SB Nation Atlanta - Braves Vs. Diamondbacks: Atlanta Takes Three Games In Phoenix

Freddie Freeman Named National League Player Of The Week

2012-04-23T21:19:33Z

Freddie Freeman got off to a bit of a slow start to begin the 2012 campaign, but the young first baseman really turned it on last week against the Mets and Diamondbacks. Despite some tough competition from Matt Kemp, who Freeman and the Braves will face this week, the 22-year-old slugger was named the National League's Player of the Week.

Atlanta went 5-2 last week and Freeman played a key role in every game. We have a bit more on his accomplishment after the jump.

According to an official release from MLB, Freeman batted .478 with three homers, five doubles and 14 RBIs last week. His slugging percentage? A cool 1.087. His best game came on Thursday night in Arizona, when he hit two homers and drove in a total of five runs as the Braves won 10-2.

A big congratulations to Freddie for his work this past week. I'm sure this won't be the last time the young slugger takes home Player of the Week honors in his career.

For more on Freeman and the Braves, check out Talking Chop.

Braves vs. Diamondbacks Recap: Freddie Freeman Leads Atlanta To A Series Victory

2012-04-23T12:02:44Z

As we alluded to in our series preview, the Atlanta Braves always seem to play poorly when at Chase Field. Despite not having a healthy Chipper Jones in three of the four games played this week, the Braves still managed to take three out of the four games played at Chase Field this past weekend. Atlanta is now 10-6 on the young season after starting out losing their first four games.

In game one, the Braves rode a stellar start from Mike Minor to a blowout 10-2 victory. Freddie Freeman belted two home runs and drove in another with a double.

Game two featured more of the same from Freeman and the rest of the lineup, but it was Brandon Beachy who stole the show working eight spectacular innings. The club won by a score of 9-1.

The third game was a bit of a nail biter with Tommy Hanson on the mound. The Braves and Diamondbacks exchanged a scoring runs in the first two innings, and it was a solo homer from Dan Uggla that proved to be the difference as Atlanta won 3-2.

The fourth and final game saw the Braves lose by a score of 6-4. Randall Delgado pitched well except for a complete meltdown in the second inning, which included walking in a run with the pitcher at the plate and then surrendering a grand slam to leadoff hitter Gerardo Parra.

The Braves will continue their west coast road swing on Monday night as they take on Matt Kemp and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For more on the team, check out Talking Chop.

Braves Vs. Diamondbacks: Braves Drop Series Finale With Arizona, 6-4

2012-04-23T00:20:14Z

Five seemed to be the magic number for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, as the D-Backs rode a five-run second-inning outburst to a 6-4 home victory on Sunday, snapping a five-game losing streak for Arizona, as well as the Braves' five-game winning string.

Gerardo Parra hit his first career grand slam in the second to stake Arizona to a lead it never relinquished. The Braves' starter and losing pitcher, Randall Degado (2-1) retired the first two batter he faced in the second inning before the Diamondbacks loaded the bases on a double, a single and an intentional walk. Delgado walked in Jason Kubel to tie the game at 1-1 before Parra cleared the bases with his long blast, his second home run of the year.

Delgado went 5 1/3 innings, yielding five runs on just three hits. He struggled with his command, however, walking four and hitting two batters. He struck out six.

The Braves were held to single runs in the first, third, fifth and ninth, the final tally coming on third-baseman Jeff Francisco's solo shot, his third of the season.

The winning pitcher was Ian Kennedy, who posted his third win of the year, without a defeat. Kennedy has now won in seven straight outings, dating back to August last season. Center-fielder Michael Bourn led the Braves with three hits. Catcher Brian McCann was the only Atlanta starter without a hit.

The Brave. who are 10-6 on the seaon, won three of the four games with the Diamondback before falling in Sunday's final game of the series. Arizona evened its season record at 8-8.

Atlanta moves on to Los Angeles for a three-game series with the Dodgers, beginning Monday night.

Braves Vs. Diamondbacks: Game 4 Lineups Have Been Set

2012-04-22T18:32:43Z

The Atlanta Braves are rolling right now, and if they want to keep rolling they must keep their stars healthy and give them a few breaks. Jason Heyward and Chipper Jones have both received "the day off" on Sunday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Eric Hinske and Juan Francisco have been called upon for spot start duty, as the face of the franchise present and future both will be on the bench cheering the team on.

Here are the official lineups for Game 4 on Sunday as the Braves go for the series sweep.

