Eugenio Suarez Aims to Help Diamondbacks Salvage Split vs. Braves
Eugenio Suarez’s bat was prominently missing during the initial three or more months of the time, yet it has started to warm up in July. The Arizona Diamondbacks‘ third baseman, who was hitting underneath.200 toward the beginning of the month, has found his stroke once more. In order to boost the offense, Suarez was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the offseason. still, he’d a rough start, hitting just.172 in May and.156 in June.
Suarez had a batting average of.196 at the beginning of July, but he has significantly bettered since also, hitting.323( 10- for- 31) with two home runs, four doubles, and 11 RBIs, bringing his average to.208. Suarez hit a two- run home run and a run- scoring double in the 7- 5 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
Suarez’s highlight of the season was his 452- foot home run off Charlie Morton. This season, Suarez has only hit eight home runs. By and large, Suarez has wrapped at least 30 homers multiple times in his profession.
” I knew I got a good breaking ball,” Suarez said of the homer.” I was looking for one mistake and I got one. I was ready for it. I put my best swing on it.”
Key Performances and Series Goals
Suarez’s performance on Wednesday was his second significant game of the month. In Sunday’s 9- 1 win over the San Diego Padres, he homered and matched his career high of five RBIs. The victory on Wednesday marked Arizona’s first win against Atlanta in six meetings this season, providing the Diamondbacks a chance to split the series on Thursday.
” That was our mentality,” Suarez said.” We needed to win this game. We came here with a conviction.”
Braves ’ Strong Performances
The Braves had won four consecutive games before their loss on Wednesday. All- Star Marcell Ozuna hit a two- run homer for his 24th of the season, and Austin Riley contributed three hits. Ozuna’s homer tied the game in the eighth inning before Arizona scored two runs in the bottom of the inning.
” He is been unbelievable,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Ozuna.” It’s big hits, coming through in the clutch always. It’s been pretty remarkable what he is done.”
Pitching Matchup Fried vs. Pfaadt
The Diamondbacks will go up against Atlanta southpaw Max Fried( 7- 4,3.18 ERA) for their second match- up of the season. Fried gave up his worst performance of the season by allowing eight runs( including seven earned) in just41/3 innings during a 9- 8 home win against Arizona on April 6. He didn’t get a win or a loss in that game and has a record of 1- 0 with a4.84 ERA in four former matchups with the Diamondbacks. Fried faced another delicate game lately, giving up 11 hits and five runs in a six inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ketel Marte( 4- for- 11) and Suarez( 3- for- 9) have both hit home runs against Fried, whereas Kevin Newman has only managed a 1- for- 12 record.
Arizona will start right- hander Brandon Pfaadt( 3- 6,4.19 ERA), who left his last start on Saturday in the fifth inning after being struck in the left ankle by a liner off San Diego’s Luis Arraez. Pfaadt has recovered and will look to end a four- start winless drought. In his last spin, he gave up one run and seven hits over41/3 innings before exiting.
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Pfaadt, 25, faced Fried on April 6 in his first career start against Atlanta. He was handed a 6- 0 lead but entered a no- decision after allowing five runs and eight hits over52/3 innings, including a three- run homer to Ozuna.
Lineup Updates
Director Torey Lovullo expects Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, who was sidelined from Wednesday’s game with lower back pain, to return to the lineup on Thursday.
In their hunt for a series resolve with the Braves, the Diamondbacks will concentrate on Eugenio Suarez and the pitching battle between Brandon Pfaadt and Max Fried. The result of this game may have a significant impact on both teams as they progress through the second half of the season.