Atlanta Braves Evan Gattis sees first game action in two weeks
By Ed Carroll
In a couple short months, the Atlanta Braves have managed to squander away a division lead, a Wild Card spot, and lately, a .500 record, all while catcher Evan Gattis has been the only player out with any sort of ailment. Gattis has been out since September 7 with strep throat.
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Gattis made his first appearance since then on Friday night, when he pinch-hit for a with one on and one out in the bottom of the fifth inning of an eventual 4-2 New York Mets win. Gattis grounded to third but advanced runner B.J. Upton to second.
That Gattis has been the only regular to miss extended time during the Braves swoon has to be disheartening to Atlanta fans, even though it’s clear the Braves miss Gattis’s bat. On the year, Gattis has 22 home runs and 17 doubles to go with a lone triple, and he’s one of two Braves to have 20-plus home runs; Justin Upton leads the team with 27.
The Braves can’t blame the collapse completely on being without Gattis, as many aspects of the team just appear to be falling apart. Starter Mike Minor, who missed a month with shoulder tendonitis, left last night’s loss after an inning with shoulder discomfort, and since the Braves’s season is pretty much over, expect Minor to be shut down as well.
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