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CINCINNATI -- Mike Foltynewicz set the tone for the night with an erratic effort, abbreviated by his inability to command his fastball. Sam Freeman's command issues fueled the Reds' decisive five-run sixth inning, adding to the alarming walk rate he and many other Braves relievers have.

Both walked away from Monday night's 10-4 loss to the Reds anticipating a restless night back at the team hotel.

"It's a killer," Freeman said of the walks. "It makes it hard to sleep at night. That's something we have control over. We pretty much handed it to them tonight, speaking for myself. That's a tough one to swallow."

Freeman issued a pair of walks, including one of the leadoff variety, and surrendered a single before handing the ball to Peter Moylan, who promptly allowed Jesse Winker's go-ahead, bases-loaded single. Former Braves prospect Jose Peraza added a two-out single off Moylan, who then watched as Jesse Biddle allowed the Reds to complete their five-run inning with Joey Votto's bases-loaded walk and Scooter Gennett's two-run single.

"The walks are still a concern overall," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "We've been getting away with it, but it's just tough. We're going to have to do a better job of getting in the strike zone better."

Video: ATL@CIN: Snitker discusses pitching after 10-4 loss

With four more added to their total during this series opener, Braves relievers have now issued 61 walks over 80 1/3 innings this year. No other Major League club's bullpen entered Monday having allowed more than 44 walks.

Dating back to April 14, when the Cubs erased a five-run lead with just three hits during a nine-run eighth inning, Braves relievers have issued 30 walks over 26 2/3 innings. The frigid conditions might have been uncomfortable that day at Wrigley Field, but so too have been the results that have followed. The Braves entered this season feeling that A.J. Minter, Jose Ramirez and Freeman could be solid setup men for closer Arodys Vizcaino. Minter hasn't been as sharp as he was last year, but he's still been quite effective. Ramirez was placed on the disabled list last week after he issued five walks within a span of four outs. Freeman has now issued eight walks over his past 2 1/3 innings.

Snitker said he felt he's taxed Freeman, who has made a Major League-high 14 appearances, none of which have come on consecutive days since April 14. But the accountable left-handed reliever -- who has battled control problems in the past -- said fatigue has nothing to do with the results.

"These struggles this past week is just a lack of execution," Freeman said. "Back to work tomorrow. Get it corrected."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
One too many mistakes: Foltynewicz was embarrassed by the fact that he did not complete six innings for the fifth time in six starts. He issued two of his four walks during a 30-pitch first inning, which he escaped unscathed by stranding the bases loaded. But in the fifth, the one-out walk he issued Billy Hamilton, who has a .286 on-base percentage, proved costly after Scott Schebler drilled a letter-high, 0-2 fastball over the center-field wall for a game-tying, two-run homer.

"At the end of the day, I just didn't do my job as a starter," said Foltynewicz, who threw 103 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. "This year, it seems like I've been scratching and clawing just to get to the fifth inning. It's a little embarrassing. I let the team down and let the bullpen down tonight. They had a lot to pick up."

Markakis delivers: Braves right fielder Nick Markakis capped his three-hit game with a two-run single in the eighth and started it with the fourth-inning, one-out homer he hit off Reds starter Sal Romano. The solo shot was the 26th homer he's hit since joining the Braves in 2015, but just the third of the opposite-field variety. The veteran outfielder has hit .301 with three home runs through 83 at-bats.

"He's been swinging the bat really well," Snitker said. "He's just steady. He's had some really solid at-bats."

Video: ATL@CIN: Markakis goes opposite field for solo homer

SOUND SMART
Braves relievers have started nine of their past 25 innings with a hit by pitch or walk.

The Reds had gone 244 consecutive plate appearances without a home run before Foltynewicz allowed the solo shot to Schebler, who was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day.

HE SAID IT
"Guys will go to work and look at tape and all that kind of stuff. I don't know if it's going to be a trend for us going forward for the entire summer. It's just one of those things you've got to work to fix and right your ship a little bit as we go forward." -- Snitker, on his bullpen's walk total

UP NEXT
Ozzie Albies will attempt to match a Braves franchise record during Tuesday night's game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Albies has recorded 16 extra-base hits; Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy and Justin Upton share the club record with 17 extra-base hits through the end of April. Brandon McCarthy will start for the Braves. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET.

CINCINNATI -- Asked about the enhanced depth he may soon have at his disposal, Braves manager Brian Snitker admitted he spent some time Monday afternoon mapping out how his lineup and bench might look once Jose Bautista, Tyler Flowers and Ronald Acuna Jr. are added to Atlanta's roster.

"I've been toying with it, because it's things you have to prepare for, the inevitability of getting new players," Snitker said. "You've got to make moves. A lot of times, things take care of themselves. But if you don't have a plan, then you'll get bit. So you have to prepare, just in case."

As Bautista, Flowers and Acuna prepared for Triple-A Gwinnett's Monday doubleheader in Rochester, none of them had a definitive arrival date. But there's at least a chance all three could join Atlanta's lineup by the end of this week, or at least by the time this current road trip concludes on May 3.

• Early reports on Joey Bats are positive

"It's encouraging -- and it's kind of exciting -- that we could potentially add three really good players," Snitker said. "Any time you add depth or good players to your team, it's exciting. The guys we have here are exciting. We have guys who are getting opportunities and doing a lot with them."

Bautista is less than a week removed from signing his Minor League deal. But the six-time All-Star and two-time American League Hank Aaron Award winner has impressed enough with his physical condition and skills to give reason to think he might replace Ryan Flaherty as Atlanta's third baseman by the time the Braves play Friday's series opener in Philadelphia.

Video: Braves sign Bautista to a Minor League deal

"From what I've heard, he's close," Snitker said. "He needs to see some better pitching now in his eyes. That's why he's going to Triple-A."

Acuna recorded three hits for Gwinnett on Sunday and entered Monday having hit .333 (8-for-24) with a homer and six strikeouts over his past five games. The sample size is small, but the top prospect is trending in the right direction and showing signs he might be nearing a torrid stretch that will show the Braves what they need to see before promoting him.

Video: PHI@ATL: Acuna hits first HR of season at Triple-A

Following the first game of Monday's doubleheader, Flowers is also slated to serve as Gwinnett's starting catcher on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The veteran catcher has been sidelined since straining his left oblique muscle during the second inning on Opening Day. These games this week will give him a sense of whether he could be ready to be activated as early as this weekend's series in Philadelphia.

Once Flowers returns, he'll likely replace Carlos Perez, who has spent the past couple of weeks serving as the Braves' backup catcher.

The additions of Bautista and Acuna will most likely affect backup infielder Charlie Culberson and backup outfielder Peter Bourjos, both of whom are out of options. There is a chance the Braves could lose Culberson or Bourjos if they are indeed eventually placed on the waiver wire. The same goes for Lane Adams, who was designated for assignment last week.

Once the Braves add Bautista, Flowers and Acuna, their bench will likely consist of Flaherty, who entered Monday leading the National League with a .362 batting average; Tucker, who ranks among the NL's RBI leaders; and Johan Camargo. Because Flowers and Suzuki will share the catching duties, either could be considered the backup.

"It's a good thing to have that depth," Snitker said. "It just takes so many players to get through a season. The depth is really important. It's something we haven't had for a while."

Soroka stars
Mike Soroka is likely at least six weeks away from being added to Atlanta's rotation. But the highly touted right-hander proved that he's close to being Major League-ready as he pitched a three-hit, seven-inning shutout during the 1-0 win Gwinnett notched in the first game of Monday's doubleheader.

Soroka has posted a 1.99 ERA and limited opponents to a .207 batting average through his first four starts for Gwinnett. The 20 year old ranks 31st on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. The general consensus entering the season was that as long as Soroka continued to impress, he might join Atlanta's rotation at some point in June.

Acuna provided a glimpse of how exciting he can be after he delivered an opposite-field single in the first inning. The 20-year-old outfielder stole second and third base before scoring on Flowers' groundout.

MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week honors the best performances in the Minor Leagues from the previous week. Any player on an organization Top 30 Prospects list on our Prospect Watch is eligible.

It's just our second edition of Pipeline Prospect Team of the Week and we already have a pair of repeat performers.

2018 Prospect Teams of the Week

Nationals outfielder Juan Soto and Orioles lefty Zac Lowther have earned back-to-back honors, with both showing that the South Atlantic League is not so challenging for them thus far. Soto is joined by two other members of our Top 100 and Lowther is accompanied by a fellow member of the 2017 Draft class.  

Here is the latest addition of Prospect Team of the Week, for the week of April 16-22.

C: Austin Allen, San Antonio Missions (Double-A)
(Padres' No. 28 prospect)
6 G, .500/.577/.909, 7 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K

Allen was a two-time PTOW honoree last year in a season that saw him hit 22 homers and slug .497. Those wanting to see if that was a California League mirage should be pleased with his start, as his 11-for-22 week (with five extra-base hits) now has him hitting .373 with a .780 slugging percentage and six homers in the Texas League. He tops the circuit in slugging and OPS (1.202).

Watch: Allen crushes a double

1B: Sam Travis, Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A)
(Red Sox's No. 5 prospect)
6 G, .417/.500/.625, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K

Travis had four straight multi-hit games Monday through Thursday, starting with a two-hit performance that included his first home run of the International League season. Even with an 0-for-5 to end the week, he was still able to raise his season slash line to .346/.414/.462.

Watch: Travis ties score with two-run single

2B: David Fletcher, Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A)
(Angels' No. 24 prospect)
6 G, .467/.484/.767, 9 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

Fletcher nearly made the big league team out of Spring Training and is now hitting like he wants to force his way there. He has a seven-game hitting streak going and has raised his average from .172 on April 11 to .366. Four three-hit games this past week certainly helped and he picked up his first homer of the year while not striking out all week.

Watch: Fletcher doubles as part of four-hit game

3B: Austin Riley, Mississippi Braves (Double-A)
(Braves' No. 8 prospect/MLB No. 97)
6 G, .522/.560/1.043, 5 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K

Riley has historically been a slow starter, but he's trying to reverse that trend in the Southern League in the early going. He led all prospects who can qualify for PTOW with 24 total bases last week and is now tied for second in the league with 14 RBIs and is fourth in OPS (1.190). His .386 average puts him eighth in the circuit.

Watch: Riley crushes third homer of 2018

SS: Brendan Rodgers, Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A)
(Rockies' No. 1 prospect/MLB No. 14)
6 G, .520/.538/.800, 3 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, 4 K

When the week began, Rodgers was hitting just .143. Now he's up to .300 after a week that saw him hit in all six games he played in. He kicked things off with a three-hit performance and finished by going 5-for-5 on Sunday, including crushing his third home run of the season. Thanks to the week, Rodgers is now eighth in the Eastern League with his .533 slugging percentage.

Watch: Rodgers homers as part of five-hit day

OF: Calvin Mitchell, West Virginia Power (Class A)
(Pirates' No. 16 prospect)
7 G, .467/.500/.733, 5 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, 6 K

Heading to full-season ball as a high school draftee can be tough, but Mitchell, the Pirates' second-round pick last June, seems to be adjusting just fine. He now has an eight-game hitting streak going and had four multi-hit games this past week. He homered and drove in three runs on Wednesday before going 4-for-4 with four RBIs on Saturday. He's currently fourth in the South Atlantic League in batting average (.364) and OPS (1.070) and fifth in slugging (.652).

