Today is the day we found out what happens when the Sunday-est of Sunday lineups meets the Colorado-est of Colorado baseball. The 6-7-8-9 combination of Eli White, Jonah Heim, Jorge Mateo, and Jose Azocar combined to go 6 for 15, with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. (It was also the day that I found out that there is a Jose Azocar on the team.) Heim and Mateo led the way, with Heim going 2 – 4 with his first home run of the season and 5 RBIs, and Mateo going 2 for 5 with his 2nd home run of the season and 2 RBIs. Both home runs came in the bottom of the 2nd.
Azocar was playing because Ronald Acuna Jr. was placed on the 10-day IL with a grade 1 hamstring strain, and Mateo was playing because Michael Harris II continues to be day to day with tight quadriceps, with Mauricio Dubon moving from shortstop to center field. Heim was playing to allow Drake Baldwin to DH and get a day off from behind the plate, and Eli White was playing because, well, we don’t have anyone better.
Spencer Strider left after 87 pitches and 3 1/3 innings, not eating enough innings to get to the back part of the bullpen. Strider gave up 4 hits, walked 5, and struck out 6. He left with a 3 – 2 lead, but Aaron Bummer allowed a 2-run homer to Mickey Moniak, saddling Strider with a 3rd earned run. Didier Fuentes returned the favor in the 5th in a gentler way, a sacrifice fly added a 2nd earned run to Bummer’s ledger. Moniak’s 11th home run of the season in the 8th off Tyler Kinley concluded the Rockies scoring.
Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson added 2 more hits apiece, and Ozzie scored 3 runs. Mike Yastrzemski came on for Azocar and added 1 – 3 and an additional run for the 9 spot.
JonathanF wrote in Saturday’s recap how the Braves once again rewarded a good multi-inning relief pitching performance with a trip to Gwinnett. I’ve commented on this practice multiple times; I accept if everyone is tired of hearing about it from me. It’s not that I don’t understand why they do it. I just think it’s emblematic of the devolution of the game that a Major League team carrying 13 pitchers feels like it can’t survive for 2 days without Carlos Carrasco. Young pitchers with options know their fate is to go back to the minors no matter how good they WHIP it, and I don’t think it’s a great culture. So far, AA has not appeared to be moved by the repeated suggestions of internet randos.
The Braves sweep the series, move to 25 – 10 on the season and 13 – 4 on the road. They’ve won 8 of their last 10 and opened up an 8.5 game lead over the 2nd place Marlins. In Seattle on Monday; JR Ritchie and Logan Gilbert scheduled at 9:40 Eastern.
It ain’t my money, but the Braves have about $210 million committed to Riley and Strider. I bet Alex wants those two decisions back.
I am a long way from giving up on Riley or Strider. Strider’s pitches were breaking a lot – just so much he couldn’t control them. Pitchers are going to get injured and I can still see him being effective before long. Riley had a bad year last year, but injury apparently had a lot to do with that. He’s gotten off to a bad start this year but has shown signs of breaking out of it. If we are having the same discussion at this point next year, I will fully agree. Right now it’s much too early to tell imo.
And don’t forget that today’s winning pitcher was… Aaron Bummer.