The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NO FAULT OF FOLTY’S
Strong effort wasted with slumping Braves limited to four hits.
BALTIMORE — In his latest chance to show the Braves he should be part of their starting rotation, righthander Mike Foltynewicz made a couple of mistakes, but otherwise showed why the team is so high on his promise.
Foltynewicz gave up a pair of home runs to the Orioles over six innings pitched, but also had eight strikeouts against two walks. It wasn’t good enough to overcome another anemic offensive game by the Braves, who had just four hits while losing 2-0 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Braves lost for the fifth time in six games on a trip that concludes with four games at Philadelphia starting today. The Braves are 4-13 since winning six of seven games to begin July.
Orioles starter Chris Tillman limited the Braves to four hits, including three singles, over 82/3 innings. After A.J. Pierzynski and Andrelton Simmons hit back-to-back singles in the fifth inning, Tillman retired the next 13 batters he faced until Cameron Maybin doubled and Tilman gave way to closer Zach Britton.
As the losses pile up and the Braves trade veterans for prospects the franchise increasingly is focusing on the future. Foltynewicz figures to be a big part of it.
The Braves acquired Foltynewicz from the Astros as the main piece in the Evan Gattis trade. Baseball America rates him as the top pitching prospect in the organization.
Foltynewicz got a promotion from Triple-A Gwinnett after the Braves placed Manny Banuelos on the disabled list Wednesday with an elbow injury. Jonathan Schoop hit a solo homer in the third inning, and J.J. Hardy did the same in the fourth, but Foltynewicz still had one of his best outings of the season.
Foltynewicz allowed six hits and the two runs. Known for his superlative fastball, he also kept the Orioles off-balance with an assortment of welltimed breaking pitches.
Foltynewicz focused on developing his secondary pitches during spring training, but he struggled with his control. He improved while beginning the season at Triple-A Gwinnett and made his first big-league start May 1.
Foltynewicz was OK in six May starts for the Braves: 3-2 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.32 walks and hits allowed per inning pitched and 38 strikeouts in 361/3 innings. Foltynewicz faded in three June starts: 8.04 ERA with a 2.11 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 152/3 innings pitched.
So it was back to the minors for Foltynewicz, who stayed there save for three Braves relief appearances earlier this month. Williams Perez could soon regain his spot in the rotation, but Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team would wait and see how Foltynewicz performed Wednesday before deciding how long he stays on the big-league roster.