Braves' 4 home runs overshadow Walker's first blast
PHOENIX -- Mike Foltynewicz began the season as Atlanta's No. 5 starter. He sure looks like No. 1 now.
The 25-year-old right-hander went six strong innings to win again, Kurt Suzuki homered twice and the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 on Tuesday night.
Suzuki, just back from bereavement leave for the death of his grandfather, hit a two-run homer off reliever J.J. Hoover (1-1) to break a 2-2 tie and a throwing error by Arizona catcher Chris Iannetta allowed two more to score in a four-run seventh.
Suzuki and Johan Camargo hit consecutive homers off Andrew Chafin in the eighth. Matt Kemp also homered and tripled for Atlanta.
Foltynewicz (9-5) gave up two runs and five hits, striking out nine, to improve to 6-0 in his last nine starts.
Taijuan walker talks about his improved fast ball command and how special it was to have his 1st HR the game after his son was born. #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/JexVb5jOoB
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) July 26, 2017
"I kind of feel like the kid's starting to believe in himself," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "He's trusting his stuff and he's pitching with a lot of confidence right now."
Suzuki has six home runs in an eight-game hitting streak. He wasn't ready to compare himself to slugging teammates Freddie Freeman or Matt Adams, though.
"When I run into some, it feels good because I don't hit many," he said. "It definitely feels like I'm floating around the bases."
Taijuan Walker held Atlanta hitless through three innings before the Braves got an unearned run in the fourth. Walker, who missed his previous outing for the birth of his first child, limited the Braves to two runs, one earned, in six innings and left in a 2-2 tie.
Walker also hit his first career home run, on an 0-2 pitch no less.
"First time ever," he said. "It was awesome."
Second baseman Brandon Drury's throwing error on a fielder's choice attempt left runners at first and second with one out and Nick Markakis walked to load the bases. Drury's diving stop on Matt Adams' grounder for a force at second allowed the Braves' first run to score, but probably saved another.
"Things kind of unraveled on us in the 7th inning, unfortunately. But before that we got a very well pitch game from Taijuan.” Torey Lovullo pic.twitter.com/Iv4dI5iC5W
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) July 26, 2017
Walker turned on Foltynewicz's 0-2 pitch and sent it deep into the left-field seats leading off the fifth to tie at 1. At 455 feet, it was the second-longest home run hit by a pitcher this season. Colorado's Jon Gray hit one 467.
Kemp put Atlanta back on top 2-1 with an opposite field, two-out home run in the sixth, but Arizona squared it at 2-2 when Chris Owings, hitless in his previous 23 at-bats, doubled into the left field corner to bring home J.D. Martinez, who had opened the inning with an infield single.
"We made a little bit of noise. It looked like we were going to break the game open," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said, "but their starter Foltynewicz stood in his stuff and got through the inning and gave his team a boost."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks OF David Peralta fouled a ball off his left knee in the sixth and went down in pain but after a visit from the trainer stayed in the game.
UP NEXT
Braves: Although the official word wasn't to come until after the game, RHP Aaron Blair, who came to Atlanta as part of the Shelby Miller trade, is expected to make his first big league start of the season in Wednesday afternoon's rubber match, taking the place of Jaime Garcia, who was traded Monday to Minnesota.
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (7-9, 4.43 ERA) closes out the home stand for Arizona. He is 3-0 with a 0.59 ERA in six career games, four starts, against Atlanta.
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