ATLANTA —
Rookie Andrelton Simmons made amends for his first career error by hitting a two-run, go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat Baltimore 4-2 on Friday night to end the Orioles’ five-game winning streak.
Brian McCann’s first-inning homer off Brian Matusz (5-7) gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead. The Orioles scored two runs off Tommy Hanson in the fourth with help from a throwing error by Simmons at shortstop and a fielding error by Michael Bourn in center field.
Chad Durbin (3-0) struck out the two batters he faced after taking over for Hanson in the sixth.
The Braves snapped a four-game losing streak.
Matusz fell to 0-6 in seven career interleague starts. He gave up four runs, nine hits and three walks in 5 2-3 innings.
The Orioles began the night one-half game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. New York beat Washington 7-2.
Simmons had three hits.
Kris Medlen, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game, gave up one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings to set up closer Craig Kimbrel, who pitched the ninth for his 19th save.
The Orioles hit into four double plays to boost their total to 72, the most in the major leagues. Matt Wieters’ grounder to Simmons with the bases loaded in the third started an inning-ending double play. Pinch-hitter Nick Johnson hit into a double play to end the game.
Hanson showed his frequent disagreement with home plate umpire Derryl Cousins’ strike zone as he set a career-high with six walks in 5 1-3 innings.
Hanson gave up four hits and two unearned runs. He was pulled after consecutive walks in the sixth. He took a look at Cousins as he walked off the field.
The Braves made several strong defensive plays in the game, but the defense let Hanson down with two errors in the fourth. Simmons threw high to first after fielding Mark Reynolds’ grounder. Reynolds scored as Bourn bobbled Wilson Betemit’s double in center, allowing Reynolds to score from first and Betemit to advance to third. It also was Bourn’s first error.
Betemit scored, barely beating right fielder Jason Heyward’s throw to the plate, on Steve Pearce’s fly ball. Betemit, who began his career with the Braves, had two hits.
Simmons’ homer, which landed in the first row of the stands in left, drove in Matt Diaz, who singled, to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead. It was the second homer for Simmons, who made his debut on June 2.
Pinch-hitter Jack Wilson followed with a triple to center and he scored on Bourn’s soft single up the middle.
Chris Davis, normally a first baseman or designated hitter, made his first career start in right field for Baltimore. He made a tumbling catch near the foul line on Chipper Jones’ sinking liner in the sixth.
With Freddie Freeman still bothered by a sore left index finger and thumb, Atlanta’s Martin Prado made his first start of the season at first base.
Prado delivered with a strong play in the first inning as he snagged a grounder by Davis and threw to Simmons to start a double play. Dan Uggla opened the game with a strong play at second base, diving to his left to stop a grounder by Brian Roberts before completing the play with the throw to first.
Prado made another strong play to end the seventh as he made a leaping stab of another sharply hit grounder by Davis.
Bourn, charging toward the infield, made a diving catch of J.J. Hardy’s shallow fly ball in the fifth.
NOTES: The Braves designated RHP Livan Hernandez for assignment. Hernandez, 37, gave up seven hits and five runs in 1 2-3 innings against Toronto on Sunday. He was 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA and one save. ... Orioles OF Nolan Reimold, who has been on the DL since May 4 with a herniated disc in his neck, will see a neurosurgeon in Baltimore. Manager Buck Showalter said he expects a report Monday. .... Hanson’s strikeout of Wieters in the sixth was the 500th of his career. ... Brandon Beachy, who leads the majors with a 1.98 ERA, will face Baltimore’s Jason Hammel on Saturday night.
Local Sports
Simmons hits HR, Braves beat Orioles 4-2
- Local Sports
-
-
Prince Automotive donates new baseball equipment
Prince Automotive of Valdosta is supporting the Valdosta community through its partnership with the Valdosta/Lowndes County Recreation Department. The dealership has joined forces with the national Chevrolet Youth Baseball program to provide new equipment, instructional clinics, and a monetary donation.
-
Needmore holds final races before big Memorial Day weekend
Saturday night racing at Needmore Speedway saw some new faces in victory lane.
That wasn’t the case in the Late Model division, as Valdosta's Gene Ross drove to victory once again, but not without some close competition from Steven Roberts who came in second.
In the Limited Late Model class, it was another win for Cole Exum, with Gene Maine finishing second in the NAPA Auto Parts special. -
VSU softball wins South Region, headed to nationals
For the third time in four years, and second in a row, Valdosta State’s softball team will play in the national championship tournament.
The Blazers won their third South Region championship Saturday, beating Alabama-Huntsville 8-3 in game three of the best-of-three series at Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park. -
VSU baseball season comes to an end
Delta State scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Valdosta State 7-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at the UT Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.
-
Blazers take 1-0 series lead
Angela O’Connor launched a pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, tying the game against Alabama-Huntsville in the bottom of the sixth inning, and sparking the Blazers and their fans along the way.
-
Blazer baseball stays alive, beats Stillman
Valdosta State scored five runs in the first inning to defeat Stillman 6-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at UT Baseball Field Friday morning.
-
Lowndes’ Harwell, Wortham sign with Valdosta State
Lowndes’ Ty Harwell and David Wortham won’t have to go far to play college baseball.
-
Blazers host respected rival UAH in Super Regional
One would expect a matchup featuring two of the top softball programs in Division II to come in the national championship game.
Unfortunately for Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville, who have combined to appear in four straight national championship games, they won’t be meeting in title game on Memorial Day in Salem, Va. -
Pop Warner Football coming to Valdosta
Pop Warner Football is coming to Valdosta.
The nationally known organization that puts an emphasis on education and developing American youth has been established in the Valdosta area and will begin playing football this August. -
Blazers lose to Delta State, fall to loser’s bracket
If the Valdosta State baseball team is going to win the South Region Tournament, the Blazers going to have to do it from the loser’s bracket.
The Blazers (33-17) dropped their first game of the tournament Thursday, falling to Delta State 4-2 at UT Baseball Stadium.
VSU will face Stillman College, which lost to No. 1 seed and tournament host Tampa Thursday, Friday at 11 a.m. to advance to the weekend portion of the tournament. The loser will be eliminated. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