OF: Myles Straw, Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A)
(Astros' No. 21 prospect)
6 G, .520/.581/.680, 5 R, 2 3B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 3 SB, 4 K

Straw has a six-game hitting streak going, starting last week with a four-hit game and adding a 5-for-5 showing on Saturday. That's pushed his average up over .400 (he's second in the Texas League at .407). He also swiped three bases, giving him a league-leading 11 steals on the season (tied for third in the Minors).

Watch: Straw's four-hit night

OF: Juan Soto, Hagerstown Suns (Class A)
(Nationals' No. 2 prospect/MLB No. 29)
6 G, .391/.481/.739, 5 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K

Soto showed an innate knack for hitting last year, but also missed most of the season with injuries. He's showing it was no fluke with how he's begun his 2018 campaign back in the South Atlantic League, with four two-hit games this last week. His advanced approach is clearly working, as he leads the SAL with his .486 on-base percentage. Soto's raw power is showing up in games: He tops the circuit in OPS (1.300) and slugging (.814) while his five homers put him in a tie for third. His strong start to the year earned him a promotion to Class A Advanced Potomac of the Carolina League.

Watch: Soto crushes three-run homer

LHP: Zac Lowther, Delmarva Shorebirds (Class A)
(Orioles' No. 17 prospect)
1-1, 0.90 ERA, 2 GS, 10 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 18 K, 0.60 WHIP

Lowther is back again, even if he did give up some hits and a run. After beginning his year with six no-hit innings, the southpaw followed it up with two five-inning starts. Combined, he now has a ridiculous 31/2 K/BB ratio over his first 16 innings of work in the South Atlantic League to go along with a .094 batting average against and 0.44 WHIP.

RHP: Tony Santillan, Daytona Tortugas (Class A Advanced)
(Reds' No. 5 prospect)
2-0, 0.71 ERA, 2 GS, 12 2/3 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 0.79 WHIP

Santillan has always had dynamic stuff and he's coming off of a strong full season in the Midwest League. The one thing that has been a bit of a question mark has been his command, but if the start to his Florida State League season is any indication, he's headed in the right direction. After a week that saw him win both decisions, he's now gone at least six innings in three of his four starts this year with a 2.0 BB/9 rate.

RP: Seranthony Dominguez, Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A)
(Phillies' No. 12 prospect)
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 0.00 WHIP

Dominguez moved to the bullpen for the first time this season and the new role seems to suit him. His past as a starter still lets him go multiple innings, as he had a three-inning, no-hit, six-strikeout game on Wednesday and now has 17 K's (vs. just two walks) in 11 total innings.

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Monday.

It was quite a night for Rays No. 2 prospect Willy Adames, who hit for the cycle in Triple-A Durham's 8-1 victory over Buffalo. The No. 22 prospect in baseball doubled in the first inning, singled in the fifth, tripled in the sixth, and homered in the eighth.

The 22-year-old shortstop accomplished the feat a day after hitting his first home run of the season, the first grand slam of his career, against Lehigh Valley. Adames is slashing .345/.441/.582 in 16 games this year after slashing .277/.360/.415 with 10 homers and 11 steals in 130 games for Durham in 2017.

Adames homers for cycle

"It's my mom. She just got here for a visit and she brings me luck all the time," the native of the Dominican Republic told MiLB.com. "She came with my sister a couple of days ago from Santiago, and whenever she's here, I always hit good. Since I got drafted, she usually makes one trip a year for a week to see me play, but I think this time I'm gonna have to extend her stay. She's my good-luck charm."

Other top prospect performances from Monday's games:

• White Sox No. 1 prospect Eloy Jimenez (No. 4 prospect overall) belted his first two homers of 2018 after opening the season 0-for-10. He was sidelined with a mild left pectoral strain sustained while working out at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., this spring. The two homers came during Double-A Birmingham's 9-5 victory over Pensacola and were Jimenez's first two hits of the season.

Jimenez crushes second jack

Jimenez, 21, slashed .312/.379/.568 with 19 homers in 89 games between Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach (Cubs), Class A Advanced Winston-Salem (White Sox) and Double-A Birmingham last season.

• A pair of top Braves prospects in Ronald Acuna (No. 1, No. 2 overall) and Mike Soroka (No. 3, No. 31 overall) shined in Triple-A Gwinnett's 1-0 win over Rochester. Acuna went 1-for-2 with a single and three stolen bases, scoring the game's lone run, while Soroka tossed seven scoreless innings in his first career shutout, giving up three hits while walking three and striking out four. The right-hander lowered his season ERA to 1.99.

Acuna swipes second and third

• Padres No. 5 prospect Michel Baez (No. 42 overall) tossed five hitless innings while giving up an unearned run in his debut for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore against San Jose. It was the first start of the year for the 22-year-old right-hander, who posted a 2.45 ERA in 10 starts for Class A Fort Wayne in 2017.

Baez no-hits Giants over five

• Cardinals No. 14 prospect Austin Gomber struck out 16 batters in an eight-inning start for Triple-A Memphis against Iowa, throwing 85 of his 112 pitches for strikes in a 3-0 victory. The 16 strikeouts tied a franchise single-game record for the Redbirds. The 24-year-old southpaw did not allow a run over those eight frames, lowering his ERA from 3.57 to 2.45 on the season (four starts).

Gomber's 16th strikeout

• A trio of Dodgers prospects had impressive performances, led by No. 2 prospect Alex Verdugo (No. 33 overall), who connected for his fourth homer of the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City's 3-2 loss to New Orleans. The 21-year-old outfielder is slashing .297/.324/.531 in 16 games this season.

