It felt like one of those games, until it didn’t.
- Braves take lead 1-0 on Marcell Ozuna dinger
- Orange Birds score 2 on Adam Frazier single
- Braves tie Orange Birds on Eddie Rosario single
- Braves take lead on Ronald Acuna Jr. single
- Orange Birds tie Braves on Anthony Santander double
- Orange Birds take lead on Adam Frazier ground out.
The Braves had a HUGE scoring opportunity in the Bottom of the 7th, but no dice as Matt Olson hit into a GiDP.
Hope seemed far away, but heroes come in all shapes and sizes including grand columns of stone:
I liked the idea of giving Kevin Pillar a chance in spring, but was skeptical as his last 2 years looked like his bat was toast. Luckily, I’m not a GM. It was a given that Pillar would play a spectacular OF, especially in left field (in the 100th percentile for OF jump), but I don’t think anyone expected much on offense. After last night’s HR, Pillar is carrying a .771 OPS that’s carried by a spectacular .868 OPS against LHP. That will definitely play.
- Spencer Strider struck out 10.
- Acuña was on base twice
- Grissom went 2-3 (but with another error)
- Raisel Iglesias looked stellar with 2Ks.
Braves vs. Orioles Season Finale: Bryce Elder vs. Tyler Wells
It’s an 11:35 EST start today. And, of course we have a HUGE and quite surprising transaction today:
No rehab stint for Orlando Arcia! And while it’s not surprising, Vaughn Grissom takes the 30 minute trip to Gwinnett. It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Vaughn, but with his poor defense, he definitely earned the demotion. I wonder if they’ll pivot on his projection to be a regular SS and start training him at other positions because that really needs to happen or else he’ll just continue to be a backup to a superior defender.
Today’s Braves Lineup
Sean Murphy gets a rest and Orlando Arcia is immediately shoved back in the lineup. Before the series started, I said it would feel disappointing if the Braves didn’t take 2 of 3, so go get it, boys.
So Shewmake is legit just the backup SS/IF, then, huh?
Olson says: “Good morning, y’all.”
Every time we make one of those lazy ass errors like Riley did it costs us runs. Just pathetic how lazy we are on routine plays
Bryce Elder with an impressive 3rd right there.
Exactly. Another play while not an error was makable and it cost us a run.
Braves defense is still sleeping.
Yesterday TFloyd dazzled and delighted. I read and re-read. Wow. Thank you, sir.
Yesterday’s game was a doozy.
Go get ’em, Braves.
Ronald! That throw shows why he’s the best.
Now let’s walk it off.
This is shaping up to be one of those games you remember at the end of the season if there’s a pennant race.
Plus, it’s been really fun baseball.
Pitching and defense showed up in extras today, and MH3 finished it off cleanly with our first hit with runners in scoring position on the day.
Money Mike!
Great game and great series. Tonkin has been one of the most pleasant surprises in a long time. I just hope they never play a Sunday game with a 10:30 am central start time again.
In case no one noticed, Arcia was stellar at SS and our bullpen again looks like the best in baseball. What a wonder it is to have our full best team out there again (excepting Wright). A Hilliard/Pillar platoon in LF and a Rosario/Ozuna platoon at DH seems like they will both play. I like Shewmake instead of Adrianza at Util. Assuming Fried/Morton/Strider/Elder are fixtures then having the choice of Wright/Soroka/Dodd/Shuster as 5th or spot starters makes the rotation great. I’m not sure what else this team can do except stay healthy. Ozzie is hitting again. If Harris heats up and Arcia starts hitting again, there are no holes in the lineup.
Oh yeah, getting TdA back instead of Tromp will be another improvement.
Is there anyone out there who thinks it’s a coincidence that we lost the first game of the series and won the next two after Iglesias was activated?
Very impressive series (and even more impressive recaps!) this weekend. Baltimore are a strong team, which is a surprising sentence to write. Just keep the good run going and smash the Red Sox next, who I can’t stand.
Recap up: