Jason Heyward becomes the eleventh Braves player in franchise history to homer in his first at-bat (April 5, 2010)

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2010, All Star, April 5, Atlanta Braves, Gold Glove Award, Jason Heyward, Rookie of the Year

Jason Heyward becomes the eleventh Braves player in franchise history to homer in his first major league at-bat on April 5, 2010. The much touted 20 year-old rookie, with the hometown fans chanting, “Let’s go, Heyward!”, hits a three-run homer in the first inning off Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano at Turner Field.

After a rapid ascent through the minor leagues, the Braves invited Heyward to spring training in March 2010. There, his hitting continued to draw notice, as he routinely hit “rockets” all over the field and over the fences, compelling manager Bobby Cox to make him a regular in the lineup. He mentioned that he heard a different, more pronounced sound, of the balls hit off Heyward’s bat. Reggie Jackson, a New York Yankees special assistant, concurred, characterizing that sound as “stereo”, while everyone else was “in AM.” Heyward hit two notable batting practice home runs at the Champion Stadium training complex in the Lake Buena Vista, Florida. One damaged a Coca-Cola truck in the parking lot, and another broke the sunroof of Atlanta Braves’ assistant general manager Bruce Manno’s car. He was initially issued uniform number 71. At the end of spring training, he asked the team for, and received, number 22. He presented one of his jerseys with the number 22 to Ruston to show that he honored her son, which elicited an emotional reaction from her.

After making his MLB debut for Atlanta in 2010, Heyward was named to the National League (NL) All-Star team and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Baseball America named him their MLB Rookie of the Year. Injuries limited his playing time in 2011 and 2013. With a breakout season in 2012, he hit 27 home runs with 82 RBI and 21 stolen bases while finishing tenth in the NL in runs scored with 93. Also recognized for his defense including coverage in the deepest parts of right field, he won both the Fielding Bible and NL Gold Glove Awards for right fielders in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and Wilson’s MLB Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. He is widely regarded as one of the best outfield defenders in baseball.

 

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Braves pitcher Tom Hughes hurls a no-hitter (April 5, 1916)

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1916, April 5, Boston Braves, No Hitter, Rabbit Maranville, Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes

On April 5, 1916, Boston Braves pitcher Tom Hughes hurls a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Braves Field. Hughes strikes out seven and walks two.

For the Braves, Rabbit Maranville walks three times and scores both of the Braves’ runs. (The box score is unclear on how the runs were scored, since there were no RBIs; Maranville may have stolen home for one of the runs.)

The Braves win 2-0.

Delay is asked for, denied and the game is forfeited (April 5, 1902)

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1902, April 5, Boston Beaneaters, Forfeit, Joe Cantillon, Pittsburgh Pirates, South End Grounds

South End Grounds

On April 5, 1902, in a game at the South End Grounds in Boston, the Boston Beaneaters are trailing the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in the top of the 5th when it begins to rain.

The Beaneaters complain to umpire Joe Cantillon that the game should be stopped, but the ump refuses. The Braves then began delaying the game, making unnecessary throws and drops, to try to get the game called; since it has not gone five innings, a possible Pirates victory will be wiped off the books if the game is called.

However, because of the delaying tactics, Cantillon orders the game forfeited to Pittsburgh.

Matt Wisler helps the Braves win 5-3 to end Brewers’ 8-game winning streak (July 6, 2015)

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2015, April 5, Atlanta Braves, July 6, June 19, Matt Wisler, Milwaukee Brewers

Matt Wisler

Braves rookie Matt Wisler made his second career road start on July 6, 2015. He fared much better this time around against the hottest team in the majors. Wisler allowed three runs and seven hits while pitching into the sixth inning, and Atlanta ended the Milwaukee Brewers’ eight-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory.

On April 5, 2015, Wisler was traded to the Atlanta Braves, along with Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, Jordan Paroubeck, and a draft pick, in exchange for Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton, Jr. He was then sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.

On June 19, 2015, Wisler was called up to the major leagues, and that night he made his major league debut as the starting pitcher against New York Mets, a game in which he earned the win. He pitched 8.0 innings to pick up the win, the first time a Braves pitcher had accomplished that in his debut since John Smoltz’s debut performance

Wisler had pitched well in two home starts since being called up in mid-June, allowing one run over 15 1/3 innings. In his only other start on the road, he gave up four earned runs and nine hits over four innings at Washington.

Staked to an early lead on Kelly Johnson’s two-run homer in the first, Wisler served up a leadoff shot in the bottom half to Gerardo Parra but then got into a groove.

