After Julio Teheran and Jacob deGrom waged a pitcher’s duel through eight scoreless innings Saturday, it was the Bud and Bartolo show in another pitching clinic for most of Sunday afternoon. Only this time, the Braves won the subsequent battle of bullpens. Big time.
Bud Norris had a season-high eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings of a 5-2 Braves win against the Mets at Turner Field, where Adonis Garcia's three-run homer capped a four-run eighth inning against the bullpen. The Braves got a first-inning homer from Freddie Freeman off Bartolo Colon and led throughout their eighth win in 11 games.
“This group has really picked it up the last couple of weeks and it’s just been a lot of fun to come to the park every day,” said Norris (3-7), who allowed just four singles and no walks. “We’re playing a lot better baseball. Playing hard and gritty, and playing good baseball.”
After the Mets scored two runs in the ninth on three hits including two doubles against Alex Ogando, Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino came in to get the final out and converted his 10th save in 12 opportunities.
“Lot of good things,” said Brian Snitker, who has a 17-21 record since taking over as Braves interim manager. “Bud, Freddie, Adonis … just another real solid ballgame. I love what Bud is doing, really. He made great pitches. (Freeman) got us on the board early and Bud took over.”
Freeman had another three-hit game, including a first-inning homer and third-inning double, accounting for half of the hits allowed by Colon (6-4) in seven innings. The Braves have won five of their past seven games against the second-place Mets, including a split of the four-game series. The Mets won 1-0 Saturday on Kelly Johnson's 11th-inning homer.
Norris improved to 2-1 with a 2.15 ERA in five starts since returning to the starting rotation, including four consecutive Braves wins. He was 1-4 with an 8.74 ERA in five April starts before losing his rotation spot and moving to the bullpen.
“He’s been great ever since he came back into the rotation.” Freeman said. “He’s been pitching great for probably a month-and-a-half now…. I think sometimes a little kick in the butt will help. When he went down to the bullpen he started pitching great. He wanted to get back into the rotation, and he’s been lights-out ever since he came back in.”
Colon gave up a two-out, first-pitch solo homer Freeman in the first inning, then only five more hits and one walk in his seven innings of work. It was Colon’s first loss in six starts at Turner Field, where he’s 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA.
Freeman was 3-for-3 against him and improved to 13-for-27 in his career against the 43-year-old right-hander.
“I just treat him like I do a knuckleballer — you know he’s going to throw strikes, so I just go up there swinging,” Freeman said, smiling. “Today he was a little bit slower than normal, so I saw that and kind of just wanted to sit back and get a good pitch to hit. Seemed to be doing that early in counts, so I came out aggressive, like I normally do against everybody.”
Colon left with the Mets trailing 1-0, and the Braves teed off on left-hander Antonio Bastardo, who faced three batters and gave up two singles — including Nick Markakis’ RBI hit — plus a walk and a balk, and on Verrett, who gave up a homer to the first batter he faced, hot-hitting Garcia.
Norris, after getting into a groove and making big strides over 12 relief appearances, was thrust back into the rotation after Mike Foltynewicz was scratched from a June 4 start at Dodger Stadium.
He worked five strong innings in that game against the Dodgers and has remained in the rotation since, steadily increasing his trade value while helping to steady a youthful Braves rotation – like the Braves had in mind when they signed the veteran to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in November.
“These are quality starts against good teams,” Snitker said. “I think we’ve won the last four games he’s started. He’s given us a chance, he’s been very competitive, and we need him right now, too. He’s filling a big spot in our rotation, and we’re counting on him.”
Before Sunday, Colon, a 5-foot-11, 285-pound miracle of a strike-throwing machine, was 5-0 with a 2.63 ERA in six starts against the Braves since the beginning of the 2015 season. He needed only 19 pitches to get through the first two innings despite allowing two extra-base hits in the first, but one of those hits was a big one.
And Norris was not just his equal Sunday, he was better than Colon.
