Flaherty, Inciarte lead Braves in rout
ATLANTA — Ender Inciarte drove in four runs with three hits, Ryan Flaherty had four hits and scored four times, and the Atlanta Braves roughed up Vince Velasquez and the Philadelphia Phillies for a 15-2 win Saturday night.
Brandon McCarthy (1-0) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings in his Braves debut.
Velasquez (0-1) faltered in a tough spot for Philadelphia after it used a combined 13 relievers in the first two games of the series. He was charged with seven runs, four earned, and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Six Phillies pitchers allowed 19 hits, and the defense committed four errors. Utility player Pedro Florimon pitched the eighth and gave up a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Lane Adams.
The Braves led 3-2 before scoring four runs in the fourth. One out after a bloop single by Nick Markakis drove in two runs, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler came to the mound to replace Velasquez. Left-hander Hoby Milner, the only reliever up in the bullpen, apparently wasn’t ready to enter the game.
Kapler remained on the mound as Milner took extra throws before leaving the bullpen. Braves manager Brian Snitker came out of the dugout, apparently to argue about the delay, and was ejected by umpire Jerry Layne, the crew chief.
Visibly upset, Snitker had more words for plate umpire Vic Carapazza on his way off the field. It was Snitker’s second ejection of the season-opening series.
Milner, pitching for the third straight game, recorded only one out.
Right-hander Josh Ravin, who appeared in a combined 33 games the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was recalled by the Braves and pitched the ninth, giving up only a walk. Lefthander Rex Brothers was optioned to Class AAA Gwinnett, and right-hander Akeel Morris was designated for assignment.
Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki suffered what he said was “really bad” bruising when he was hit by a pitch on the side of his right hand during Friday night’s game. The hand was still swollen Saturday, but he said he hopes to play Monday or Tuesday. Braves catcher Tyler Flowers was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with a strained left oblique and could miss one month.
After a rare Sunday off day, the Braves will open a home series against Washington on Monday night when lefthander Sean Newcomb makes his first start of the season.
Reporter injured
A TV reporter who covers the Braves for Fox Sports South suffered a fractured eye socket after she was hit by a foul ball.
Kelsey Wingert was struck Friday night while standing in the camera well past the Braves’ first base dugout. Odubel Herrera of the Philadelphia Phillies grounded the foul in the seventh inning that hit her.
In a statement on its Twitter account, the network said Wingert was briefly hospitalized, was resting comfortably on Saturday and ws expected back on the job soon. Wingert posted an update on her Twitter account expressing thanks for the support and adding “it could have been MUCH worse.” She retweeted a photo taken of her black eye after returning home.
The Braves released a statement wishing Wingert a speedy recovery.
All 30 big league teams have expanded netting this season to protect fans sitting close to the field, extending to end of the dugouts.