{"id":55242,"date":"2022-06-03T17:04:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T21:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=55242"},"modified":"2022-06-03T17:04:35","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T21:04:35","slug":"diamondbacks-braves-20220603","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2022\/06\/03\/diamondbacks-braves-20220603\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamondbacks Take Series from Braves, Head East for Ten Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 The Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> hosted the Atlanta Braves<\/a> for a three-game series Monday through Wednesday. They took the first two games of the series with the defending champions. This series started the day after the Diamondbacks finished being swept in four games by the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>. What an eventful series it was. It was not only exciting, but it was one the Diamondbacks might be able to look back on as a key moment in the season when all is said and done.<\/p>\n

(Author’s Note: I struggled with my health throughout this series, so I could not provide my usual coverage. Now that I’m feeling better, I’m presenting it in this format.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Game One: Diamondbacks 6, Braves 2<\/h2>\n

A fifth-inning ejection of manager Torey Lovullo seemed to inspire the Arizona Diamondbacks, who scored three runs the next time they batted to seal a 6\u20132 victory over the defending champion Atlanta Braves Monday evening at Chase Field. Diamondbacks right fielder Pavin Smith went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer, while second baseman Ketel Marte went 2-for-3 with a single and a fifth-inning two-run double and left fielder David Peralta went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Braves third baseman Austin Riley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.<\/p>\n

Braves Strike Early, Diamondbacks Respond<\/h3>\n

The Braves scored a first-inning run off Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen thanks to two singles and a wild pitch. Designated hitter Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. hit the former and advanced to third on the latter, which came from shortstop Dansby Swanson. A wild pitch plated Acu\u00f1a and advanced Swanson to second. But a strikeout, flyout, and grounder to second left Swanson stranded, the first of six Braves to be left in scoring position.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks responded quickly and forcefully in the bottom half off rookie fireballer Spencer Strider, who made his first major league start Monday night. A two-out infield single by Marte and bloop double into shallow left by Peralta brought up Smith, who clobbered a monumental drive deep into the right-field bleachers to make the score 3\u20131.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like we were kind of due for one,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe got kind of lucky (on the two hits). Then I got ahead in the count, got a fastball I could hit, and I put a good swing on it.\u201d Strider can pitch over 100 mph, but, according to Smith, the Diamondbacks \u201cwere definitely prepared.\u201d Before the game, the Diamondbacks \u201ccranked (the pitching machine) up pretty hard from 50 feet to where it was harder than what he threw. So it made it\u2014 it’s kind of like swinging a doughnut, where everything feels lighter. It slowed things down\u2026(and) helped for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braves Cut into Lead, Ejection Lights Fire under Diamondbacks<\/h3>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>