According to the internet – which is mostly written by ChatGPT these days, I understand – the Braves won a game by a tally of 9-1. This alleged offensive outburst was the most they’d scored since April 14!
Then again, it isn’t that hard to tell the tale: Max Fried pitched an absolute gem (9 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs; 9 K, 0 BB, 105 pitches). Duvall hit a two-run homer, Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer, and Matt Olson, who is officially Heating Up, followed Marcell’s bomb by going back to back, and Bob’s your uncle.
Basically, tonight’s theatrics were not of the variety that would have stunned any of us in the opening weeks of April: it was a thunderous performance by a star-studded team.
Some cloudy linings on this silvern day: Ronald Acuña, Jr. went 0-4, so it wasn’t all roses today. But Sean Murphy hit a 449-foot homer in his first rehab game yesterday, and Austin Riley took his first practice swings since his injury two weeks ago, though DOB cautions that “it’s not a certainty he’ll make it back to the lineup before Murphy does.”
It’s hard to feel serene when the team’s offense has been so precarious, but even the mopiest Eeyore on this blog would have to see this as a step in the right direction – or, at least, a hopeful sign that the ship is beginning to right itself. Tonight, the Braves dominated on all sides of the ball. We’ve seen this movie before. It’s a good one.
Thursday Game Thread: Everybody Gets a Little A.S.S. Today
Daysbel Hernandez didn’t feel like he was long for the roster, rather just a placeholder for something better. Today, the “something better” came in the form of a starting pitcher:
AJ Smith-Shawver, who’s been pumping right below triple digits at Triple-A, has been recalled to the bigs for what looks to be a spot start, but a good performance could keep him around considering Bryce Elder seems to be out as the 5th starter.
Pros:
• Fried was awesome, of course; his average EV allowed in this game was just 83 mph and he limited the Cubs to 5 hard-hit balls in play
• The Braves out-barreled the Cubs 5-0 and out-homered them 3-0; more often than not, you’re going to win those games
• Arcia continues to have a nice series; his double in the 7th actually would’ve been a HR in 28/30 parks
Cons:
• Ronald went 0-4; he’ll break out of his funk eventually, but at the moment, it’s pretty hard to watch
It just seems like Ronald is either not seeing the ball well or getting caught guessing wrong on pitches. This will eventually work itself out but like you said it is pretty hard to watch at times.
I have read some articles that suggest that opposing pitchers have figured out Ronald can’t hit low four seamers or lay off them. As a result, that is why he is hitting so many groundballs or striking out
Smith Shawver will be called up to start today.
Offense is back to its usual stinky self….
AJSS now getting squeezed in the 5th inning; since we play so many close games, it seems like every screw job by an ump has big consequences.
Only hope I have is that the Phillies tire themselves out with all this winning before the playoffs
Nice li’l rally there.
Hopefully, it’s enough to hang onto this game & take the series…