MILWAUKEE – Slugger Austin Riley made franchise history, Forrest Wall showed game-changing speed in his major-league debut, and pitcher Allan Winans, in his debut, showed that the Braves were probably right to have more confidence in his ability than the Mets did when they all dismissed Winans less than two years ago.
Although it was the other team’s debut player, the Brewers’ Sal Frelick, who ultimately stole the show with three hits, two dramatic catches and a decisive sacrifice fly in a 4-3 victory in Milwaukee on Saturday, what could affect the Braves was Winans’ surprising performance, Riley’s continued homer binge and Walls’ speed on the ninth base runner with pinch runners. on the conseculent base of the pitch.
Winans, selected by the Braves from the Mets in the minor league stage of the December 2021 Rule 5 draft, held the Brewers scoreless through four innings, before giving up two runs in the fifth.
“I thought he was good,” said manager Brian Snitker, who before the game couldn’t remember seeing Winans in spring training. “I don’t know what to expect. I was surprised. I think he handles himself well, really well composed. I thought he did a great job. “
Snitker said he doesn’t know if Winans will be kept on the roster to make another start, but the 27-year-old has probably done enough to warrant another look, if not next week then later in the season. He was charged with five hits, two runs and one walk with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, and was given a standing ovation from hundreds of Braves fans, including many of Winans’ relatives and friends.
“It’s great to see the family there, tip the cap,” Winans said. “Many people — mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, sister, niece, wife, father-in-law, sister-in-law and some friends. It was a great little party there.”
After thanking a reporter for saying he was calm on the mound, Winans smiled and said, “I felt pretty calm, honestly. To be fair, I didn’t really feel my body during the warm-up (before) the first one. Once the warm-ups are over, it feels pretty normal. “
This is a scheduled post. 💥#ForTheA | @austinriley1308 pic.twitter.com/OSnK4xQLVP
– Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2023
Riley’s sixth homer in five games provided a 3-0 lead in the third inning that looked like winning. That was until Frelick capped off his exciting introduction to the big leagues with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly on a sinking liner to right field.
Ronald Acuña Jr. made a nice catch and a hard throw, but one-hopped and catcher Sean Murphy had the ball out of his glove before trying to make the sweep tag on a close play.
The Braves had the potential to tie it in the third with one out in the ninth against closer Devin Williams, after Eddie Rosario singled and Wall stole second and third, a daring development.
“He didn’t last long, did he?” Snitker said of Wall, a 27-year-old outfielder who has a middling .269 average and .748 OPS in nine minor league seasons, but has 97 stolen bases in the past two including 45 in 49 attempts this year at Triple-A Gwinnett. “We said, why don’t you run? That’s why we got you out of there. And that’s just what he did. I already said, he is an aggressive guy in their bases. He is confident in what he can do.”
Riley said of Wall’s speed, “It’s a big weapon. I think everyone knew he was going to steal, and he did it easily. Then took third on the next pitch. To me, that’s an asset going forward, especially in the playoffs.
Winans, Wall’s teammate in Gwinnett before each was called up to the majors last week, said: “I’ll say this first, I think he’s one of the best base stealers on the planet. I really am. I don’t think there’s much you can do if he gets the right jump. The guy can really move. He’s proud, so happy for him, and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy.
With Wall on third, in position to score on any ball put in play, Orlando Arcia scored against Williams. Still, the Braves loaded the bases with consecutive two-out walks from Michael Harris II and Acuña. And Ozzie Albies drew a few gasps from the crowd of more than 39,000 with a pair of long, long fly balls that sailed wildly before striking out to end the game.
“We’re a hit,” Snitker said.
Riley became the first Braves player of the Atlanta season with at least five homers and 13 RBIs in four games before his three-run shot in the third inning Saturday put the Braves ahead 3-0. His homer streak of five consecutive games equals a franchise record set nine times previously, most recently by Acuña as a rookie in 2018.
