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
-
-
Sending the Blazers off
The Valdosta State softball team made the long journey to Salem, Va. Tuesday, leaving Valdosta at 10:30 a.m. with devoted fans cheering them out of the parking lot.
-
All-Region teams announced
Lowndes was one win away from a trip to the Class AAAAAA state semifinals, and the success by the Vikings this season showed when the All-Region 1 baseball teams were announced Monday.
-
Lowndes tennis dominates
Lowndes’ tennis team dominated the All-Region 1 teams, with coach Heath Phelps garnering Coach of the Year honors on both the girls’ and boys’ side.
-
Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby a success
The 13th annual Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby held May 11 drew 150 children from ages 3 to 15 who competed for trophies while learning how to fish.
-
Valdosta's Alakulppi ties for 2nd at state
Valdosta freshman golfer Luukas Alakulppi fired a 71 to finish in a tie for second at the Class AAAAAAA state golf tournament in Tifton.
-
Brooks County's Parrish in Rivals Top 100
Brooks County rising senior Malkolm Parrish is ranked the 73rd best high school football prospect in the nation, according to the release of the Rivals.com Top 100.
-
Summer camp information
VSU baseball camp coming soon
-
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. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
