Though they sit just two games back in the National League Wild Card standings, the Pirates have far too often felt the frustration that consumed them again at Turner Field on Wednesday night, when Rob Whalen struggled mightily through the first inning of his career and then held steady as the Braves erupted against Jeff Locke en route to an 8-4 victory.

After enduring a four-run first inning that included Matt Joyce’s three-run homer, Whalen blanked the Pirates over his final four innings and earned a win in his big league debut. The Braves took the lead as they chased Locke during a two-run fifth with Nick Markakis’ game-tying sacrifice fly and a go-ahead single recorded by Ender Inciarte, who ran his hit hitting streak to 14 games with a three-hit performance.
“Obviously, the game didn’t quite start the way we hoped it would, but the end result was exactly what we were looking for,” Braves catcher Anthony Recker said. “[Whalen] did a great job getting through that first inning and then bearing down and just making pitches.”
Locke allowed five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings, and in the process, he provided a reminder of why he’d been moved to the bullpen before being given a chance to make this spot start within Pittsburgh’s jumbled rotation. Erick Aybar also recorded three hits and Matt Kemp notched his first RBI for Atlanta as the Braves handed the Pirates their fifth loss in seven games.
“We’ve got to look at the big picture,” Joyce said. “We’re still three games out [of the second wild card]. I think we’ve just got to keep fighting, obviously. We still have a lot of baseball to be played, but it’s possible. If we get on a roll here and we start playing like we know we can, we can be in that spot, in that position we want to be in.”
The Braves’ bullpen was stirring as Whalen issued two walks, hit a batter, uncorked a wild pitch and surrendered three hits during the 36-pitch, four-run first inning. But the right-hander surrendered just one more hit (Jung Ho Kang’s two-out double in the second) and pitched around the consecutive walks issued to begin the third inning. He retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced during a 98-pitch, five-inning effort.
“Putting us in a hole in the first inning like I did was tough, but I was just trying to battle through it the best I could,” Whalen said. “What an amazing job by the offense to come through and pick me up. They kept chipping away. One run every inning makes it a little easier. My goal was to keep us in it the best I could, no matter how bad it was getting out there.”
Locke’s season-long struggles continued on Wednesday, as he surrendered five earned runs and nine hits after a hitless first inning. The left-hander has delivered some strong starts this year and has shown promise in two relief outings — allowing no runs and six hits across 4 1/3 innings. But inconsistency continues to plague him and could send him to a permanent bullpen role once Tyler Glasnow returns from the disabled list.
“It would be nice to be on a little bit better scheduling, but that stuff is out of your control,” Locke said. “I’m just trying to put something good together, however that may be. Tonight, I didn’t know if I could go 50 pitches or 100 pitches. I really didn’t know the case because I haven’t started in a long time … I’ve just got to get back on track here some way, somehow.”
Playing his second game since being acquired from the Padres, Kemp fueled the two-run fifth inning with a double (his first hit with the Braves) and then added a sacrifice fly during a two-run sixth against Juan Nicasio. Each of Atlanta’s starting position players recorded at least one hit. Inciarte, who has batted .370 during his 14-game hitting streak, singled and scored on Recker’s RBI double in the fourth inning.
“We gave up a bunch of runs, but then scored a run here and a run there and then a couple there,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “(Jace Peterson) did a good job to lead off the sixth with a single and then score a run. We just kept working it and adding on.”
On a night when the Pirates’ offense struggled mightily, Matt Joyce celebrated his 32nd birthday with his three-run homer in the first inning. The homer marked his 11th in 153 at-bats this year and his third over his past nine games. During that stretch, the outfielder is batting .400 (6-for-15) with 10 RBIs and seven runs scored. A primary bench player, Joyce has made the most of his recent starts, hitting safely in eight of his past 10 and batting .303 (10-for-33) with three homers and 11 RBIs.
In his first game since being being hit in the face by a pitch from Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles on May 23, Ryan Vogelsong takes the hill for the Pirates in the final game of their six-game road trip. The 39-year-old is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three games (two starts) at Turner Field during his career. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. CT.  Atlanta will send Tyrell Jenkins to the mound for Thursday’s series finale against Pittsburgh. Jenkins bounced back from a rough start at Coors Field and provided six strong innings against the Phillies on Sunday to record his first big league win.

Thunder Radio’s next broadcast of Atlanta Braves baseball will be on Friday night when the Braves open a weekend series with St. Louis.  We will have that broadcast at 6 PM on Friday as part of the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.

Lewis Brinson hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to a 4-1 win over the Nashville Sounds Wednesday night at Security Service Field.

With the Sounds (63-49) leading 1-0 in the seventh, Brinson clobbered a 2-1 pitch from reliever Tucker Healy over the left field wall for the slam.

The long ball came after two singles and a walk to load the bases. Brinson was just acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers in a deadline deal with the Texas Rangers.

Healy came on for Chris Smith who started for Nashville and turned in six shutout innings. He scattered five hits, walked one and struck out four.

Over the last eight games, Nashville starters have a 6-1 record and a 1.08 ERA in 50 innings.

Smith and Sky Sox (54-54) starter Josh Hader were locked in a pitcher’s duel early in the game. Neither team scored in the first five innings as both starters were on their game.

The Sounds got to Hader in the sixth with some timely hitting. After Hader retired the first two batters in the inning, Chad Pinder singled up the middle to put a runner on.

Brett Eibner came through with a fly ball to the gap in right-center that fell and went to the wall. Pinder scored from first on the double by Eibner to give the Sounds a 1-0 lead.

Smith worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the bottom half of the sixth to finish his night.

He gave way for Healy who allowed the go-ahead slam to Brinson in the seventh.

Two Colorado Springs relievers kept the Sounds off the board the rest of the way. Sam Freeman tossed a scoreless seventh and Damien Magnifico notched a six-out save.

The Sounds collected eight hits on the night but went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Game two of the series is set for Thursday night at Security Service Field. Right-hander Jharel Cotton (8-5, 4.90) makes his Sounds debut against right-hander Hiram Burgos (5-8, 5.06) for the Sky Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CST.

The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

CHS senior golfer Savannah Quick strikes a putt in preseason action from July

The 2016-2017 prep sports season got underway on Tuesday with a pair of strong performances from the Coffee County Central High School golf teams in Cookeville. The two time defending state tournament qualifying Lady Raiders outdistanced the Lady Cavaliers 153 to 175 at the Cookeville Golf Club. The Red Raiders got 4 strong individual rounds but were edged out by the home standing Cookeville boys.
In girls’ action, senior Savannah Quick shot a 4 over par 74 while fellow senior Sophie Vinson carded a 79 as Coffee County had the two lowest girls’ scores of the day. Cookeville was paced by Josie Ross who got around in 85.
For the Red Raiders, 4 scores of 76 and below were not enough to upset the Cavaliers 292 to 295. Sophomore Austin Farris led the Raiders with a 1 over par 71 while senior John Parigger fired a 73, junior Reid Lawrence carded a 75 and sophomore Samuel Prater scored an impressive 76 on the day. Cookeville had 4 scores below 75 led by Ryan Bradshaw whose 70 was the low round of the day. Josh Perry shot a 91 and Matthew Hale added a 92 for the 18 hole match.
The Raider linksters return to action on Thursday when they travel to Eagleville to participate in the Murfreesboro Invitational. The Murfreesboro Invitational will be held at Champions Run. Opening tee time is set for 9 AM.

After being swept by the Brewers last weekend, the Pirates turned to Gerrit Cole and rewarded their ace’s latest strong effort with a sixth-inning offensive flurry that provided a much-needed 5-3 over win the Braves on Tuesday night at Turner Field.

