Kyle Taylor, Valdosta Today Sports
ATLANTA – Turner Field was covered in two shades of blue over the weekend series with the Chicago Cubs.
The Braves came to a pivotal point in their season right before the All-Star break with their series against the Colorado Rockies, where they were swept heading into the break. However, still being in the month of July gives any team within reaching distance hope that they can string together some wins and get back in it.
Both teams came off much needed breaks and would begin a final run at a playoff berth. The two teams find themselves in third place in the NL East and NL Central, but seven games now separating the two teams for the second NL Wild Card spot after the Cubs 4-1 win on Sunday evening.
The Cubs (49-41) took on the Braves (43-49) Sunday evening with a 5:05 first pitch on Christmas in July night at the Ted.
All-Star pitcher, Shelby Miller (5-6), got the start for the Braves against Jake Arrieta (11-5) of the Cubs. Arrieta is a 29-year-old pitcher that was traded to Chicago from the Baltimore Orioles after the O’s had given up on the prospect.
There has been much criticism of the Cubs front office in the past, but Theo Epstein is beginning to use trades like this one to turn this franchise around.
Arrieta has a 2.52 ERA on the season, along with 133 strikeouts, and would continue his career season Sunday evening against the Braves.
The Braves were held to one run on five hits in Sunday’s loss.
The Cubs went up 3-0 after rookie right-fielder, Jorge Soler, launched his fifth home run of the season to center field.
Chicago would add one more to go up 4-0 in the ninth inning on a Chris Coghlan double, scoring Anthony Rizzo.
Shelby Miller finished his outing in the sixth and gave up one run on four hits, along with four walks and eight strikeouts. This game marks Miller’s eleventh consecutive start without earning a win. In that time, Miller has posted a 3.15 ERA and the Braves have gone 2-9 in that stretch.
Jace Peterson spoke with MLB.com about Miller’s performance, “I thought Shelby threw great. Every time he goes out there we’ve got a chance to win. I thought he did everything he could have done.”
Peterson had a defensive miscue in the second inning that lead to the Cubs first two runs.
Andrelton Simmons, who has a .208 batting average over the last month, delivered a double to right field that would score Eury Perez for the Braves lone run of the game.
Jonny Gomes came on to pinch hit and ended the game on a ground out. The Braves dropped two of three from the Cubs, and have lost seven of their last eight.
The summer days have not been kind to the Braves, but they will get right back at it Monday night with the Los Angeles Dodgers (53-40) in town for a three game set. Former Brave, Brandon Beachy (0-1) has returned from his Tommy John surgery and will take on some of his old teammates Monday night with first pitch at 7:10 from Turner Field. Matt Wisler (3-1) will be on the mound for the Braves.