1. Michael Bourn (L) CF

2. Martin Prado (R) LF

3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B

4. Brian McCann (L) C

5. Dan Uggla (R) 2B

6. Eric Hinske (L) RF

7. Juan Francisco (L) 3B

8. Jack Wilson (R) SS

9. Randall Delgado (R) P

1. Gerardo Parra (L) CF

2. Aaron Hill (R) 2B

3. Justin Upton (R) RF

4. Miguel Montero (L) C

5. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B

6. Jason Kubel (L) LF

7. Cody Ransom (R) 3B

8. John McDonald (R) SS

9. Ian Kennedy (R) P

For more on the Atlanta Braves, go check out Talking Chop. Arizona Diamondbacks news and notes can be found at AZ Snake Pit, and for all of your MLB news make sure to go visit Baseball Nation.

Braves Vs. Diamondbacks Time, TV, Radio Info And More

2012-04-22T14:25:15Z

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a series sweep on Sunday as Randall Delgado takes the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Atlanta has won five straight games and will be trying to hand Arizona its sixth straight loss.

Delgado is 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA in two starts this season and will be making his first appearance against the Diamondbacks in his career. Arizona will counter with Ian Kennedy who is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA.

While Atlanta's pitching has been adequate in its current streak of 10 wins in 11 games but the offense has exploded. Atlanta is hitting .293 as a team in that span and has scored 77 runs.

Game Date/Time: Sunday, April 22, 4:10 p.m. ET

Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

Pitching Probables: Randall Delgado (2-0, 4.35 ERA) vs. Ian Kennedy (2-0, 3.86 ERA)

TV: Fox SportSouth

Radio: 680 The Fan

Online Streaming: MLB.tv

For more on the Atlanta Braves, go check out Talking Chop. Arizona Diamondbacksnews and notes can be found at AZ Snake Pit, and for all of your MLB news make sure to go visit Baseball Nation.

Braves Vs. Diamondbacks: Fredi Gonzalez Is A Fan Of Big Leads

2012-04-22T14:24:09Z

The Atlanta Braves kept kept their streak alive on Saturday hanging on for a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Atlanta has enjoyed an offensive explosion of late which has led to a string of lopsided victories. Following Satuday's game manager Fredi Gonzalez was asked if he was happy to see a more conventional low scoring one-run ball game.

"No, not really. I like those seven-run leads. Better for the stomach that way. But those two guys at the end of the game were nails, and it was nice to see Tommy get us to those guys. That's another quality start. Guys have been going deep in ballgames [lately]."

Atlanta's offensive explosion of late has overshadowed its pitching which hasn't always been the case in the past. However, Atlanta got a solid performance out of Tommy Hanson on Saturday and then Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel who finished the game with six straight strikeouts.

For more on the Atlanta Braves head over to Talking Chop. For more Major League Baseball news and notes check out Baseball Nation.

Braves Vs. Diamondbacks Final Score: Atlanta Edges Out Arizona 3-2

2012-04-22T03:31:22Z

All five runs in this game came in the first three innings and then the two starting pitchers settled down the rest of the way. What ultimately would be the game winning run was a solo home run by Dan Uggla in the bottom of the third inning off of Joe Saunders.

Final - 4.21.2012	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta Braves	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	0
Arizona Diamondbacks	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	1
WP: Tommy Hanson (2 - 2) SV: Craig Kimbrel (5) LP: Joe Saunders (1 - 1)

Complete Coverage >

Tommy Hanson got the win to even his record at 2-2 on the year and he went seven innings, struck out seven, allowed five hits and two earned runs. While Saunders also went seven innings, struck out five, allowed three runs with only two earned and allowed six hits.

Craig KImbrel closed the game out for the Braves with a perfect ninth inning where he struck out the side to earn his fifth save of the year.

Braves Vs. Diamondbacks: Lineup Set For Game 3

2012-04-21T22:20:17Z

The lineups are set for the third game of the four game set for the Braves and Diamondbacks. The Braves are looking to win their third straight game against the Diamondbacks and their fifth straight overall.The starting pitcher for the Braves will be Tommy Hanson with the Diamondbacks bringing out Joe Saunders. Hanson is looking to even his record at 2-2 while Saunders is looking for his second win this season.

Braves lineup:

1. Michael Bourn CF
2. Martin Prado LF
3. Freddie Freeman 1B
4. Brian McCann C
5. Dan Uggla 2B
6. Chipper Jones 3B
7. Jason Heyward RF
8. Jack Wilson SS
9. Tommy Hanson P

Diamondbacks lineup:

1. Willie Bloomquist SS
2. Gerardo Parra CF
3. Justin Upton RF
4. Miguel Montero C
5. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
6. Jason Kubel LF
7. Aaron Hill 2B
8. Ryan Roberts 3B
9. Joe Saunders P