After breaking out for 14 runs on Wednesday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves continued to hurt baseballs against the Diamondbacks, scoring 10 runs against Josh Collmenter and a solid bullpen. Mike Minor turned in yet another incredible start for the Braves, working eight innings of two-run ball.
Freddie Freeman hit an opposite-field two-run homer in the first inning to give his club a 2-0 lead. The D-backs scratched across two runs courtesy of poor defense from Juan Francisco while covering third base and a dropped popup from Dan Uggla.
With the score tied 2-2 in the sixth, the Braves benefitted from some incredible luck. Brian McCann somehow rolled a ball down the third base line off the end of his bat, and that was followed by a bloop single from Dan Uggla to right field. Collmenter was pulled for left-handed reliever Wade Miley, who promptly surrendered an RBI-double to Jason Heyward and bloop single to Juan Francisco to extend the lead to 5-2.
Atlanta was at it again in the seventh, scoring two more runs on a monster home run from Freeman, his second of the evening. In the eighth, Martin Prado hit a two-run double down the left field line, and he was driven in by a Freeman double that went into the right field corner.
Minor was tremendous on Thursday night. He struck out nine Diamondbacks, did not issue a walk, and allowed just five hits. The young lefty is showing just how dominant he can be on the mound and is on quite a roll right now.
The Braves and D-backs will meet once again on Friday night with Brandon Beachy and Trevor Cahill on the mound. First pitch is set for 9:40 ET.
For more on the club, head over to Talking Chop.