|
 Freeman homered and drove in three runs to support Wood's stellar
eight innings, and the Atlanta Braves cruised past the Arizona
Diamondbacks 8-1 Monday night.
Wood (4-2) allowed one run on seven hits over eight innings. He
struck out four and he did not walk a batter for the first time
since Aug. 31.
"The last two starts I've started to get everything together," Wood
said. "Now it's more about getting the consistency and repeatability
so I won't have as much to work on."
Wood has allowed a total of three earned runs and four runs overall
in his past three starts.
"I don't think he's done anything other than pitching really well,"
said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Freeman's seventh home run and second in as many games gave the
Braves a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning. The first baseman, whose
streak of 217 consecutive starts ended on Sunday, added an RBI
single in the sixth inning to make it 7-1.
"We have him five innings, six innings off and that was enough to
get him going again," Gonzalez said.
Second baseman Jace Peterson added an RBI double for the Braves, who
won their third straight.
Left fielder Ender Inciarte drove in the lone run for the
Diamondbacks, who lost their second in a row. Arizona fell for just
the second time in its past six home games against Atlanta.
Diamondbacks right-hander Archie Bradley (2-3) struggled once again,
allowing five runs on eight hits over five innings. Bradley walked
three, one intentionally, hit a batter and struck out one.
"I've got to help this team out more and go back to pitching the way
I know how," Bradley said. "I really don't know what it is. I feel
like I'm getting better but it's just not translating."
Since returning to the rotation after being hit in the face by a
line drive on April 27, Bradley has allowed 19 runs on 27 hits over
15 2/3 innings for a 15.67 ERA.
"His stuff is just not the same since he got hit," said Arizona
manager Chip Hale.
The Braves did most of the damage against Bradley with two outs in
the second inning.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski singled and left fielder Jonny Gomes doubled
to left. Bradley intentionally walked center fielder Todd Cunningham
to load the bases for Wood. However, Wood, who entered the game
hitting .214, singled sharply up the middle, scoring Pierzynski and
Gomes for a 2-0 Atlanta lead.
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"It's always nice to get a knock," Wood said, "but the big thing was
to extend the inning."
Bradley walked Peterson before shortstop Andrelton Simmons singled
up the middle, scoring Cunningham to make it 3-0. Bradley finally
recorded the third out when Freeman grounded out to first to end the
inning.
Freeman's turn came in the fifth when he followed Simmons' double
into the right-field corner with a towering home run onto the
walkway above the batters' eye in center field to put Atlanta ahead
5-0.
"You always live for those situations (bases loaded) and you want to
come through," Freeman said. "Fortunately I got another opportunity
and was able to come through."
The Diamondbacks pulled back a run in the bottom of the fifth
against Wood when catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled and scored
on a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: Diamondbacks C Tuffy Gosewich was diagnosed with a fully torn
left ACL and will undergo season-ending surgery in the near future.
... Arizona LHP Patrick Corbin threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings Monday
in an extended spring training game. Corbin, working his way back
from Tommy John surgery, scattered two hits, walked one, struck out
eight and threw 36 of 51 pitches for strikes. ... Arizona 3B Jake
Lamb, out since April 21 with a stress reaction in his left foot,
went 1-for-4 (a triple) in the same game. ... The Diamondbacks
activated RHP Matt Stites from the 15-day disabled list and optioned
him to Triple-A Reno. ... The Braves recalled RHP Cody Martin from
Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot vacated when LHP Donnie
Veal was designated for assignment after Sunday's game. Martin went
2-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 17 games before being optioned to Gwinnett on
May 19.
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