The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gregory Polanco, left, celebrates with Jacob Stallings as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off the Atlanta Braves’ Mike Foltynewicz during the second inning of Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh.
Atlanta Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz delivers to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during Thursday’s game, which the Braves lost 6-1 to drop two of three games in the series at Pittsburgh.PITTSBURGH – If the Atlanta Braves needed more incentive to pursue free-agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel, they may have received it Thursday afternoon.
Mike Foltynewicz allowed consecutive home runs to Colin Moran and Gregory Polanco in the second inning of a 6-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, another subpar outing for the 2018 All-Star pitcher.
Foltynewicz (1-5) has allowed 15 home runs this season to rank among the worst National League pitchers in that category. He gave up three runs, six hits and one walk in six innings, lowering his ERA from 6.10 to 5.89.
Braves manager Brian Snitker has faith the 27-year-old right-hander can regain his form.
“He’s just a click away,” Snitker said. “He’s left pitches over the middle of the plate. You do that, they get whacked. After all that – that was the second inning – then he started making pitches.”