I just missed my location but after that I settled in for the most part. Early on my slider wasn’t as good as it was last game. I had to battle a bit in the fifth and sixth innings and make some pitches. ~Matt Wisler

Source: Braves win 5-3 to end Brewers’ 8-game winning streak.

 

It had been 115 years (2010)

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1896, 2010, April 5, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Hank Aaron, Jason Heyward, Jermaine Dye, Joe Harrington, Johnny Bates, Jordan Schafer, Lou Piniella, Opening Day, Turner Field

Jason Heyward – Opening Day 2010

Opening day is a special day for those of us who love baseball. It is a day of hope. The slate of the last season has been wiped away.

115 years is a long time. But when you are the Braves, history is on your side. As the oldest, most continuous playing team in baseball, you have lots of history.

The 16-5 romp on April 5, 2010 was the Braves’ biggest Opening Day romp in 115 years, since a 21-6 pasting of the Baltimore Orioles in 1896. On April 5, 2010, the Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 16-5 at Turner Field.

It was a great day for Jason Howard. He caught the ceremonial first pitch from Hank Aaron. For most of us, that would been enough. But not for Jason. In his first major league at-bat, he crushed a three-run homer. He also had a run-scoring single in the eight and went 2-5 for the day. The 20-year-old Heyward became the sixth Braves player to homer in his debut, the fourth to do so in his first plate appearance. Jordan Schafer also did it last season. The other Braves to homer in their first plate appearances were Joe Harrington (1895); Johnny Bates (1906) and Jermaine Dye (1996).

“It was something of an embarrassing loss. Never did I anticipate we’d give up 16 runs on opening day, not in my wildest dreams.” ~~Cubs manager Lou Piniella

And so, it was a historic opening day in 2010. And the Braves continue on. Read the game recap here.

Coming back late (April 7, 2010)

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2010, April 5, April 7, Chicago Cubs, Chipper Jones, John Grabow, Troy Glaus, Turner Field

After the Braves completed their convincing Opening Day win on April 5, 2010, Chipper Jones challenged the Atlanta fans to continue bringing energy to the ballpark.

Two days later, the veteran third baseman electrified the faithful with a homer that proved he still had the ability to thrive in clutch situations. It also said the Braves could come back late in the game. While it wasn’t a walk off home, it came late when they were behind. Very important.

Chipper interrupted a pitching-dominated affair with a two-run, eighth-inning homer that allowed the Braves to overcome Troy Glaus‘ woes and claim a 3-2 win over the Cubs at Turner Field. “You could definitely feel the wind go out of their sails,” Jones said in reference to the reaction he felt from the Cubs after he directed left-handed reliever John Grabow‘s changeup over the left-center-field wall.

Braves lose to Mets on Opening Day 2012 (April 5, 2012)

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2012, April 5, Atlanta Braves, Johan Santana, Tommy Hanson

Braves opening day 2012

Tommy Hanson’s first opening day on April 5, 2012 start was pretty good. Unfortunately Johan Santana, the Mets starter, did better as the Braves lost 1-0.

Santana was making his first start since September 2010 and as usual, he was stingy, allowing only one hit through the first four innings. The Braves threatened to score in the fifth, loading the bases on a double and two walks, but Santana escaped. They also put two on base in the sixth, but again failed to score.

The Braves were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

That pretty much sums it up for the day. Great pitching, no hitting.

New phenom on opening day (April 5, 2010)

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2010, April 5, Atlanta Braves, Carlos Zambrano, Chipper Jones, Jason Heyward, Turner Field

Jason Heyward – Opening Day 2010

Jason Heyward had a great Spring Training in 2010. Lots of promise but he had not played in the Big Leagues yet. Jason Heyward’s legend grew even larger on April 5, 2010 when the Braves phenom drilled a three-run homer on the first swing of his Major League career. After looking at two fastballs from Carlos Zambrano, Heyward mashed a 2-0 sinker deep into the Braves bullpen beyond the right-center field wall for a three-run homer. The 20-year-old made his way around the bases to the sound of a thunderous applause provided by a sold-out crowd at Turner Field. As Heyward made his way back to the dugout after providing his club a 6-3 lead, he was greeted by Chipper Jones, who stretched his arms out and gave the young outfielder a hug.

Heyward, was drafted out of suburban Atlanta’s Henry County High School with the 14th overall selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, had the hometown faithful stirring as he made his way to the plate. Before slugging his monstrous home run he was serenaded with boisterous chants of “Jason Heyward.” After becoming the sixth player in Atlanta history and just the 11th player in Braves franchise history to homer in his Major League debut, Heyward took his position and found the fans beyond the right-field wall applauding him even louder than they had when he took the field to start the game.