Verdugo lifts solo shot

Meanwhile, Dodgers No. 10 prospect Dennis Santana tossed four strong innings for Double-A Tulsa, giving up one unearned run while walking two and striking out three in a 6-5 Drillers loss to Arkansas. In the same game, Dodgers No. 3 prospect Keibert Ruiz (No. 52 overall) went 2-for-4 with a homer, his third of the season. The 19-year-old catcher is slashing .286/.333/.446 in 13 games this season, his first at Double-A.

• D-backs No. 23 prospect Alex Young turned in six scoreless innings for Double-A Jackson against Chattanooga, surrendering just one hit while walking one and striking out eight. The 24-year-old left-hander lowered his season ERA to 3.43 in four starts (22 strikeouts, four walks over 21 innings).

Young K's eighth batter of night

ATLANTA -- Jose Bautista has made a strong impression since signing a Minor League deal with the Braves last week. The right-handed slugger will join Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday and could possibly join Atlanta's lineup at some point within the week.

"The reports are really good -- defensively, offensively, how he's playing the game, the shape he's in," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I think that's what blows everybody away, the shape that he is in. He's in good baseball shape. It's just a matter of timing and getting him to Triple-A to see a little better pitching."

Bautista spent the past two days playing for Class A Advanced Florida. He'll be promoted in time to play both ends of Triple-A Gwinnett's doubleheader against Rochester on Monday at Frontier Field. From there, the Braves will assess his progress and get a better feel of when he might be ready to spend some time as Atlanta's third baseman.

Tweet from @FireFrogsBB: Another day. Another @JoeyBats19 hit. 🤷��������� pic.twitter.com/7x35OY9pF1

Though he was forced to make his own preparations as he went through the entire offseason unsigned, Bautista reported to the Braves' Spring Training facility last week and provided clear indications he had not just been sitting around waiting for an opportunity.

Bautista has not regularly played third base over the past decade, but Braves infield instructor Adam Everett has been encouraged by what he has seen thus far. The two-time American League Hank Aaron Award winner went 1-for-3 for Florida on Saturday and then went 1-for-4 with a double in Sunday's game.

Bautista's arrival could further diminish opportunities for Johan Camargo to be in the starting lineup. Camargo was lined up to be Atlanta's starting third baseman before he strained his right oblique muscle two weeks before the start of the regular season. Since returning from the disabled list on Thursday, Camargo has been primarily used off the bench. He made the most of his only start on Saturday, when he delivered a game-tying ninth-inning triple and then scored moments later on Ender Inciarte's game-ending bunt single.

Video: NYM@ATL: Camargo rips a game-tying RBI triple in 9th

Ryan Flaherty has significantly exceeded expectations as he has produced a strong .362 batting average through the season's first three weeks. But he may soon be sharing the third-base position with Bautista.

Camargo hit .299 and produced a .783 OPS over 82 games with Atlanta last year. But the Braves have seemingly made it clear they believe he would be best utilized as a versatile offensive and defensive bench piece.

"I'm not playing a lot, but when I play, I just want to contribute to the team," Camargo said. "When they give me the opportunity, I'm going to enjoy it."

Living and learning
A.J. Minter has certainly continued to be a valuable bullpen piece as he has allowed just one run through his first 10 1/3 innings of the season. But his strikeout and walk rates are not as impressive as those he produced after getting his first call to the Majors last year.

Minter recorded 26 strikeouts and issued just two walks over 15 innings this past season. Through this year's first 10 1/3 innings, he has notched nine strikeouts and issued seven walks. Three of those strikeouts were recorded during the perfect eighth inning he completed against the Nationals on April 11.

Video: ATL@WSH: Minter whiffs Harper to end 8th

"It's honestly just me trying to do too much," Minter said. "I'm trying to strike everybody out. That will come. I'm just going back to what I did best and that is just to throw it over the plate."

Earth Day
As Major League Baseball celebrated Earth Day on Sunday, the Braves were proud of the initiatives they have taken to help protect the environment.

SunTrust Park is one of six big league ballparks that has been given a LEED certification. These certifications are given to buildings that meet strict guidelines for environmental responsibility by using less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Braves are also one of 18 clubs that will use LED lighting by the end of this season. In addition to providing better lighting for fans, these light fixtures are more energy efficient and have a lifespan of 30 years.

ATLANTA -- April showers brought yet another idle Sunday to the Braves.

Heavy rain forced the Braves to postpone Sunday afternoon's game against the Mets at SunTrust Park. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader that will be played on May 28, which is Memorial Day. The first game will start at 1:10 p.m. ET, and first pitch for the nightcap is slated for 7:10 p.m. ET.

The Jason Isbell concert already scheduled for May 28 will start after the conclusion of the second game.

The Braves have not played a game on three of the first four Sundays of this month. They had a scheduled off-day on April 1 and have been rained out each of the past two Sundays.

Braves manager Brian Snitker will not alter the order of his rotation. Each starter will take his next turn with an additional day of rest. Sunday's scheduled starter Mike Foltynewicz will now take the mound for Monday's series opener.

Guests who had a ticket for Sunday's game can use that ticket for admission to the nightcap of the May 28 doubleheader. Mobile tickets will remain available in the Ballpark app until the rescheduled date. Guests with a pre-paid parking pass can use the same parking lot and barcode for the rescheduled game.

Those guests who are unable to attend the rescheduled game can exchange their paid ticket for a ticket to any remaining 2018 regular-season Braves home game. Ticket exchanges must take place before the rescheduled game is played on May 28.

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Sunday.

It was a perfect end to the week for Brendan Rodgers, as the Rockies' No. 1 prospect hit a two-run homer and a double while going 5-for-5 in Double-A Hartford's 11-9 win over Harrisburg.

