Hey, they play exhibition games for a reason, right? Despite a solid start from Mike Minor, the Atlanta Braves continued to struggle offensively and fell to the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 2-1. The club is now 1-5 in Spring Training and it looks like their chances at a Grapefruit League title is in serious jeopardy. It's probably time to fire and trade everyone.
Minor battled through three innings and allowed three hits and a walk, although he was able to avoid giving up any runs. The young lefty continues to impress and should be a key piece of the 2012 starting rotation in Atlanta. Yohan Flande worked two scoreless innings of relief, while Jaye Chapman allowed the game-tying run to score while going two innings against the O's. Pitching prospect J.J. Hoover was not sharp in the eighth inning and allowed a run on two hits and two walks.
Eric Hinske scored the lone run for Atlanta on Thursday and did so with a huge solo-homer in the seventh inning. Jason Heyward and David Ross hit back-to-back singles in the second inning, but that was about all the production the team would get from their regular starters.
Next up: the New York Yankees on Friday. Julio Teheran will take the mound and needs to show a few signs of improvement after getting destroyed in his last start.