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Deadspin | Braves' Jorge Soler returning to Atlanta to face Marlins

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Deadspin | Braves' Jorge Soler returning to Atlanta to face Marlins


Jul 20, 2024; Cumberland, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Former World Series MVP Jorge Soler returns to Atlanta for the first time since rejoining the Braves when they begin a four-game series against the new-look Miami Marlins on Thursday.

Soler is still remembered for hitting a ball out of Houston’s Minute Maid Park in 2021 when he helped the Braves win the World Series. He was re-acquired by Atlanta in a trade deadline deal and was in the lineup Wednesday when the Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 in the rubber match of their three-game series.

The Marlins, who beat Tampa Bay 6-2 on Wednesday to split a two-game series, made eight trades with seven teams before the deadline. Among their acquisitions are eight players who are ranked among the top 20 prospects in the organization, as ranked by MLB Pipeline.

The Braves are 5-1 against the Marlins, although the teams have not matched up since April.

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A pair of right-handers will starting on Friday: Atlanta’s Charlie Morton (5-6, 4.16 ERA) and Miami’s Max Meyer (2-0, 3.00).

Morton failed to win a game in July and is coming off a loss to the New York Mets on Friday. He was knocked out after 2 2/3 innings, charged with seven runs (five earned) on six hits, one walk and two strikeouts. He surrendered three home runs.

Morton has made 25 career starts against Miami, going 13-6 with a 4.14 ERA. He beat the Marlins on April 14, even though he allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Meyer will make his fifth start of the season. He did not receive a decision on Saturday when he gave up three runs over four innings against Tampa Bay. Meyer beat the Braves on April 13, giving up only one run in six innings with seven strikeouts.

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Soler was batting .240 with 12 homers for the Giants when he and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson — another fan favorite in a previous stint in Atlanta — were dealt to the Braves at the deadline. Jackson (4-2, 5.40) adds bullpen depth.

“Those two guys fit in great here once, and I think they’ll do it again,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “I think they’re really excited about coming back.”

Soler was also obtained by the Braves at the trade deadline in 2021 and batted .269 with 14 homers in 55 games. In his second tour, he will play right field and is expected to add some punch to an Atlanta lineup that is without the powerful bats of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies.

“This lineup has a chance to be really good,” Snitker said. “(Soler) will lengthen the lineup and make it a rough first inning for a lot of pitchers, too.”

A flurry of deadline deals has rendered the Marlins almost unrecognizable from the team that earned a wild-card berth last year. Miami moved 2023 National League batting champion Luis Arraez in May, and traded notables Jazz Chisholm Jr., Josh Bell, Bryan De La Cruz, Tanner Scott and Trevor Rogers at the deadline.

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It means more playing time for the likes of infielder Jonah Bride, who hit his first home run with the Marlins on Wednesday. It was the second of his career.

“I like home runs, whether it’s the first or 100th,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “He’s going to get an opportunity now. He’ll get a lot more at-bats and almost everyday playing time. He’s been consistently good.”

–Field Level Media



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Atlanta, GA

2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say

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2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say


Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.

The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.

Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.

Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.

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Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.

Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.

Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.

At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”

“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.

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The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.

Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.



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Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More

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Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More


On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.



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Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo

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Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo


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An NBA player from an opposing team has called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves around celebrating a well-known local gentleman’s club.

San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to reconsider their “Magic City Monday” plans for a March 16 game against the Orlando Magic in a letter posted to Medium on Monday, March 2. Atlanta’s ownership group and front office recently touted the one-night collaboration as an ode to an “iconic cultural institution,” citing Magic City’s role and impact in Atlanta’s Black communities and hip-hop culture in the announcement.

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But Kornet wrote that “the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’ “

“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet continued. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.

“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”

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Magic City Kitchen is also slated to serve two versions of its “world famous” lemon pepper wings – Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ – at the March 16 game. The flavor is named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner, Lou Williams. Rapper T.I. is scheduled to perform at halftime and limited edition Magic City merchandise will be available to purchase at the game.

Magic City celebrated 40 years with a five-part STARZ docuseries, ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ that was produced by Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri. Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I. are scheduled to record a live podcast from inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena before the game.

Kornet, 30, hopes the Hawks and NBA officials listen to him instead.

“I’d like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold the Atlanta Hawks to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting,” Kornet wrote. “I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision. We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”

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Luke Kornet stats

Kornet is averaging a career-best 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first season with the Spurs. This is the sixth team he’s played for in his nine NBA seasons, with his previous four years spent on the Boston Celtics.



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