Rodgers, MLB Pipeline's No. 14 overall prospect, singled in his first two at-bats before connecting on a home run to left field, his third homer this season, in the bottom of the fourth inning. He added his third single of the contest in his next at-bat and then capped his big game with an RBI double as part of Hartford's four-run eighth inning.

The five-hit game was the third in Rodgers' career. The 21-year-old shortstop previously accomplished the feat with Class A Advanced Lancaster (June 9, 2017) and Rookie-level Grand Junction (July 12, 2015). It also extended Rodgers' hitting streak to six games, during which he's lifted his batting average from .143 to .300.

Rodgers homers on five-hit day

Fellow Rockies prospects Garrett Hampson (No. 7) and Yonathan Daza (No. 20) also collected multiple hits and plated a run in the Yard Goats' victory, while Brain Mundell (No. 18) connected on his first home run in a 2-for-5 performance.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Sunday

• No. 2 overall prospect Ronald Acuna (Braves' No. 1) extended his hitting streak to five games with a 3-for-6 effort for Triple-A Gwinnett. The three hits were a season high for the 20-year-old phenom, who has lifted his average from .139 to .217, while also scoring five runs, during his current streak.

Video: Top Prospects: Ronald Acuna, OF, Braves

• No. 22 overall prospect Willy Adames' (Rays' No. 2) first home run of the season was a big one, as the 22-year-old shortstop connected on a second-inning grand slam in Triple-A Durham's rout of Lehigh Valley. It was the fourth straight game in which Adames tallied at least one hit and one RBI.

Adames' grand slam

• No. 26 overall prospect Sixto Sanchez (Phillies' No. 1) was a tough-luck loser for Class A Advanced Clearwater despite tossing six innings of two-run ball. The 19-year-old right-hander, making his second start this season, scattered six hits, walked one and struck out five in the performance, throwing 63 of his 83 pitches for strikes.

• No. 36 overall prospect Luis Urias (Padres' No. 3) filled out the stat sheet, tallying two hits, three runs, two RBIs and two walks in Triple-A El Paso's win over Las Vegas. The 20-year-old second baseman began his day with a two-run home run, his second this season, and went on to reach base three more times to finish 2-for-3. It was the second straight two-hit game for Urias.

Video: Top Prospects: Luis Urias, 2B, Padres

• No. 68 overall prospect Fernando Romero (Twins' No. 2) was dominant for Triple-A Rochester, tossing 6 2/3 innings of one-run, two-hit ball with 10 strikeouts in a loss against Columbus. A 23-year-old right-hander, Romero is still in search of his first 2018 win but owns a 1.69 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 16 innings across his three starts.

Romero fans his 10th batter

• Dodgers No. 15 prospect Connor Wong capped his week just as he did the last one -- by hitting a pair of home runs for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. The 2017 third-rounder connected on a two-run shot in the first inning and added a solo shot in the sixth, giving Wong eight home runs (as well as eight multi-hit performances) in his first 12 games. He also had an RBI single in the ninth for a total of four RBIs on the day.

• Mets No. 14 prospect Anthony Kay -- a first-round Draft pick in 2016 who missed all of '17 while recovering from Tommy John surgery -- picked up his first professional win behind six scoreless innings for Class A Columbia. The 23-year-old lefty threw 59 of his 92 pitches for strikes, as he allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five to lead the Fireflies past Hickory, 5-0. Kay has pitched well to begin the season, logging a 1.69 ERA across his first 16 innings (three starts) as a pro.

Kay picks up his fifth strikeout

• Nationals No. 9 prospect Daniel Johnson enjoyed his best offensive performance of the season, going 3-for-5 with a homer, a double and three runs as Double-A Harrisburg fell to Hartford, 11-9. The home run, a solo shot in the second inning, was the first this season for the Senators' leadoff man. In 2017, Johnson, 22, was one of 10 Minor Leaguers to finish with at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases, tallying 22 in each category.

Video: Top Prospects: Daniel Johnson, OF, Nationals

• Orioles No. 17 prospect Zac Lowther recorded double-digit strikeouts for the second time in three starts for Class A Delmarva. After striking out 13 and seven batters in his first two starts, respectively, the 21-year-old lefty fanned 11 batters in five innings Sunday while allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk. All together, Lowther has punched out 31 batters and allowed just five hits in 16 innings this season.

• Reds No. 6 prospect Tony Santillan allowed his first earned run of the season in his fourth start for Class A Advanced Daytona, a 5-1 win against Dunedin. Working 6 2/3 frames, the 21-year-old right-hander yielded six hits and a walk while striking out six. He also induced eight ground-ball outs in the outing while throwing 57 of 87 pitches for strikes. He's 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA and a 24-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 2/3 innings on the season.

• Red Sox No. 12 prospect Bobby Dalbec belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning that powered Class A Advanced Salem to a 6-4 win over Winston-Salem. The home run, Dalbec's fifth this season, capped a two-hit, four-RBI game for the 22-year-old third baseman, who had doubled earlier in the contest. He's produced a .923 OPS with 10 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs in 17 games.

Dalbec's extra-inning homer

ATLANTA -- A night after they were shut down by Mets closer Jeurys Familia, the Braves got their revenge on him Saturday night at SunTrust Park, walking off with a 4-3 win on Ender Inciarte's perfectly placed bunt single. It marked Atlanta's second walk-off win of the season.

"It's a really big win for our club," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I mean, to beat this team like that, it's got to give them confidence."

Video: NYM@ATL: Snitker on Braves' 9th inning rally in win

Down 3-2 in the ninth, Dansby Swanson drew a leadoff walk and scored on Johan Camargo's game-tying RBI triple -- his first hit of the season -- on a sharp grounder that went to the right-center wall.

