In yet another low scoring, one-run game, the Braves’ lost 3-2 loss to the Mariners last night. Reynaldo Lopez was not as stellar as he had been in his previous starts, but he still pitched well.  He went five innings, giving up three runs, striking out seven with six hits and two walks. Uncle Jesse and Aaron Bummer combined for three scoreless innings in relief.

The problem was another night of putrid offense. Trailing 3-0 in the 8th, the Braves scored two and had the tying run at third with one out (thanks in large part to a throwing error and another bad throw that could have been called an error).  But they failed to plate the tying run and went quietly in the ninth. It was the first time all year the Braves have lost two in a row. 

I’ve always said low scoring, close games that come down to the last inning are my favorite kind of baseball.  The Braves have played pretty much nothing but that kind of game the last couple of weeks.  I’m changing my tune.  At this point, I’d rather return to the slugfest blow outs the Braves employed last year in winning 104 games.  They are on a pace to win at least that many again this year, but so far this is a very different brand of baseball. 

Last week in this space I noted that the starting pitchers’ ERA in the four Tuesday games of the young season was just 0.33 (one run in 27 innings).  That was in three solid starts by Lopez and the one nine inning shutout by Fried.  After Reynaldo surrendered three runs in five innings last night, that Tuesday starter ERA has ballooned to 1.12. Still, not too shabby for my recap nights.

That number, 1.12, ought to ring a bell with you baseball history buffs.  Bob Gibson’s season ERA in 1968 was 1.12.  So “my” ERA so far this season matches the lowest season ERA in baseball history (or, to be more accurate, in the post-deadball era).  Of course, Gibson accomplished that in 34 games and 304 innings (that’s 8.9 innings per start!).  Lopez and Fried have accomplished this feat in 32 innings, a little over 6 innings per start.  

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to songs like Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding, Jumping Jack Flash by the Stones, and Mrs Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel.  I was wondering why they have jumped to the top of my playlists.  Each of those songs topped the charts in 1968.  I’ve realized the Braves have been playing 1968-type baseball lately; low scoring, tight games. In 1968, the Braves allowed 3.39 runs per game and scored 3.17 runs per game. In the last 8 games, the Braves are averaging 3.37 runs/game while giving up 2.12. We are all frustrated at the lack of offense over this short period. Can you imagine scoring at this pace over the course of an entire season?

That has obviously triggered something in my memory about that year. To be honest, my wife would tell you that I always turn to music from the late 60’s, not matter how the Braves are playing. But baseball and music are tied together closely in my memory.  When I think of Bob Gibson’s incredible season, or Denny McLain winning 31, I hear Hey Jude by the Beatles.

Anyway, it’s time for Braves bats to return to this millennium and start scoring six runs a game rather than 3 and a half. 

Braves Wednesday Game Thread

Chris Sale (3.69 ERA) goes against Emerson Hancock (5.06 ERA) in game 3 of the series. It’s an afternoon game starting at 2:40 CT/3:40 ET. Here’s today’s lineup: