Wednesday’s baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins was entertaining from the first pitch. These two teams have been rivals dating all the way back to when the Miami Marlins were the Florida Marlins. Some younger fans might not know who the Florida Marlins were, but yes they did exist. They moved down to Miami a few years back and had a new ball park, complete with a huge fish statue. However, Wednesday’s game was in Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves Scuffled with Miami Marlins
For whatever reason these two teams have not liked each. It could be that the Braves used to always defeat the Marlins when their franchise just started. Another possible reason is because location wise, the two teams play fairly close. A road trip from Atlanta to Miami can be done in one day. It would be a long trip but well worth the drive. Whatever the reason, when these teams meet, there seems to be pitches thrown very inside, or like last night behind the batters. Benches clear quite often when these teams meet. Wednesday was no different.
Offensively, it was a fun game to watch. Both teams were hitting the ball well and there was plenty of offense. Great pitching from Julio Teheran of the Braves for six innings only allowing one run. Then in the 7th inning the Marlins bats suddenly exploded. Teheran gave up five total runs before being taken out of the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. Dee Gordon of the Marlins led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a triple. Teheran then walked the next two batters. With the bases loaded, all the runners were Teheran’s responsibility. Brian Snitker, the manager of the Braves went to the bullpen, and Jose Salazar came in as a relief pitcher. He threw behind Jose Fernandez, the pitcher for the Marlins. Salazar was not aiming for Fernanadez’s head. When Fernandez backed away from the plate, it may have hit him in the head. Luckily it didn’t.
Both the benches rushed the field for a potential brawl. Cooler heads prevailed and no punches were thrown, just a lot of pushing and shoving. Fernandez may have felt that Salazar was throwing at his head. From the replays, Salazar was throwing behind Fernandez, not at his head.
Looking Forward
Still, the Marlins are trying to win one of the National League Wild Card spots, and the Braves are not going to the post season in 2016. It is a mathematical impossibility. However, the Braves do have a chance to spoil the playoff dreams of teams in their division like the Marlins.
The Washington Nationals are traveling to Atlanta for a three game series beginning Friday night. There should be plenty of Friday night fireworks in the game, as the Braves have a fireworks show after the game. Tensions were running high Wednesday night in Atlanta and there is still three weeks of baseball in the regular season. This will be fun.
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