“We swung the bats, scored runs”.
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Not content with ridding Miller and themselves of that dark cloud before the offseason, the Braves capped their end-of-season surge by completing a series sweep of the Cardinals with a 2-0 shutout in the second game of the doubleheader, when rookie Matt Wisler was even more dominant, albeit against a lineup filled with backups.
Gm 1 – Old friend Shelby Miller entered this game with a 5-17 record with a 3.15 ERA and 3.47 FIP. The Cardinals had other priorities. “They’re not going to get out of here easy, that’s for sure”.
It was an offensive walkout that reflected the getaway nature of the entire weekend in Atlanta.
“He’s pitched a few of the best baseball I’ve ever seen pitched and not get credit for it”, Gonzalez said.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals (100-61) have their first 100-win season since 2005, when they finished 100-62. Freddie Freeman (six) was the only other courageous with more than four after the break. He gave up a couple homers (including one to Adonis Garcia, his second of the game) in his three innings of work, allowing three runs on three hits, but he did rack up 6 strikeouts.
St. Louis Cardinals’ John Lackey delivers a pitch during the first… 324 (11-for-34) with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs during the stretch. Jon Jay hit a groundout to first, Tommy Pham walked and Edwin Jackson struck out Randal Grichuk to end the game.
He pitched around a leadoff double in his final inning by getting two groundouts and then striking out the final batter he faced. He threw 110 pitches.
Miller, who had a 7.11 ERA in five September starts, was acquired from the Cardinals in a December deal that sent outfielder Jason Heyward to St. Louis.
Gm 1 – Tyler Lyons relieved Lackey in game 1. He struck out two.
A third of the Cardinals’ 24 innings in this series at the plate ended with three up, three down.
“It’s been great”, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
They had clinched the division title. He’ll be cheering for them when the playoffs start.
They had their 100 wins. Matheny said before the game he wanted to use Wainwright in the opener because rain was forecast for the second game.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller retires to the dugout in the eighth inning before shutting out the St. Louis Cardinals in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, October 4, 2015, in Atlanta. More of the same in Game 2.
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“I’m obviously excited about a win, but at the same time the last start of the season I’m just hugging my teammates”, he explained. He lost 1-0 at Busch Stadium on July 25.
