Panda! Sandoval helps Braves sweep doubleheader towards Nats – WKRG Information 5
WASHINGTON (AP) – Yes, Pablo Sandoval is 34 and in his 14th year in the majors, a two-time All-Star and MVP of the World Series. He still had to prove himself in spring training to secure a squad spot with the Atlanta Braves and a one-year contract worth $ 1 million.
He sure pays dividends quickly.
The man lovingly known as Kung Fu Panda hit his second pinch-hit homer in a week on Wednesday and shot a two-run shot into the deepest part of the ballpark in front of a Washington reliever, who was scoreless after Stephen Strasburg’s six Innings took over and the Braves raised to a 2-0 win over the Nationals for a double-header sweep.
“I don’t want to lie,” said Sandoval, who hit three homers in one game for the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 Fall Classics. “It’s one of those moments when you get goose bumps.”
Atlanta started the day 0-4 but headed in the right direction during the opening game when Ronald Acuña Jr. led with a doubles and a pair singles, helping the Braves to a 7-6 win.
Sandoval signed a minor league deal with the Braves in January and then earned a job, which sure seems like a wise move by the club.
“No situation is getting too big,” said manager Brian Snitker. “Not only in this role, but also in the clubhouse. It’s great to have this guy on your team. “
Sandoval came to Homer from the bank on the opening day and did the same on Wednesday. He hit a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) with a 3-2 count and sent it more than 400 feet after Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning.
“I missed my seat,” said Rainey, “and he didn’t miss his swing.”
The right-hander hadn’t hit a racket since the show final in Florida nine days earlier. A coronavirus outbreak that hit the Nationals kept them from training or playing for almost a week.
Luke Jackson (1-0) won game 2 by setting up a pair of walks in game six.
Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save.
“That’s closer stuff, right there,” said Snitker.
Strasburg had not played a regular game since its closure last August and a carpal tunnel operation on his right wrist.
Strasburg hit 95 mph on his fastball, hitting eight and going two, while beating his overall performance for the inning for 2020, which was only five.
The World Series MVP 2019 only appeared twice last year. The 32-year-old right-hander’s preparation this spring was slowed by an issue with his left calf, but he showed no signs of being far from his best on Wednesday, withdrawing his last 10 thugs.
“That was great to see,” said manager Dave Martinez. “Man, he looked great.”
The only hit Strasbourg allowed was a single for the game’s second batsman, Ozzie Albies. The only real trouble came on the third when Strasbourg was taking Acuña and Albies for a walk and putting Freddie Freeman on the plate. But Strasbourg pulled the incumbent NL MVP back to the center in one fell swoop.
“My execution wasn’t very good for most of the spring training,” said Strasbourg. “I thought my execution was much better today and it is a step in the right direction.”
Strasbourg, who doubled in his first at-bat, was raised in the sixth after 85 pitches for a pinch hitter.
Huascar Ynoa went five scoreless innings for Atlanta, allowing two hits.
In Game 1, the Braves made five runs in the second inning of Erick Fedde (0-1) and then held out with a save from Will Smith the day after he gave Juan Soto a walk-off hit.
Smith, Atlanta’s fifth pitcher, didn’t have an easy time of it, however.
In an attempt to defend a 7-5 lead on Wednesday, the first batter he faced was Soto. This time Soto was walking, and Starlin Castro drove him in with a doppelganger. Then, with two men, Smith got Andrew Stevenson to ground himself in a double game.
“It’s been an excruciating week,” said Snitker after Atlanta avoided its first 0-5 start since 2016. “A good day to end the road trip.”
STRASBURG’S SESSION
Strasburg said he managed to get a throwing session with a bullpen catcher while the Nationals were idle by crawling through some bushes and hopping over a fence to get into a Little League field in Virginia.
“I didn’t want to do that again,” he said.
HUMDRUM
Although there were 4,927 viewers in attendance – unlike last season when all fans were banned – there were still fake crowd noises that provided an odd and annoying hum from a soundtrack.
TRAINER ROOM
Braves: RHP Mike Soroka, who has been on hiatus since August after an Achilles tendon rupture, is being suspended for two weeks due to an inflammation in his right shoulder. He threw an inning during a simulated game on Tuesday and has no structural damage, Snitker said. … Game 1 Pitcher Max Fried was hit by a batted ball, but neither he nor Snitker sounded too concerned about the left leg. “Nothing serious,” said the mug.
Nationals: Nine players missing due to their COVID-19 outbreak – four who tested positive, five who were quarantined for possible exposure. Those who are in quarantine could potentially rejoin the club on its upcoming six-game trip, Martinez said.
NEXT
Braves: The start at home is on Friday against the Phillies, with Charlie Morton playing for Atlanta against Zack Wheeler.
Nationals: Scheduled flight to California Wednesday night; They’re opening a three-game set with the Dodgers on Friday. “It’s been a long week,” said Martinez. “It’s been a long week for all of us.”
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