ATL ReKap: Braves Spring Training Excitement & Hawks Victory Against Magic

Good evening, everyone, and welcome back to yet another blog on ATL ReKap. I hope you all are having a wonderful time as baseball spring training has finally commenced. It’s my favorite time of the year, and I guarantee you a detailed recap of each game from spring training to the regular season, onto the post, because you know your Atlanta Braves will be your NL East Champions once again. So let’s jump right into it and cover games from yesterday and this afternoon.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves started the preseason with a BANG. Leadoff hitter, Michael Harris II, came to the plate to start the game, and as the first pitch was thrown from Rays pitcher, Nathan Wiles, Harris sent a missile straight to right field, going over the stands. Now, that was an excellent start to baseball season, and I am sure Harris missed it the most, going yard at the very first pitch of the game.

The Braves faced the Tampa Bay Rays successfully, taking home a win 6-5, with Spencer Strider as the starting pitcher going for two innings, giving up a hit, a walk, and striking out four batters. Now in spring training, we will see lots of new faces, and I must keep you all in the know of who we should watch out for, as these games will determine their spot in the leagues, whether it be in the minors or the majors as a starter or a backup on the 40-man roster.

Michael Harris II, the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year, had three at-bats, earning two hits, two runs, and one RBI with his homer. The new addition to the team, J.P. Martinez, took the spot for Harris II, as he had two at-bats, unfortunately not making contact with the ball. I am excited to see what Martinez can show throughout the preseason, as he is a young inclusion for the team, debuting in the majors last season with the Texas Rangers.

The top of the second was action-packed as the Braves scored 3 runs with catcher Chadwick Tromp singling on a line drive ball to the third baseman, making it an infield hit. On the next at-bat, Third baseman Luis Guillorme singles on a pop-up to left field putting Tromp in scoring position at second with two runners on base. Shortstop, Nacho Alvarez Jr. makes contact with the ball on the next at-bat with a line drive to right field bringing home Tromp and Guillorme with a double-RBI. Right fielder, Forrest Wall, closes out the scoring in the inning with a line drive hit to right field, bringing home Alvarez putting the game at four to nothing.

In the top of the fourth, Alvarez Jr. singles on a ground ball to left field to start the inning off, with Harris II adding onto the hits, with a double to right field putting runners at second and third. Second baseman, David Fletcher brings home the fifth run with a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Alvarez Jr. To close out the inning, Rays pitcher, Mason Montgomery throws a wild pitch bringing home Harris II from third putting the game at six to nothing.

The purpose of spring training is to, one, get players used to the feel of playing games against others in the setting of a major league game, and two, to test out players and see what they can improve on and when a team would need to use them. Spencer Strider took the win for the game as he gave up no runs. It’s amazing to see the Braves back out there getting ready for the regular season as it is the best time of the year, enjoying a jam-packed game at Truist Park with your loved ones.

This afternoon, the Braves faced the Boston Red Sox with the home opener for Spring Training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. Bryce Elder took on the mound to start the game and did not show out as most of us were expecting. The rotation has almost been completed, with Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, and Charlie Morton. That fifth spot will be determined between Elder and the new righty, Reynaldo Lopez, who was a reliever but is now being used as a starter for the Braves.

The last time the Braves tried shifting a reliever to a starting pitcher from a trade was with Yonny Chirinos, and I am sure as you all read that name, I had brought back some nightmares as that was not the right move the Braves made. The Braves for sure have a lot more time with Lopez, as Chirinos was added during the season after multiple pitchers went down due to injuries, but I have hope for Lopez as I see Elder as a reliever for now.

The Braves unfortunately took a loss at the home opener 5-4, as I was hoping Acuña would get shifty like Michael Harris II did the day before with the leadoff homer, but it wasn’t the case for today. Acuña took two at-bats, not reaching base in any of them which is okay. What I can say though, is that the best third-baseman in the league, Austin Riley, did send a rocket to right field in the bottom of the fourth. The Braves scored two runs in the fourth after Riley’s blast as Jordan Luplow doubled on a fly ball to center field bringing home Nacho Alvarez Jr and Andrew Velazquez home. In the bottom of the fifth, the new first baseman from the D-Backs, Phillip Evans, singled on a fly ball to right field, bringing home Alejo Lopez with an error putting Evans at second base.

The Braves are now set to play the Baltimore Orioles at home, tomorrow at 1:05 PM, with Max Fried taking the mound. Stay tuned for a recap tomorrow evening!

Atlanta Hawks

Shifting gears to the Hawks, the Hawks took home a win against the Orlando Magic tonight 109-92, winning the game by 17 points with Dejounte Murray leading in scoring. Murray scored 25 points and went 11-20 from the field and 2-5 from beyond the arch tonight. DJ for sure dropped some Murray Magic, scoring 16 points in just the third quarter.

In the first, Murray showed his ball-handling skills by putting his defender on skates with a fake and finishing it off with a mid-range jumper to put two on the board for the Hawks. Murray was marked the UPS Unstoppable Player of the Game as he was the big man for sure putting in lots of floaters and contested layups like any forward would do. Murray finished the game with nine rebounds, eleven assists, and two steals.

Jalen Johnson followed Murray in scoring, scoring 21 points, going 9-19 from the field and 2-5 from three-point range. You cannot have a proper Hawks game if Jalen Johnson is not rocking the rim, and in the third, Murray forced a steal, passing the ball to Johnson driving up to the rim, who then slammed down the ball with a red carpet dunk. Johnson finished the game with ten rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and two blocks. I love watching Johnson come up and find a place in the starting lineup as he is very crucial and bringing lots of energy to the team and the fans with his insane plays.

Bogdan Bogdanovich took the starting lineup as we will see him in there for a while now after Trae Young is out due to an injury in his finger. Trae Young will undergo surgery to repair a ligament tear in the fifth finger of the left hand and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, per Shams Charania. Bogi put up 17 points going 5-11 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arch. Bogi finished off the game with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Bench player Bruno Fernandez threw down a poster tonight. I am sure you all are starting to picture it, Fernandez driving to the rim, a defender on him and he obliterates him. But let me tell you, Fernandez threw it down on two defenders. Bruno takes the dribble with a defender in his face and one behind him, as he takes flight, both defenders get up to try to reject him but slams it down on both of them, as everyone off the Hawks bench gets up in shock with how insane the play was. Fernandez finished off the game with 7 points going 2-5 from the field with a rebound, four assists, and two steals.

De’Andre Hunter has continued to shine off the bench, putting up 18 points and I am looking forward to him taking Saddiq Bey’s place in the starting lineup soon as Bey has not been up to his potential.

The Hawks are set to play the Utah Jazz on Tuesday at 7:30 PM with the Jazz expected to win 53% to 47% which will make it a close game. Stay tuned after the game for a recap!

As we bring this blog to a close, I wish each of you a fantastic rest of the evening. Let's make the most of the day and share some love with our parents and loved ones – they truly deserve it!