Tuesday, April 5
(3-2) Atlanta Braves - 0
(1-4) Milwaukee Brewers - 1
Box Score
Play-By-Play
Video Highlights
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Yovani Gallardo's Complete Game Job:
Gallardo allowed just two hits over nine scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two. He threw 111 pitches, 65 for strikes. His GB/FB ratio was 16/2. But his solid performance was more than just the groundouts.
The Braves went 2-24 on balls in play. A large part of this was the fact that they reached the outfield just five times in the entire game. They only hit four line drives as a team for the game, as well. However, they made plenty contact considering they struck out just twice. So while the Braves were a bit unlucky due to the low number of hits compared to balls in play, they were also the victim of great sequencing and movement from Gallardo.
Derek Lowe: Strikeout Pitcher:
Lowe struck out seven Brewers over six innings, and he now has 13 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. The slider continues to be the go-to pitch through two starts this year, as he struck out six of the seven on the pitch.
Lowe's slider count was over 30% for the second straight game. His career slider count per game is 15%. Such a large difference is worth the attention it is receiving, and that is the main reason I picked Lowe to have a solid season this year.
WPA Winners:
(MIL) Yovani Gallardo: .770
(ATL) Derek Lowe: .190
(MIL) Ryan Braun: .166
WPA Losers:
(MIL) Prince Fielder: -.173
(ATL) Eric Hinske: -.132
(ATL) Nate McLouth: -.116
Game graph courtesy of FanGraphs:
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Brewers fans check out Brew Crew Ball.