Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) – Mike Foltynewicz tossed five innings in his
season debut, but it was his two-run double that highlighted the Atlanta
Braves’ 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
Foltynewicz (), who was making his first major-league start, gave up three
runs — two earned — in five innings. He also broke up his counterpart
Anthony DeSclafani’s shutout bid with a two-out double to the wall in left-
center in the fourth inning.
Cincinnati plated two more runs an inning later, when a walk to Freddie
Freeman led to Kelly Johnson’s two-run homer. That made it 4-3, and four
relief pitchers held the lead from there.
Cody Martin struck out two in 1 2/3 innings in relief of Foltynewicz. Luis
Avilan recorded the final out in the seventh, Jim Johnson tossed a clean
eighth and Jason Grilli pitched around a one-out single by Brayan Pena to
record his eighth save.
Desclafani (2-2) entered the game with a 1.04 ERA after allowing just three
earned run in four starts. He gave up four runs on four hits and five walks in
this one to absorb his second straight loss.
The Reds plated two runs in the top of the first against Foltynewicz. Zack
Cozart and Joey Votto hit consecutive one-out singles and completed a double
steal, setting up Brandon Philips’ two-run single to center.
Desclafani brought Philips home in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right.
Game Notes
Foltynewicz made 16 relief appearances with Houston in 2014, his first season
in the major league … Atlanta had lost three straight games … Votto and
Philips stole two bags apiece.
