ATLANTA — After struggling to score runs for more than two weeks after the All-Star break, the Atlanta Braves finally started to swing the bats.
In the first 15 games after the break, the Braves were 4-11 and totaled only 32 runs. Atlanta was shut out three times and were limited to one run in four games during that span.
Things began to turn around Aug. 2, when the club ended a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Phillies. Over the last eight games, the Braves scored 47 runs.
“In baseball you never know what’s going to happen,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We’ve been swinging the bats, we’ve been adding on runs … it’s been a fun team to watch.”
The offense struggled in the wake of the trade that sent Kelly Johnson and Jose Uribe to the Mets and the oblique injury that sent first baseman Freddie Freeman to the disabled list for the second time.
The offense began to turn around when right fielder Nick Markakis and catcher A.J. Pierzynski began to hit. It got a fresh infusion of offense with the addition of outfielder Michael Bourn and first baseman-outfielder Nick Swisher.
“I knew it would happen with Bourn because he’s been here,” Gonzalez said. “I wasn’t sure about Swisher, but you can tell he has a great enthusiasm for the game.”