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Foltynewicz (1-0) allowed three hits and no
walks while striking out seven in earning his first postseason
career win. The last Atlanta pitcher to throw seven or more
scoreless innings in a postseason contest was Tom Glavine in
Game 2 of the 2001 NLDS against the Houston Astros.
The right-handler effectively mixed his slider with his fastball
and consistently found the plate. Foltynewicz threw 81 pitches,
58 for strikes.
"It's pretty cool to see for a guy that went through what he's
went through this year and where he's come back from and the
rough start that he had. And to see him step up like that is
something really special," said Braves manager Brian Snitker of
Foltynewicz.
Foltynewicz outdueled St. Louis ace Jack Flaherty, the National
League Pitcher of the Month for August and September. Flaherty
(0-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk with eight
strikeouts over seven innings. He threw 117 pitches on a
95-degree day at SunTrust Park and was visibly upset in the
dugout when lifted for a pinch hitter.
"Gotta give the guy credit. The guy was around the plate a lot,"
said Cardinals manager Mike Shildt regarding Foltynewicz. "And
he was around the edges of the plate and he was on and under the
plate. Us not having the walks was really as much as how well he
threw the ball as much as us being impatient."
One of the hits off Flaherty was a two-out, two-run homer by
pinch hitter Adam Duvall in the seventh inning. Duvall became
the first Atlanta player to hit a pinch-hit home run in the
postseason since Eric Hinske in the 2010 NLDS against the San
Francisco Giants.
"I couldn't be happier for any one individual," said Snitker of
Duvall's homer. "He's kind of right in that same light with
Folty. How Folty went back this year and got himself going."
The Atlanta bullpen got one inning of shutout relief for the
second straight game from Max Fried, who struck out two. Mark
Melancon, the losing pitcher in Game 1, allowed two singles with
one out in the ninth but struck out Yadier Molina and Kolten
Wong to end the game and earn the save.
The Braves jumped on Flaherty for a run in the first inning.
Ozzie Albies singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild
pitch and to third on a groundout, then scored on Josh
Donaldson's sharp single.
"I thought he took a while to settle down," said Shildt
regarding Flaherty. "They scratched one in the first, and then
you could see him hit his stride about the second, going into
the third. And then he looked like Jack. Complete control."
Atlanta wasted a chance in the fourth inning. The Braves had
runners on first and third with no outs and failed to score.
The series resumes on Sunday in St. Louis. Atlanta rookie Mike
Soroka (13-4, 2.68 ERA) will make his postseason debut against
St. Louis veteran Adam Wainwright (14-10, 4.19).
--Field Level Media
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