San Fran is tough series for Braves
The Atlanta Braves saw several streaks come to an end after getting swept by the San Francisco Giants.
Nick Markakis went 0-4 in Sunday’s 4-3 loss. He came into the game with a 12-game hitting streak. He hit 23 for 48 with four home runs, eight walks, and one strikeout during the streak. Markakis has 45 hits and is batting .354 for the season, both of which lead the National League.
Markakis has taken well to the fourth spot in the batting order. Manager Brian Snitker had a good feeling before the season commenced.
“He had a different look in his eyes coming into spring,” Snitker said. “He’s always been a steady pro but he seemed to be more determined. Nick has always been a leader and a good player. It’s good to see him off to this type of start.”
The veteran outfielder acknowledged an elevated approach.
“The older you get, the more work you have to put in,” Markakis said. “I’m starting to see that. As a young kid they always tell you that but you don’t always believe them because you’d never been here. But in order to get to where you want to be at certain ages, you have to put your work in.”
The work is paying off. Markakis has six home runs. He didn’t hit his sixth until August last season.
“I think me being on time and getting to a certain position in my swing, hitting the ball out in front is the cause of some homers,” Markakis said. “But like I said, timing is hitting. When that front foot lands in time, you’ve got to be on time with the fastball and adjust off of that.
“That’s my philosophy right now, and I’m sticking with it.”
Braves starting pitchers gave up 18 runs, 28 hits and six walks to lose all three games in the series.
In the previous 25 games before Friday, the starting pitchers went 12-2 with a 2.41 ERA. They gave up 38 earned runs over 142 innings during the previous stretch.
“That’s a tough lineup over there,” Snitker said. “They have a lot of good hitters and they had some good at-bats. That’s a team with guys have a lot on the back of their baseball cards. They were hitting well.”
Mike Soroka struggled in his second major league outing. He gave up three walks and seven hits, allowing four runs against the Giants.
“There’s a reason why those guys have a lot of rings,” Soroka said. “They’re a very patient team. They took some good pitches early. My sinker was a little flatter than I wanted out of the gate. Then I got away from attacking. Once I got away from attacking I put myself in some hitter-friendly counts.”
The four-inning outing was a far cry from his big league debut against the New York Mets. In that game, he went six innings and allowed just one run, earned, with no walks and five strikeouts. After the game, Soroka seemed to find a lesson in defeat.
“I have to keep attacking,” Soroka said. “Once I stopped attacking and got in those counts then I started to try to be too perfect.”
Snitker was asked about Soroka staying in the rotation and he didn’t hesitate to say he was staying.
“He’s making that next start on his turn,” Snitker said. “He will have days like that and that’s how he will learn. He will be fine.”
Soroka’s next scheduled start is Friday in Miami against the Marlins.
“I’m looking forward to applying what I learned in my next start,” Soroka said.
Ronald Acuna got his first two hits in SunTrust Park on Sunday. He was 0-8 before his first-inning at-bat. He rocketed the ball to leftfield. It was yet another hard hit ball for the rookie.
It was his hit in the third that also caught the eye of several people. In what should’ve been a routine grounder to third baseman Pablo Sandoval, Acuna legged out a hit.
Sandoval is a fellow Venezuelan and knew of Acuna’s speed well before that ball was hit to him.
“It’s so amazing to see a kid that talented,” Sandoval said. “He is so special. He does everything well and is so young. He will be a great player for a long time.”
Acuna was hyped for the series.
“I’m extremely emotional, excited,” Acuna said through Braves interpreter Franco Garcia. “Since I was called up, I’ve been looking forward to making this home debut. I’m not sure what the reaction’s going to be like. I’m just as excited, if not more excited, than the fans.”