Andrelton Simmons, Freddie Freeman Lead Atlanta Rout; Ryan Vogelsong, Chris Narveson Each Go Six Scoreless in 0-0 Tie

Players of the Day for Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Grapefruit League

Simmons

Wednesday was the first day of Spring, an appropriate time for the Braves to break out the good wood, it appears, as Atlanta trounced the Pirates, 18-9, in exhibition action.

Freeman

Getting the most out of their at-bats were shortstop and leadoff hitter, Andrelton Simmons, and first baseman Freddie Freeman, both of whom crashed a pair of homers.

Simmons, who barely retained his rookie status by playing in 49 games for the Braves in 2012, went 3-for-4 with the two dingers, a double, three runs and four RBI. Freeman matched his teammate in the runs and RBI categories, but was 4-for-4, also with a double and a single.

For Simmons, the homers were his first two of the Spring, while Freeman has cleared the fences seven times and is batting .373 with 15 RBI.

The Braves improved to 15-11 with the win, tying Detroit for third place, 2 1/2 behind Grapefruit leader, Baltimore. Tampa Bay is in second place, two games out.

Vogelsong

Narveson

Cactus League

Only during Spring training can there be tie games, and that's what happened when the Brewers traveled to Scottsdale Stadium to take on the Giants.

The two teams combined for ten hits over ten innings, 10 pitchers combining to produce parallel shutouts in the resultant 0-0 tie.

Ryan Vogelsong had his best outing thus far, hurling six scoreless on three hits, walking one and fanning seven.

His effort was dutifully matched by Milwaukee's Chris Narveson, also going six scoreless, but allowing just one hit without issuing a walk. Naveson struck out four Giants' would-be hitters.