“It’s cool,” Riley said, in a tone that made it clear he didn’t want to talk about it in a quiet clubhouse after a loss, especially since his errant catch allowed Willy Adames to reach third before Frelick’s eighth-inning sacrifice fly. “Those (records), for me, are just pluses, add-ons. You want to win that game tonight, though. But, you know, come back after tomorrow.”
Winans, who was brought up to make his MLB debut in what was believed to be a starting spot, may have earned himself another. He faced the minimum two batters through four innings and allowed only two ground-ball singles and a walk until the first batter in the fifth inning reached with a single (Frelick) and a double (Owen Miller).
The next two featured a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, with Snitker bringing in reliever Michael Tonkin.
Frelick, who was also making his MLB debut, had singles in each of his first three plate appearances and two outstanding catches to rob Marcell Ozuna and Arcia of extra-base hits in the sixth inning.
“He had a game he’ll never forget, that’s for sure,” Riley said of Frelick. “Offensively and defensively. He seemed to create that momentum for them throughout the game.
Winans and Wall are familiar with Frelick, having faced him in two Triple-A series this season when Frelick was with Nashville. Winans retired the first five batters he faced, three via strikeouts, before Frelick’s two-out single in the first — the first hit of his major-league career and first allowed by Winans.
He gave up a leadoff walk and a one-out single in the third inning, but Winans induced a double-play grounder from former Braves catcher William Contreras to get out of that one unscathed, then struck out two of three batters in the fourth, including Adames.
.@a_winans7 first career strikeout!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/7SCdxsyTVK
– Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2023
Winans threw 42 strikes on 71 pitches, an old-school mix that hitters don’t see these days: four-seam fastballs averaging 89-91 mph, sinkers below that, 82-84 mph changeups, 78-80 mph curveballs and 80-81 mph sliders.
“I thought he did a good job,” Riley said, praising Winans’ pitch location. “And it seems like a good thing. Doing his job. Good for him, I know he’s excited, there’s a lot of family here. Those opportunities only come once, so try to grab them as much as possible. “
The mix has been very effective in Triple A — he leads the International League with a 2.81 ERA — and against big league hitters on Saturday.
A former 17th-round draft pick of the Mets out of Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC, the lanky right-hander pitched four scoreless innings to start his debut. At the time, it’s worth noting that he wasn’t protected by the Mets before the 2019 Rule 5 draft, even though Winans posted a 2.74 ERA in 30 relief appearances that season for Low-A Columbia.
That winter, the California native was substitute teaching at his hometown Bakersfield High School — it was his offseason job — when Winans got a phone call on Dec. 8. He remembers it was in the middle of Algebra I class, and he was asked to come outside to make the call.
On the line: Ben Sestanovich, Braves assistant general manager of player development, who called to tell Winans that the Braves had selected him in the minor-league round of the Rule 5 draft, their third pick that day.
“I think the Braves saw something in me that maybe the Mets didn’t, or other teams didn’t,” Winans said. “And I’m grateful for the opportunity the Braves have given me.”
If anyone thought he might be overwhelmed by the moment Saturday, especially after seeing him walk twice around the ballpark during batting practice, looking out over the vast domed stadium, Winans quickly put that notion to rest when he retired the first five batters, three via strikeouts.
After striking out Contreras on three pitches – all swings including a strike three changeup – in the first inning, Winans struck out Jesse Winker looking at the third strike on an inside fastball to start the second inning, then struck out Andruw Monasterio on three pitches – all sliders, all swings.
Asked how the major hitters reacted to his stuff, Winans said, “Like Triple A. I think there’s a lot of talent in the Triple A league, too. I think execution wins, and when you throw a really good pitch from 60 feet away, it’s hard to hit. I had some good reactions tonight, some swings-and-misses, which was cool. It made it feel more normal.”
(Photo by Allan Winans: John Fisher / Getty Images)
