Atlanta Drops the Ball in Sarasota

By Samantha Russo — 3/8/12
The Atlanta Braves have only one win to show so far this Spring Training. Today’s 2-1 loss against the Orioles will make three consecutive losses. The Braves, so far, have shown little improvement from the collapse during last season’s NL WIld Card race.
Mike Minor pitched three scoreless innings for the Braves while Jason Hammel threw two scoreless innings for Baltimore. Today’s game was Hamel’s debut with the Orioles. Just last month Colorado sent him to Baltimore.
Although the pitching and defense for both teams were stellar, the same can’t be said for either team’s offense. The game remained scoreless through six innings. Atlanta’s Eric Hinske lead off the seventh inning with a home-run putting the Braves ahead 1-0.
It didn’t take very long for the Orioles to tie it up. Jai Miller’s single to center field brought in Joe Mahoney for the tying run. In the bottom of the eighth, Xavier Avery’s sacrifie fly ball secured Baltimore the win by driving in a run.
Friday, Atlanta will look to rebound from its losing streak. The Braves will have a split squad taking on the New York Met and the New York Yankees.