ATLANTA — Heaven knows being a Braves fan is hard work this year. This rebuilding team lost 2o of its first 22 games at Turner Field. When the Giants came calling for a Memorial Day matinee, the Braves were 4-21 at a home they will vacate next season.
Thus, the 23,147 ticketholders Monday saw two rarities for 2016: Jeff Samardzija getting throttled and a 5-3 Braves victory.
In his shortest start with the Giants, Samardzija surrrendered five runs (four) earned in five innings in the Giants' third loss in 18 games.
After five fantastic starts in May that yielded a combined six earned runs, the Shark surrendered three runs on one second-inning wing from rookie Mallex Smith, a bases-clearing triple.