Video: NYM@ATL: Camargo rips a game-tying RBI triple in 9th

With runners at the corners and one out, Camargo slid headfirst into home to end the game when Inciarte dropped a bunt down the first-base side. Inciarte's bat has come alive after his miserable road trip, hitting .370 (10-for-27) on the homestand.

"[Familia] is a sinker guy," Inciarte said. "And I remember last year on a sacrifice bunt against him, he broke my bat on the sacrifice bunt. So I've seen a lot of pitches from him, I know what the sinker does when he's throwing it and I mean, I was looking for something I could just hit off the end of the bat to first base."

Video: NYM@ATL: Inciarte on his walk-off drag bunt in 9th

Braves starter Julio Teheran was locked in a pitchers' duel with Mets ace Jacob deGrom, notching seven scoreless innings -- his longest outing of the season -- with six strikeouts and one walk. Teheran, who struggled at home last year (5.86 ERA), has a 1.42 ERA in his last three starts.

"I'm just happy with the way I threw the ball today," Teheran said. "I feel like I did my job. I knew we were facing one of the toughest lineups in the game right now and just wanted to do my work."

Video: NYM@ATL: Teheran K's six in seven shutout frames

The Braves didn't collect their first hit off deGrom, who went seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, until Carlos Perez's two-out single in the fifth. They got their first runner in scoring position when Inciarte stole second after reaching on a leadoff infield single in the sixth. Inciarte then took off for third base with Ozzie Albies batting and was originally ruled safe, but the Mets challenged the call and it was overturned.

Video: NYM@ATL: Nido nabs Inciarte after call overturned

SOUND SMART
Freddie Freeman doubled twice on Saturday, making it the 23rd multi-double game of his career. His 41 career doubles against the Mets put him five shy of Chipper Jones' club record against New York.

Video: NYM@ATL: Freeman drives a two-run double to center

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Making his Major League debut, left-hander Jesse Biddle pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get credited with the win. The former 2010 first-round Draft pick of the Phillies needed 15 pitches to retire the side on three groundouts and one walk.

"Right now, I am just happy that we won," Biddle said. "At the end of the day, I'm just a pitcher trying to help my team out, and they played unbelievable, so it was just a fun game to be a part of."

Video: NYM@ATL: Biddles tallies first Major League out

HE SAID IT
"That was very surprising, but what a great baseball move right there. I didn't even grab my stuff because I told Snit, 'I believe in Ender. I'm not even gonna go up there.' And the next thing you know, he's bunting, and I just start panicking and then all of the sudden just awesomeness happened. I don't think anybody else would have thought of that except for Ender." -- Freeman

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
The top of the eighth was a nightmare for young second baseman Albies, who didn't cover first base in time on Jose Reyes' bunt. Then, with runners on first and second and no outs, Michael Conforto grounded to third base on what looked to be a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play. But Albies could not hold on to the throw from Camargo. Though Reyes was originally called out, a replay review overturned the call. The runs later came in to score on Asdrubal Cabrera's two-run single to right. The sloppy inning continued when Inciarte, a two-time Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder, booted a Jay Bruce RBI single.

"It was a bad inning," Snitker said. "Not like us. We've been so fundamentally sound, it was just kind of one of those innings that you're going to have. We're gonna play for six months, and there's gonna be innings like that."

Video: NYM@ATL: Reyes safe at second after call overturned

Albies redeemed himself in the bottom of the inning, drawing a one-out walk to set the stage for Freeman's two-run double to left to trim the deficit to 3-2.

UP NEXT
Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz will make his fifth start of the season Sunday after picking up a no-decision in his eight-strikeout outing against the Phillies on Tuesday. The Mets will counter with righty Zack Wheeler. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.

ATLANTA -- Braves catcher Tyler Flowers will start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said before Saturday's game against the Mets at SunTrust Park.

Flowers strained his left oblique during his first at-bat on Opening Day and has been on the disabled list since March 30.

The plan is for Flowers to catch Monday through Wednesday on the road and get another start in Gwinnett on Friday. He'll work his way up to playing full games.

"There's no timetable, really. We'll just see how he feels and reacts, because he hadn't had a game to work an at-bat or taking a pitch or anything like that," Snitker said. "So as he does all that, we'll see how he feels."

Video: NYM@ATL: Braves TV on Flowers' rehab assignment

In Flowers' absence, veteran Kurt Suzuki has gotten the bulk of the starts behind the plate and entered Saturday batting .311 with a .400 on-base percentage and a .978 OPS. He has provided some power with three home runs and nine RBIs.

"He's a tough out," Snitker said.

Braves DFA Ravin, recall Socolovich
Atlanta designated right-hander Josh Ravin for assignment on Saturday and selected the contract of another right-hander, Miguel Socolovich, who will join the Braves for his second stint this season. The 31-year-old Socolovich pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts against the Phillies on March 31.

"It wasn't performance, it's just the needs is all that one was right there," Snitker said of the move. "… You hate doing that, but you gotta survive today, too, somehow. So a lot of those guys, kind of stay away from a few of them. Guys are pretty much all good to go today, but we've got another week left before we get an off-day."

Sanchez improving, Gohara to start, Ramirez shut down
Right-hander Anibal Sanchez could return sooner than originally expected after being placed on the DL on Wednesday with a right hamstring strain he sustained while running in the outfield.

"He's doing a lot better than we thought he would, and he's gonna be quicker than what originally was anticipated," said Snitker, adding that Sanchez could possibly join the team on its upcoming road trip to work with trainers.

Atlanta signed Sanchez to a Minor League deal in mid-March, and the 34-year-old appeared in three games (two starts) since being called up, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA. He gave up two runs on 11 hits with 14 strikeouts and six walks over 14 innings.

