OK… it’s not exactly “Separated at Birth,” but, like Guy Fawkes, he seems to be the eventual cause of a lot of fireworks by his enemies.  And he was pretty much drawn and quartered tonight.

As former Braves Journal contributor (and maybe he’s a contributor still under some other name for all I know) JC Bradbury tweeted last night:

I posted a similar sentiment last night mere seconds before Seagar’s 3 run homer and instantly regretted it.  I know… nobody likes a Cassandra.  But it’s not like I’m predicting doom.  I’m just reminding people that doom is always right around the corner.

After a major military victory, the triumphant military generals were paraded through the streets to the roars of the masses. The ceremonial procession could span the course of a day with the military leader riding in a chariot drawn by four horses. There was not a more coveted honor. The general was idolized, viewed as divine by his troops and the public alike. But riding in the same chariot, standing just behind the worshipped general, was a slave. The slave’s sole responsibility for the entirety of the procession was to whisper in the general’s ear continuously, “Respice post te. Hominem te esse memento. Memento mori!” [Look behind. Remember thou art mortal. Remember you must die!] The slave served to remind the victor at the peak of glory, this god-like adoration would soon end, while the truth of his mortality remained.

https://dailystoic.com/history-of-memento-mori/

And that’s after you actually win something.  Until the end of this series, the Braves have won nothing but an Eastern Division NL title.  I play a lot of golf.  The old quote is that golf doesn’t build character – it reveals character.  So does watching the Braves.  And I love it.  I don’t like getting killed like we did tonight, but it does make the good stuff better. And I’m still thinking we can do this.

Anyway, as you no doubt know by now, this did not start well.  A great play by Camargo was just a hair late (and required replay to overturn) followed by a double from Seagar made it 1-0 after two pitches and a two-out double from their Fresh Prince made it 2-0.  A walk and a 3 run homer by Joc Pederson made it 5-0.  On the next pitch, a homer by Edwin Rios made it 6-0. Another walk and Kyle was done.  I’m not sure I understand that decision.  If your goal is to save your bullpen then you ought to save your bullpen and let Wright take one for the team.  (It makes sense if you think you want to use him later in the series.  Do you?)  Dayton came on and promptly gave up a walk and single to plate another run.  A HBP and a grand slam by Muncy made it 11-0.  Sounds familiar, right?  I did a game last year that was 10-0 after one inning.  Apparently God decided that wasn’t enough.

The punishment continued.  Dayton continued, and was horrible.  15-0.  He was replaced by Ynoa.  Once Bryse Wilson was announced as the starter tomorrow, Ynoa was presumably the least-cost way to rack up some innings.  He pitched four great innings, but maybe the Dodgers were just tired from circling the bases.

Later highlights: Cristian Pache hit his first MLB homer, off Urías, who otherwise was a heap of trouble.  Good job, kid.  Freddie and d’Arnaud took early seats on the bench, appropriately in both cases. Acuña followed shortly thereafter. It’s sad when your highlights are people getting some rest. Everybody coasted after Pache’s homer until the 9th when Flowers and Camargo knocked in a couple of runs (momentum!), and the scoring stopped at 15-3.

So welcome to 2020. I recapped a game this year in which the Braves scored 29 and won by 20, and now I’m recapping a game in which they gave up 15 and lost by 12. Unlike last year when we got shellacked, there’s not only a tomorrow — we’re still ahead. We got this. I’ll be back to recap Game 2 of the World Series. See you then.