Arizona Diamondbacks vs Atlanta Braves Match Player Stats On Jul 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 14, 2017

ATLANTA -- A seven-week stint on the disabled list didn't cool off Freddie Freeman's bat and neither did the All-Star break.

Freeman belted his third homer in seven games since returning from a broken wrist and delivered the decisive hit in the eighth inning Friday night as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3.

Brandon Phillips fell down rounding third base after Ender Inciarte scored the tying run on Freeman's single off reliever Archie Bradley, but scrambled home to put the Braves ahead when left fielder Gregor Blanco threw to second base.

It looked like the Diamondbacks might tie in the ninth, but Inciarte spoiled A.J. Pollock's home run bid with a leaping catch at the fence in center field.

Jim Johnson retired the next two batters harmlessly to get his 20th save, while Rex Brothers (1-0) got credit for the victory after getting the last out of the eighth.

Bradley, who hadn't allowed a run in 16 of his previous 17 games, took the loss in falling to 3-2.

The Diamondbacks had taken the lead in the top of the eighth with an unearned run. Chris Owings singled, took third as catcher Tyler Flowers made a throwing error on his stolen base and scored on a two-out wild pitch by reliever Jose Ramirez.

Paul Goldschmidt's 21st homer tied it in the seventh inning. The All-Star first baseman picked on a high changeup from left-handed reliever Sam Freeman and depositing it to left-center field that just made it into the seats.

The blast cost Braves starter R.A. Dickey a chance for a fifth straight home victory and got the Diamondbacks' Taijuan Walker off the hook for a potential loss.

Dickey limited Arizona to one run over six innings despite eight hits, two walks and a hit batter. The 42-year-old knuckleball pitcher struck out four.

Walker hung a 1-0 curveball to Freeman with one out in the sixth inning and the Braves slugger drove his 17th homer over the right field wall.

The Diamondbacks lost a chance for more than one run in the top of the sixth when Walker grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

Arizona had four straight singles, with Daniel Descalso's third hit driving in the run.

The Braves scored a first-inning run against Walker on a leadoff double by Inciarte, their lone All-Star Game representative, and a two-out single by Matt Kemp.

The Diamondbacks had seven runners on base in the first four innings against Dickey but hit into a double play and left six stranded.

NOTES: INF Johan Camargo replaced SS Dansby Swanson in the Braves lineup for the third time in six games. ... Swanson has a .146/.222/.220 slash line in his past 13 games. ... The Braves placed RHP Jason Motte (strained back) on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to July 6 and recalled RHP Jason Hursh from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his place in the bullpen. ... LHP Patrick Corbin (6-8, 4.81 ERA) will start the middle game of the weekend series Saturday for the Diamondbacks against Braves RHP Mike Foltynewicz (7-5. 3.77 ERA). ... Corbin is 3-0 with five career games (three starts) against Atlanta hasn't allowed a run in 25 2/3 innings. ... Foltynewicz has won his past four decisions. ... The Diamondbacks swept a three-game series at Turner Field a year ago and won the season series 5-2.