WASHINGTON – When Drew Smyly’s previous start ended the way so many had recently – multiple home runs allowed, a loss for his Atlanta Braves – the left-hander looked at the calendar and took heart from realizing it was the last day of April.
He was excited to see what his first start of May would bring. It was rather different, as it turned out.
No balls left the park. No earned runs at all. And, finally, a win – his first since September 2019.
Smyly pitched into the seventh inning, Ehire Adrianza made the most of a rare start on a day off for slumping 2020 National League MVP Freddie Freeman, and the Braves edged the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Thursday for their first sweep of their NL East Division rivals since 2014.
“It’s a new month. Every game’s a new game. Every day’s a day to get better,” said Smyly (1-2), who allowed four hits and an unearned run. “It feels pretty good just to be able to celebrate with your teammates and help them win a ballgame.”