Video: ATL@CHC: Sanchez K's Baez to end the 4th inning

Luiz Gohara will travel to Pawtucket to pitch for Gwinnett on Sunday. Snitker said he'll throw 65 to 70 pitches and get another start on Friday. The 21-year-old lefty went on the DL with a left ankle sprain on March 29 (retroactive to March 26) and began his rehab assignment in Double-A on Tuesday.

Snitker said reliever Jose Ramirez will not throw for the next two weeks. The Braves placed the right-hander on the DL on Wednesday with right shoulder tightness. The 28-year-old struggled over his seven appearances, posting a 17.05 ERA in his 6 1/3 innings.

Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Saturday.

Kyle Wright had shown flashes of excellence early in his first Double-A campaign before putting it all together Saturday night in his finest performance as a pro.

Wright, Atlanta's No. 2 prospect (No. 30 overall), turned in a career-long outing, tossing six-plus scoreless innings of one-hit ball to lead Double-A Mississippi past Mobile, 3-1. He issued two walks and struck out four, throwing 52 of his 84 pitches for strikes.

The two-out hit Wright allowed in the first inning was the only real blemish in his performance. He proceeded to retire 15 of the next 16 batters before departing the game in the seventh inning, after he had issued a leadoff walk to Matt Thaiss (Angels' No. 9). A pair of M-Braves relievers handled the final three innings to help secure Wright's first win at the Double-A level.

Wright retires 15 of 16 batters

The 2017 first-rounder (No. 5 overall pick) scuffled in his previous turn, allowing four earned runs in just one inning after posting 7 2/3 scoreless frames across his first two M-Braves starts. Overall, Wright, 22, owns a 2.45 ERA on the season, with 14 strikeouts and nine walks in 14 2/3 innings.

Austin Riley (Braves' No. 8, No. 97 overall) did his part to support Wright's cause by going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. The 21-year-old third baseman is already up to eight doubles this season in 16 games, during which he's hitting .386/.435/.754 with 11 runs scored and 14 RBIs.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Saturday

• No. 15 overall prospect Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 1) completed a season-high seven innings to pick up his second win for Double-A Altoona. The 22-year-old right-hander wasn't at his sharpest, allowing three earned runs on six hits and three walks, though he still struck out seven and generated another eight outs on the ground. Jason Martin (No. 22) delivered his first home run, a two-run shot in the second inning, and later added a double to finish the game 3-for-4 with three runs.

• No. 20 overall prospect Royce Lewis (Twins' No. 1) lifted his average from .222 to .323 for Class A Cedar Rapids behind a perfect 4-for-4 performance. The four hits, all singles, matched the 2017 No. 1 overall Draft pick's career-high mark. He also scored two runs and swiped his second base as the Kernels fell to Kane County, 9-2.

Lewis notches fourth hit

• No. 25 overall prospect Brendan McKay (Rays' No. 3) fired four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts in a no-decision for Class A Bowling Green. He threw 84.4 percent of his pitches (38 of 45) for strikes in the dominant performance and now owns a 2.00 ERA with 15 strikeouts and four hits allowed in nine innings (three starts) this season. At the plate, meanwhile, the two-way star is hitting .346/.546/.385 with 10 RBIs and an absurd 13-to-3 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

• There's no stopping No. 29 overall prospect Juan Soto. The Nationals' No. 2 prospect belted his fifth home run, a three-run shot, as well as his third triple as he recorded multiple hits for the fourth time in five games for Class A Hagerstown. Through 15 games, the 19-year-old outfielder is slashing .389/.507/.870 with 13 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and more walks (15) than strikeouts (11).

Soto crushes three-run homer

• No. 74 overall prospect Jon Duplantier (D-backs' No. 1) worked five strong innings as he picked up the win for Jackson in his season debut. It also marked the Double-A debut for the 23-year-old righty, who allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six. The 2017 MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year had opened the season on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

Duplantier fans six in AA debut

• No. 96 overall prospect Brandon Woodruff (Brewers' No. 3) allowed just one earned run while completing at least five innings for a third straight start for Triple-A Colorado Springs. The 25-year-old righty tallied a season-high seven strikeouts while scattering three hits with one walk in five innings. He's pitched to a 1.65 ERA in 16 1/3 innings since being demoted to Triple-A on April 7.

• After giving up a combined 19 hits in his previous two starts, Marlins No. 13 prospect Zac Gallen allowed just four hits in seven scoreless innings Saturday as Triple-A New Orleans defeated Oklahoma City, 2-0. The 22-year-old righty compiled five strikeouts against three walks in the outing while finding the strike zone with 58 of his 91 pitches. Gallen has completed at least six innings in three of his four starts this season.

Gallen strikes out five

• Padres No. 11 prospect Esteury Ruiz and Tirso Ornelas (No. 14) both connected on their second home run of 2018 and collected three hits as Class A Fort Wayne defeated Dayton, 8-2. Ruiz, 19, hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning before finishing 3-for-5, while the 18-year-old Ornelas finished 3-for-4 after hitting a three-run homer in his first at-bat. Leadoff man Jeisson Rosario (No. 18) paced the TinCaps with three runs as he improved his average to .310 with his second multi-hit game in as many days.

• Pirates No. 16 prospect Calvin Mitchell boosted his average to .371 with his fourth straight multi-hit game for Class A West Virginia. The 2017 second-rounder tallied his third triple this season before finishing with four hits and four RBIs, both matching his career bests. Braeden Ogle (No. 28) paced the Power on the mound, tossing six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts in the 13-8 victory. He allowed six hits and walked three, throwing 54 of his 87 pitches for strikes in the outing.

