It was not Aaron Harang’s solid seven innings of pitching, but rather how he spent the three hours and 41 minutes prior to taking the mound Saturday night that stood out to Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.
While torrential rain continuously postponed the second game of the Braves’ three-game series with the Nationals, the veteran right-handed pitcher kept himself busy in the batting cage over warming up in the bullpen.
Harang took to the stationary bike and kept busy in the batting cage leading up to the game’s eventual 10:51 p.m. start time.
Gonzalez said he was pleased with the 36-year-old’s unwavering activity throughout the delay. When the weather began clearing up, Harang told Gonzalez he’d only need 20 pitches or so in the batting cage before he was ready to go.
“And sure enough, he did that,” Gonzalez said.
Of the Braves’ pitchers, Harang was likely the best suited for handling such an abundance of idle time. After the near four-hour delay, Harang pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits and just one run in the Braves’ 11-inning 4-1 loss to the Nationals.
“I’ve kind of enjoyed watching him maneuver through a lineup, because he doesn’t give in,” Gonzalez said. “He knows what he wants to do and also he has command of his pitches which is probably up and foremost the most important thing.”
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