Atlanta Braves’ Tommy La Stella, right, follows through on a three-run double as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Koyie Hill, left, looks on in the third inning of a baseball game in Atlanta, Sunday, July 20, 2014.ATLANTA – Tommy La Stella is making an impression on Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats.
“When we got him from Triple-A, all our minor league and player development people said that this guy can hit,” Gonzalez said after Sunday’s 8-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. “He can find the barrel with the ball. He sure has done that. Hopefully, that continues.”
La Stella drove in three runs and Chris Johnson hit a two-run homer to back Alex Wood. The Braves have won of five of seven and remained second in the NL East, one percentage point back of Washington.
Wood (7-7) allowed one run and three hits in six innings with eight strikeouts to win for the first time four starts. He retired his last 13 batters.