DeSclafani’s sacrifice fly, but it was unearned because Phillips had advanced to third on a passed ball by Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

Votto singled with one out in the fifth and stole second base with Frazier at bat. Foltynewicz struck out Frazier and got Bruce to line out, ending the threat and putting him in line for the win after Johnson homered in the bottom of the inning.

“‘Folty’ pitched great and got the spark going (with the double), to be honest with you,” Johnson said. “We were a little dead and then after that, that got us up in the dugout a little bit.”

Pierzynski led off the second inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. That’s the longest active streak in the majors and longest to begin a season by a Braves player since Edgar Renteria’s 26-game run to start the 2006 season.