• Red Sox No. 15 prospect Jalen Beeks piled up 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings as Triple-A Pawtucket blanked Gwinnett, 6-0. The 24-year-old left-hander allowed two hits, two walks and hit one batter while throwing 59 of his 98 pitches for strikes. Beeks has dominated early this season, posting a 0.64 ERA with 26 strikeouts and five walks in 14 innings (three starts).

Beeks strikes out 10

ATLANTA -- The first three full weeks of this season have moved the Braves past the point of their rebuild where they might have been satisfied with moral victories. At the same time, they are playing a sport within which a frustrating conclusion doesn't necessarily erase the satisfaction gained from all of the game's encouraging events.

Sean Newcomb extended the starting rotation's success and displayed his maturation by matching Noah Syndergaard, despite not having his best stuff. Ozzie Albies added to his early surge in thunderous fashion, and for the most part the bullpen provided another solid effort. But the positive developments didn't necessarily negate the sting that was felt when the Braves dropped a 5-3, 12-inning loss to the Mets shortly after Josh Ravin grazed fellow reliever Robert Gsellman with a pitch on Friday night at SunTrust Park.

"That just can't happen, especially with a pitcher being up there," Ravin said. "Just throw strikes. I paid for it."

Video: NYM@ATL: Gsellman gets hit by a pitch in the 12th

Promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day, Ravin escaped a two-on, none-out threat in the 11th inning. But after he nicked Gsellman's jersey with a 1-1 fastball, the right-hander surrendered a go-ahead two-out single to Yoenis Cespedes, who then scored an insurance run on Asdrubal Cabrera's double.

"That was a heckuva ballgame right there," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's a shame we didn't come out on top. But there were a lot of good things again. To face a guy like [Syndergaard] and go toe-to-toe with him, it was an exciting game. It was a fun game."

Video: NYM@ATL: Cespedes drives in Gsellman with RBI single

Provided an early lead courtesy of Albies' first-inning homer off Syndergaard, Newcomb navigated his way through six strong innings, despite having what he considered to be a so-so curveball and an inability to consistently command his changeup. Two of the three runs charged to him were tallied during the third inning, which was highlighted by Amed Rosario's RBI double.

Braves Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder Ender Inciarte grabbed the ball near the wall and rushed a throw that sailed wide of the cutoff man and consequently cost Newcomb at least one run. An accurate throw might have prevented catcher Tomas Nido from scoring on the double by Rosario, who advanced to third on the throwing error and scored on Michael Conforto's sacrifice fly.

"If we'd have hit that [cutoff] guy, we might have had a chance at him," Snitker said. "But it's one of those things. You can't fault guys. They make plays and sometimes, it goes like that."

Video: NYM@ATL: Rosario rips an RBI double to right-center

Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki made a run-preventing diving tag at home plate in the sixth. His game-tying sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning prevented Syndergaard from winning for the first time in five career starts against the Braves. The Mets' starter was also victimized by his defense when Jay Bruce misplayed Ryan Flaherty's RBI double in the fourth.

Video: NYM@ATL: Flaherty knocks in Swanson with RBI double

The Braves have seen their starting pitchers post a 2.14 ERA over the past 14 games. More importantly, they have seen the maturation of Newcomb and Mike Foltynewicz, who have recently proven they are capable of competing on nights when they don't have their best stuff.

"Overall, there were a lot of good things that happened," Snitker said. "But you just want to win a game like that."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
David vs. Goliath: The 5-foot-8 Albies won his battle against the 6-foot-6 Syndergaard when he drilled the right-hander's 99.6-mph fastball into the right-field seats. The 412-foot, first-inning solo shot was his Major League-leading 16th extra-base hit and his sixth homer, making him the first Braves infielder in modern-era history to reach this total by the end of April.

"Just see it and hit it," Albies said. "It felt amazing. It felt like it just exploded off the bat."

Video: NYM@ATL: Albies homers on Thor's 99.6-mph heater

Suzuki's tag: The sixth inning began with a replay review that resulted in Cabrera being called out for fan interference that occurred when Nick Markakis tried catching a foul ball down the right-field line. It ended with a review that confirmed Suzuki was successful with his diving tag to prevent Wilmer Flores from scoring from first base on Bruce's double to shallow left field.

Video: NYM@ATL: Fan interference ruled, Cabrera out in 6th

Preston Tucker grabbed the ball near the foul line and fired a throw that Suzuki caught just outside the right-handed batter's box before lunging back across the plate to make the tag. More >

Video: NYM@ATL: Mets challenge play at the plate in the 6th

Stranding a pair: Suzuki's 11th-inning single put two on with two out for Tucker. But the left fielder, who entered the game tied with Bryce Harper for the National League RBI lead, struck out against Gsellman.

"We had some guys in scoring position," Snitker said. "We had some guys that had some really good at-bats and hit the ball hard. It's just one of those nights where we couldn't pierce a gap and get anything going."

Video: NYM@ATL: Gsellman fans Tucker and leaves two on base

SOUND SMART
Chipper Jones (1998), Dale Murphy ('85) and Justin Upton (2013) share the Braves' record for most extra-base hits (17) before the end of April. Albies has nine more games to tally the two extra-base hits he needs to surpass that mark.

Before Albies conquered Syndergaard's heater, the fastest pitch hit for a homer this year was the 98.6-mph Arodys Vizcaino fastball the Nationals' Matt Adams belted for a game-tying homer on April 11.

HE SAID IT
"Having better overall command with everything has helped. When I start missing, I'm able to get back in the zone better. Overall, everything is feeling better as I go." -- Newcomb

UP NEXT
Julio Teheran bids for a second straight strong start when he opposes Jacob deGrom and the Mets tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET. Teheran recorded nine strikeouts -- his highest total since 2016 -- and limited the Phillies to one run over six innings on Monday.