Braves’ brawl is best thing to happen in Atlanta this season, and this stat shows why originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A non-factor in the NL East last season, the Atlanta Braves entered their April 8 encounter with the Los Angeles Angels with six wins in their opening 11 regular-season outings. The Braves had dropped three straight.
They were not competing as a unit. At least not like they have been since the fifth inning of the 7-2 victory at Angel Stadium.
Leading 3-2, Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez delivered a high-and-tight wild pitch to Jorge Solar, who took offense. The Angels slugger stared down Lopez, who held out his arms. Both players exchanged punches as Lopez held a ball in his right hand and landed a punch on Solar's batting helmet.
Solar later received a reduced four-game suspension for his role in the melee.
Entering Monday's game at the host Washington Nationals, the Braves captured nine of their next 11 outings.
Playing more as a unit, the Braves sprinted out to a five-game lead in the division.
While the Solar affair may have sparked the recent win streak, the Braves can trace the starting rotation's long-term potential success to last October. That's when the New York Mets released pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who was quickly hired by the Braves.
Under Hefner's direction this spring, the Braves appear to be benefiting. The pitching staff entered Monday leading the league in wins (15), ERA (2.66) and WHIP (1.08).
The bullpen's backend employs two interchangeable parts, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias, the closer who had not yielded an earned run in his past 35 appearances. If one needs a day off, the two appear able to flip-flop assignments seamlessly.
The resurgent Braves are competing as if they will remain a factor in the NL East race this season, unless they run away with the pennant. If they do, they can point back to Solar's early-April stare and Hefner's offseason hiring as their turnaround points.