The Atlanta Braves took on the Milwaukee Brewers tonight looking to slow down the a team who has had their best sixty game stretch in franchise history.
The Braves offense has been an issue recently outside of the twelve run extra inning win against the Reds. They have average just over two runs per game since then. Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna have sustained success against Jose Quintana, which may have been a factor in why there was a major shakeup in the Braves’ lineup tonight where Eli White, who has been red hot, led off followed by Ozzie Albies hitting second and Marcell Ozuna getting the start at DH hitting cleanup.
This shakeup arguably worked in the first inning. After Spencer Strider did his thing in the top of the first by striking out Frelick, getting old friend Contreras to groundout and Murphy threw out Isaac Collins after a walk, the Braves offense struck first. Eli White flied out but then Ozzie Albies singled’ Matt Olson struck out, but Marcell Ozuna came through and singled to put runners on the corners. Sean Murphy then drove in the first run of the game with a single of his own to make the score 1-0. Jurickson Profar grounded out to end the inning.
Strider started off the second inning strong by striking out Yelich and Vaughn back-to-back, but then gave up back-to-back doubles to Perkins and Turang to tie the game up. Seigler then grounded out to move onto the Braves half of the inning. In the second, not much could get going for the Braves other than Nick Allen of all players to make a push for some offense. He singled and then stole second. Unfortunately, that was the only offense for the Braves.
Strider got into some trouble again in the third. He got Ortiz to line out, but it a was a deep to left. He then gave up a single to Frelick. Contreras struck out, but then Collins doubled to put runners on second and third. Strider shook it off and struck out Yelich. The Braves went three-up-three-down in their half of the third as Albies grounded out followed by both Olson and Ozuna striking out. Although, to be fair, it was a controversial call on Ozuna that looked inside on a 3-2 count which included another called strike that was way low.
The fourth inning had more evidence that Strider was having an off night. He gave a leadoff solo shot to Andrew Vaughn to make the score 1-2. Strider then gave up a single to Perkins, but then Murphy threw out his second runner of the game to stop the damage. Turang hit a line out to Olson, but it was hit 102.0 MPH, and then Seigler singled. Strider then gave up his fourth double of the game when the ninth hitter, Ortiz got ahold of one. Strider was then able to get Frelick to line out to end the top of the fourth. The Braves could not strike back as they could only produce the minimum number of hitters as Murphy, Profar, and Harris were all sat down.
Although Strider was clearly struggling, he was left in the game for the fifth inning. This turned out to be a mistake. Contreras struck out, but then Collins singled, Yelich doubled but then Vaughn scored Collins on his groundout to make the score 1-3. Perkins then hit a two run shot to make the score 1-5. Strider was then removed for Aaron Bummer. Bummer got Turang to ground out.
Strider did not have his best stuff tonight. His biggest reasons for turning things around this season is he upped his strikeout rate and dropped his HR rate. That did not happen tonight. In 4.2 innings he gave up five ER on eleven hits. Seven of those were extra base hits, which included two HRs. The good news is he only had one walk to his six strikeouts.
The Braves were able to scrape back a bit in the fifth. Alvarez doubled followed by a single from Allen to put runners on the corners. White then scored a run with his groundout. Unfortunately, Albies and Olson were not able to keep the momentum going.
Bummer stayed in the game to pitch the sixth. After two groundouts he gave up a single to Frelick. He then secured his third groundout of the inning. In the sixth Ozuna and Murphy could not get it done, but then Profar came through with a solo shot to make the score 3-5. Harris then grounded out.
Bummer continued to stay in the game. Collins then singled. After Yelich lined out, Collins stole second. Vaughn then got hit by a pitch from Bummer. Bummer limited the damage by striking out Perkins and then Turang to groundout. The Braves then had another three-up-three-down showing in the seventh.
Daysbel Hernández then came in to pitch the eighth. Outside of a walk to Frelick, he got the job done. In what is becoming routine, Albies popped up when it was his turn in the eighth, then both Olson and Ozuna struck out. Raisel Iglesias came in to pitch the ninth and looked solid. He did give up a single, but that was the only base runner.
This led to the bottom of the ninth with the Braves down by two. Of course Trevor Megill came in to pitch, which would be difficult for many teams with the way he is pitching this year. Murphy and Profar both grounded out, but then Money Mike came through with a monster solo shot on a fastball that was thrown right down the middle to make the score 4-5. Baldwin then came in to pinch hit for Alvarez. He gave up a good fight, but ultimately struck out to end the game.
The Braves’ spiral continues as they have only won three of their last ten games. The Braves will hopefully be able to turn things around against the Marlins tomorrow as the Fish come to town.