The Pirates snapped a three-game losing streak and began what they hope will evolve into a successful playoff surge with the assistance of the four-run sixth, ending Mike Foltynewicz’s once-promising night. Cole won his second straight start, allowing two runs — one earned — and seven hits over five innings. The right-hander has produced a 1.35 ERA over his past three starts.
“I think I’ve just kind of stayed within myself and tried to help the young guys out when the opportunity presents itself,” Cole said of his role in the rotation. “I’ll just continue to try to do that and just keep trying to do my job. I think one of the best ways to lead is by example.”
Jung Ho Kang’s RBI double and Adam Frazier’s two-run single highlighted the four-run sixth produced against Foltynewicz, who might have gained a better fate had Jace Peterson not bobbled Gregory Polanco’s potential double-play grounder in the decisive frame. Matt Kemp went hitless in his debut for the Braves, who received a solo home run and RBI single from fellow outfielder Nick Markakis.
“The big thing for these guys is getting through that sixth inning, that third time through the order,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Foltynewicz, who has now made 28 career starts. “That’s kind of the growth spurt kind of thing we’re going through right now. He was throwing the ball really well.”
After his team failed to record a hit through the first four innings, Frazier stepped into the box with one out and a runner on first in the fifth and worked a 13-pitch at-bat, where he fouled off nine pitches before doubling to right. The hit set the table for Jordy Mercer’s RBI groundout in the next at-bat. An inning later, the Pirates utility man, and Georgia native, hit a two-out, two-run double down the third-base line to give Pittsburgh a comfortable 5-2 lead. Over his past 11 games, Frazier is hitting .379 (11-for-29) with six extra-base hits.
“I missed a couple of pitches to hit early, and from then on I was in a hole and just trying to battle,” said Frazier about the 13-pitch at-bat. “Finally, I don’t know after how many pitches, I got the barrel to it. It was a tough at-bat, and I was just trying to fight. Being down 1-0 right there and no-hit at the time, needed that for the team.”
Foltynewicz didn’t allow a hit to the first 15 Pirates he faced, but he faltered after hitting Francisco Cervelli on the side of the batting helmet with a 82.8 mph changeup in the fifth. After Cervelli exited, Frazier followed with his 13-pitch at-bat, which resulted in the first of the four hits the Braves right-hander allowed within a span of the final eight batters faced. Kang’s RBI double ended Foltynewicz’s 103-pitch night.
“I did a good job of controlling that fifth inning, but the sixth inning came around and things kind of got out of control,” Foltynewicz said. “They were actually, finally hitting me in the sixth inning and putting the ball in play. Next time around, I’ll try to stay confident and stay aggressive.”
After being acquired from the Mets on Monday in exchange for Jonathon Niese, Antonio Bastardo pitched a perfect sixth in his return to the Pirates. The lefty was the first of three relievers that bridged the gap between Cole and newly minted closer Tony Watson. In his first save opportunity since Mark Melancon was traded to the Nationals on Saturday, Watson navigated a leadoff walk to Gordon Beckham in the ninth to earn his first save since April 22, 2015, and the sixth of his Major League career.
“There was the clean inning from Bastardo, and then everybody else had to work at least a little bit out of the stretch. But they’ve done it,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “It was good to see Bastardo get involved right away. He was efficient with his outing. … I thought it was very important to get Watson out there with a clean start, and he picked up his first save as the closer. All four of them posted up extremely well for us.”
Playing for the first time since the Braves acquired him from the Padres on Saturday, Kemp went hitless in four at-bats and struck out to end the game. The veteran outfielder drew a two-out walk ahead of Markakis’ two-out single in the fifth inning, but he also stranded runners at second and third base when he struck out against Neftali Feliz to end the seventh inning.
Jeff Locke will make his first start for Pittsburgh since giving up five runs on seven hits and five walks over just three innings vs. the Brewers on July 20. The left-hander pitched two innings of scoreless relief against the Mariners on July 26 and will look to translate what he learned in the bullpen to his return to the rotation. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. CT.
Atlanta will counter with Rob Whalen in the middle game of this three-game set against Pittsburgh. Whalen, who was acquired from the Mets last year, will be making his Major League debut. He has posted a 2.40 ERA while combining to make 21 starts for Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett this year.  Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast as we join the Atlanta Braves Radio Network at 6 PM.

The Nashville Sounds swept the New Orleans Zephyrs with a 5-1 win Tuesday night at Zephyrs field.

The Sounds have now won four consecutive games pushing their record to 15 games over .500 at 63-48. The record matches the team’s high-water mark of 15 games over for the season.

Since being called up from Double-A Midland, Sounds starter Raul Alcantara had not allowed an earned run in 20 2/3 innings. That was until a two-out RBI single from Isacc Galloway plated Tomas Telis in the seventh inning.

Raul Alcantara had only allowed three hits in his first six innings of work; however, the Zephyrs tagged three hits on the right-hander in the seventh to plate their first run.

Alcantara (2-0, 0.44) racked up six strikeouts and picked up his second win in his third start as a Sound.

He gave way to Sounds reliever Eduard Santos after the right-hander gave up the two-out RBI single to Galloway. Santos then retired the final batter of the Zephyrs seventh to preserve the Sounds 2-1 lead.

The Sounds scored their only two runs in the fifth inning, as the two runs would be enough. After Joey Wendle walked to lead off the Sounds fifth, back-to-back singles from Matt McBride and Colin Walsh put the Sounds in front 1-0 with Walsh getting the RBI. Arismendy Alcantara then grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored McBride to put the Sounds up 2-0.

Three insurance runs were added by the Sounds in the ninth to stretch their lead to 5-1 over the Zephyrs. Chad Pinder led off the inning with a single to right, he was quickly followed by a single to right by Matt Olson and Pinder advanced to third on a fielding error by Destin Hood. With Wendle batting, Pinder scored on a Cody Ege wild pitch to put the Sounds up 3-1.

Wendle walked to put runners at first and second, and Matt McBride then singled to load the bases for Colin Walsh. Walsh would walk and plate Olson to up the Sounds lead to 4-1 in the ninth. Rangel Ravelo then scored Wendle on a fielder’s choice to put the Sounds up 5-1.

Sounds Manager Steve Scarsone then gave the ball to Patrick Schuster to pitch the ninth in a non-save opportunity. Schuster made quick work of the Zephyrs retiring them in order to give the Sounds the sweep of New Orleans.

The Sounds now travel to Colorado Springs for their second four-game series in their 12-game road trip. Right-hander Chris Smith (6-8, 4.11) starts for the Sounds against left-handed pitcher Josh Hader (0-3, 6.05) for the Zephyrs. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CST at Security Service Field.

The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.