Braves rally in 8th but fall to Diamondbacks 5-3 in 11th
ATLANTA (AP) - A Braves team desperate for good news found some solace in an encouraging start from Mike Foltynewicz.
It wasn't enough to take the sting off yet another home loss, this time in extra innings.
Foltynewicz pitched seven strong innings before Jim Johnson gave up a two-run homer to Chris Herrmann in the 11th as Atlanta lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Sunday.
It was Herrmann's second homer of the game, and each came on 0-2 pitches.
The Braves were swept in the three-game series. They have lost four straight overall and 10 straight at homem falling to 1-15 at Turner Field. Only the 1913 Yankees, who lost their first 17 home decisions, had a worse home start, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. New York had one tie in that span.
The Braves (7-23) are off to their worst 30-game start since at least 1900. They trailed 3-0 before scoring three runs in the eighth.
"You lose today's game after tying it and you sit in the dugout and you see guys' faces," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "They're wearing it pretty darn good. It's not only me and the coaching staff. Everybody is wearing it. I was hoping to get a walk-off win just to get momentum going."
Foltynewicz allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings and matched his career high with eight strikeouts. It was an important showing after he gave up three first-inning homers in a 4-1 loss at the Mets on Monday in his first start after he was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.
"Everything was just flowing well today," Foltynewicz said. "I took my time between pitches. That helped me out a lot instead of getting up there and chucking it every 10 seconds."
Gonzalez praised Foltynewicz
"I can't wait to run him back out there when his turn comes back around," Gonzalez said.
Herrmann hit a seventh-inning homer off Foltynewicz before the drive off Johnson (0-4).
The previous player in the majors to hit two homers in a game on 0-2 counts was Houston's Lance Berkman on July 9, 2000, against Kansas City, according to STATS.
Paul Goldschmidt walked opening the 11th and was forced on David Peralta's grounder. After a video review of Goldschmidt's awkward tumble into second confirmed no violation of the slide rule, Peralta stole second and Herrmann hit his fourth homer.
Randall Delgado (1-1), wearing pink high-top shoes for Mother's Day, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Brad Ziegler got three outs for his seventh save in seven chances. Atlanta loaded the bases in the ninth before Jeff Francoeur's inning-ending groundout.
Francoeur's two-run double in a three-run eighth tied the game.
Patrick Corbin (itched seven scoreless innings and hit a run-scoring triple. He left with a 3-0 lead before Andrew Chafin gave up three runs in the eighth.
ABOUT THAT REVIEW
Gonzalez said he received a postgame call from Major League Baseball following up on a memo instructing managers there will be no video reviews of slides when the middle infielder does not try to throw to first base for a double play. Aybar did not try to throw to first on Goldschmidt's slide.
"It's the 11th inning and I've got one challenge, why not go for it?" Gonzalez said.
ROSTER MOVES
The Diamondbacks optioned RHP Enrique Burgos to Triple-A Reno and recalled RHP Archie Bradley, who will start on Monday at Colorado.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Peralta did not start due to what manager Chip Hale described as residual effects from being hit by two pitches on his right wrist/forearm at San Francisco on April 20-21. He entered in the eighth inning. ... OF-INF Yasmany Tomas is still being treated for a stiff neck as he was held out for the third straight game.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Rubby De La Rosa, who had been listed as the starter for Monday's game at Colorado, will have his start pushed back to Tuesday. Hale said De La Rosa is "100 percent, better than ever."
Braves: Following an off day on Monday, RHP Matt Wisler is scheduled to start in Tuesday night's home series opener against Adam Morgan and the Phillies.