WASHINGTON — The Braves have posted a 1.60 ERA during their eight-game winning streak to lower their majors-leading ERA to 1.98. Saturday's 3-1 win was their fifth decided by two runs or fewer during the winning streak.
Eric O’Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning apiece Saturday to trim the bullpen’s majors-leading ERA to 1.35, and Braves relievers haven’t allowed any of their 12 inherited runners to score.
During the eight-game winning streak, opponents have scored one or no runs five times, and the Braves have done this with a rookie catcher (Evan Gattis) getting a majority of starts.
“We’re trying to make it as easy on him as we can as pitchers,” said veteran starter Tim Hudson, who pitched seven innings of four-hit ball Saturday. “He still doesn’t know anything yet about the hitters. He’s learning the hitters. But he understands how we like to pitch. He’s trying to pick our brains, understanding what our strengths are and what we like to do in certain situations.
“I like him back there. He receives well, he blocks the ball well, he’s good back there around the plate.”
Ratings increase: Through the first nine games of the Braves season, Fox Sports South and SportSouth averaged a 5.26 rating that was 36 percent higher than it was through the first nine games in 2012. The opening-day game against the Phillies had an 8.87 rating and a peak of 11.25 in the 10 p.m. quarter-hour, the highest-rated opening day game for the Braves since the 2000 game drew an 11.80 for TBS.
Etc. – Before Saturday the Braves ranked 10th in the National League with a .254 average and eighth with a .329 OBP, but in late-and-close situations they led the league with .324 average and were 2nd with a .410 OBP. Justin Upton was 4-for-5 with a double and a homer in close-and-late situations, and Ramiro Pena was 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs….… Saturday's lineup was the ninth different one used by the Braves in 11 games, not including the pitcher's spot.
