If, like me, you were kinda casually following this game via Gameday on your phone, you probably were not expecting this final score. For much of the game, it was a sort-of pitchers’ duel between Hurston Waldrep and Sandy Alcantara, who like Spencer Strider has been pretty bad since returning from Tommy John surgery, and who like Strider has started to look like his old self.
Both pitchers got off to a shaky start. Alcantara gave up a run on a single and two walks in the first, but stranded two to get out of it; Waldrep allowed four singles and a run, then he stranded two of his own. (One of the Braves’ two walks in the first was by Michael Harris (!!), his first in four weeks. He otherwise went 0-4 and is 2-27 in his last seven games.)
Waldrep then loaded the bases in the fourth, but he escaped unscathed by inducing a comeback tapper, a shallow pop fly, and a final fly out. Snitker pulled him after 5 1/3 innings; he didn’t record a strikeout on the night, but he left with just one walk and one run allowed, a good night overall.
The Braves got their second run in the sixth, on Ozzie Albies’ first home run in 11 games. So it was knotted 2-2 heading into the ninth.
And then, gratifyingly, it all went to hell. The Braves sent 12 men to the plate in that final inning, collecting three walks, three singles, two doubles, and Ozzie Albies’s second home run of the night, a three-run job that pushed the score into double digits.
The Braves will finish up their set against the Fish this afternoon. The Braves are two games behind them for third place; a win today would pull them within one. Then, they’ll hop on a jet to Philadelphia for a four-game weekend.
We may have a chance to play spoiler, at least psychologically. The Phillies have spent the last few days in Queens, where the Mets have beaten them twice in a row, slightly narrowing what had been a truly commanding divisional lead. It’s five games heading into this evening’s game. If the Mets manage to sweep, the Phillies might head into our series feeling a modicum of stress, which I would be happy for our lads to further.
Save some runs for today, boys!
Eli White came in as a pinch runner and got a hit later in the same inning. I thought that would be very uncommon, but it has happened just over 100 times.
Did Vidal Brujan Wally Pipp Nick Allen?
Let’s hope so. We desperately need a competent SS and it’s clear Allen isn’t the answer as a starter with his .500ish OPS.
Ozzie seems to have figured something out.
Keeping in mind it’s the Marlins, is it possible that Ozzie is only now getting fully healed from last season’s fractured wrist?
Assuming the Braves win this game, they will be 23-30 in Jurickson Profar’s 53 games this season, and 37-42 without him. I actually would have thought the team had been worse without him than with him. But it’s nice to see the offense finally rounding into form, and also lovely to see a guy like Wentz – who we found under the couch – throwing some really serious quality innings.
Any word on Ronald’s HBP (as in, is he o.k.)?
Snit should have hit the ump with a bat. Every time the Marlins get miffed, Ronald gets hit and the umps issue a warning.
It is, if you will pardon my French, bush league horse puckey that these goofs keep on plunking him and the umpires keep on acting as though it’s happening in a vacuum.
It sure looks like a fact pattern to me, counselor!
Wentz last batter should have been drilled high. Snit sucks with this stuff.
Whatever the case, Ozzie has played himself into a no-brainer option for us. It’s not so easy to find a 2 WAR middle infielder. That and Harris’s resurgence makes contention next season feasible with some bullpen additions and health. It also means you don’t have to panic-sign Bo Bichette who is getting pricier by the week.
I’ll post a brief recap in the morning.
Recapped. Better late than never, I guess.