The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wind, Cubs rough up Sims
Rookie gives up two HRs, seven runs in three innings.
The Braves are starting three rookie pitchers in a four-game series against the Cubs that ends today, and one of them, Lucas Sims, found out Saturday what happens when you walk batters on a day when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field.
The Braves got home runs from Freddie Freeman, Matt Kemp and Rio Ruiz, two doubles and two RBIs from Nick Markakis, two walks and three hits from rookie Ozzie Albies and three hits from Dansby Swanson.
The Cubs got a second-inning grand slam from Rene Rivera and never trailed on the way to a 14-12 win, though the Braves scored eight runs in the last three innings and had the tying run at the plate when Freeman struck out against Cubs closer Wade Davis to end a three-run ninth.
Freeman, who also had an RBI double in the eighth inning, struck out in the ninth after Jace Peterson doubled to drive in a run against Davis and Albies worked a
full-count RBI single. “It’s still a loss — no matter how many hits you get, still
didn’t win,” said Freeman, lamenting both another close loss and the weakened state of the left wrist that sidelined him for seven weeks this summer. “The wet newspaper I’ve been swinging, got it through a couple of times today and made contact. I needed to do it again in the last one and didn’t do it.
“I’m not really able to get through balls. I’ve got nothing left, really. I’m doing my best up there, but I needed to do a little bit better the last time. ... (Bat speed) is completely gone.”
It was the sixth consec
utive win for the defending World Series champions, who improved to a season-high 15 games over .500 at 75-60 while the Braves fell to 16 games under .500 at 59-75.
Sims (2-5) was charged with six hits, seven runs and four walks in threeplus innings, the first time he failed to pitch at least five innings in seven major league starts. He left after giv
ing up a walk (to pitcher Jon Lester) and a single to start
the five-run fourth inning. “I just wasn’t around in the
zone,” said Sims, who threw only 39 strikes in 73 pitches, and gave up the grand slam on an 0-2 hanging curveball. “Put guys on against that kind of ballclub, they were able to take advantage of it. ...
“The curveball on the grand slam, it’s one that as soon as you throw it, you kind of just want to reel it back or hope that it’s so bad that maybe they don’t even swing. That’s on me. I set the tone. The guys did awesome to battle back. I didn’t get us off to a very good start and feel like that kind of cost us the ballgame.”
After Sims walked Lester and gave up a Jon Jay single, he was replaced by Ian Krol, who was just off the disabled list Friday. He walked the next batter, Kyle Schwarber, to load the bases, and one out later gave up a threerun triple to Anthony Rizzo.
Junior Baez doubled in another run and Jason Heyward added an RBI single before the five-run inning was through.
It was a rough afternoon for several Braves pitchers, including Luke Jackson, who recorded three outs and was charged with one hit, three runs, one walk, a hit batter and two wild pitches. Jim Johnson gave up a two-out, line-drive homer to Heyward in the eighth inning.
“Just can’t pitch like we did and expect to win any games,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It wasn’t good from the get-go and wasn’t real good as we went along. It’s good that we came back and scored the runs, but we’re just making way,
too many mistakes.” Despite hitting three hom
ers in the first four innings, the Braves trailed by six after
four innings and lost for the 30th time in 44 games. The slide began with a sweep by the Cubs on July 17-19 at SunTrust Park, right after the Braves’ 23-16 run improved their record to 45-45. The Braves are 0-6 against the Cubs.