Mid Fried + No bats = L is an equation that kept the Braves from completing a sweep of the Giants Thursday.
Granted, Logan Webb was brilliant and always seems to baffle Braves hitters, but Max Fried can usually weather that storm. Mid Fried, on the other hand, could not, and the Giants took game four, 6-0.
Fried was only responsible for three of those runs. One of those runs, in fact, scored when Jesse Chavez came on in the sixth and promptly gave up a gopher ball. Twitter or X or whatever-pundits seem to believe that Fried is not healthy is trying to pitch through injury to increase his free agency stock. The problem with that thinking, in my humble opinion, is that Mid Fried + No bats = L. And Mid Fried – injured or healthy – is seeing his stock dwindle by the outing.
Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking, because I still think Maximum Fried is among the best in the business.
Logan spun a nasty web
The Giants righty Logan spun quite the Webb against the Braves in this afternoon delight. He allowed just four hits in a 7.2 innings of work, striking out seven while walking just one. He worked the corners, his two-seamer running in on righties, while also catching the top of the outside corner when he wanted to. It was hard to watch Atlanta hitters paralyzed. Michael Harris II, Marcell OHzuna, Jarred Kelenic, and Whit Merrifield recorded the Braves hits.
As previously mentioned, Chavez came on in relief. The 40-year old reliever gave up two bombs, four hits and three runs. Aaron Bummer worked the final 1.1, allowing a hit while striking out three.
Winners of three of their past four, the Braves head to Anaheim to play the Ron Washington Angels. My hope is his post-game interviews will be full of comments about wishing he could fly home with them when the series is over. Spencer Schwellenbach will take on José Soriano in a game that starts at 9:38 Eastern, 8:38 Central. Soriano is 6-7 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Schwellenbach is 4-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.06 whip. He’s been brilliant lately. Let’s hope he is Sensational Spencer today, and the mid pitching was left in San Francisco.
Let this serve as tonight’s game thread, as well, friends.
Soriano threw Kelenic 6 balls and somehow still managed to strike him out
Kelenic can’t be on a team that has postseason aspirations. I’ve seen enough.
I hope you’re wrong! Braves still has some aspirations.
I’m afraid Riley is back to not seeing ball the very well. Soriano has thrown a million pitches thru three and allowed no hits. No bats yet 🤦🏻♂️
That inning is the 2024 season in a nutshell. Draw walks, get a pitcher 3-0 with the bases loaded and then take called strike three for the second out and then a first pitch out to end the inning.
I can’t disagree. That was revolting.
But P.D.Q. has been filthy. This kid really is something.
Why wasn’t Laureano bunting? He is hitting .209 and isn’t really a threat. I doubt the double play ground out surprised very many on here
Pierce Johnson has not been good lately. Yet another game we seemed to let the other team hang around that we will ultimately lose.
The play that Austin Riley made on that is not just the best play I’ve ever seen him make, I think it’s the best play I’ve seen by a Braves 3B.
What a play by Riley. I think Adell thought it was in the corner as it looked like he was going to round first.
We continue to be reminded that we lost our ass on the Murphy trade. The next big hit he gets for us this season will be the first.
With three GIDP tonight, Atlanta moves past the Twins into 8th place in baseball, and fourth in the NL, behind the Padres, Yankees, Rockies, Blue Jays, Astros, Guardians, and Marlins.
The Braves had eight singles and seven (!) walks, but they left 11 men on and erased three more via double plays. It’s awfully hard to turn 15 baserunners into just two runs.
I know I harp on lineup too much, but Harris is not a good leadoff man. He doesn’t get on base enough. Soler was an inspired choice; I’d be fine with Ozuna or Riley. But it can’t be a guy who doesn’t walk, like Harris. I love the guy but he can’t succeed there.
Recapped: https://bravesjournal.com/2024/08/17/mickey-mouse-moniak-drives-in-a-run-and-the-braves-lose-3-2/