Atlanta Braves Chip Away At Early Deficit, But Fall Short

Braves Fight Until The End, But Come Up Just Short

So much ugliness happened on Tuesday night as the Atlanta Braves lost to the Pittsburg Pirates 12-9.  I really don’t want to relive the bad from this game and I don’t want you clicking away too quickly so let’s skip over it pretty quickly with a few bullet points.

• Pirates scored seven runs in the 1st inning and two more in the 2nd inning.  Down 9-0 early isn’t a thing for the Braves.  They’ve only come back twice this season after trailing.
• Braves starter Aaron Blair lasted only 1.1 innings after giving up nine hits, nine runs, a walk and a strikeout.
• Pirates had 21 hits – all batters in their starting lineup had at least one hit.  Matt Joyce was the only batter who didn’t score for the Pirates on Tuesday.
• Three double plays were turned by the Pirates
• Three errors for the Braves defense – two happening in the 1st inning.  A.J. Pierzynski dropped the throw from Inciarte at home as the score was 0-0.  Could have been a game-changing play if he would have held on.  Mallex Smith misplayed a ground ball in center field that scored another run.  And Ian Krol‘s pickoff attempt of Alen Hanson didn’t go so well.

I could go on, but why?  Let’s focus on more of the positives.

The “New Voice”

After the Braves fired Fredi Gonzalez this morning, GM John Coppolella told reporters that the organization needed a “new voice”.  That new voice was Brian Snitker.  He’s been with the Braves organization since 1977 – starting as a catcher/first baseman within the Braves minor league system and developing into coaching in 1981.  He’s held many different roles within the club.

Odd facts about Snitker taking over on May 17, 2016 against the Pirates

• On October 3, 2006, it was announced that he would serve as the Braves new third-base coach replacing Fredi Gonzalez who left to join and be the manager of the Florida Marlins.  He’s now replacing Fredi again.
• Snitker’s son Troy was drafted by the Braves in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.  Troy was then traded to the Pittsburg Pirates in March 2013.  He is no longer playing baseball, but is now coaching at the University of North Georgia.

In Snitker’s first MLB managerial game, he and the Braves took the loss, but the Braves did battle back after falling 9-0 early.

Aaron Blair got his five start of his young career for he Braves on Tuesday.  Though the potential is there, he’s struggled through his starts – especially his past two.  In his last start, he only survived 3.2 innings after giving up four runs and now tonight he only lasted 1.1 innings.  He’s now pitched 21.1 innings for the Braves and has given up 28 hits, 20 runs, 13 walks and eight strikeouts.

“We kind of got behind the eight ball really quick in the 1st inning,” Snitker said after the game.  “I didn’t really wanted to run Aaron (Blair) back out there, but I was hoping he could get on a little roll and get through four innings after that rough 1st inning.  But that didn’t happen”

Braves Swingers Swinging

The lineup had 15 hits and scored nine runs in ONE game!  It’s strange to say this, but our three and four hitters didn’t hit any of these hits or score any of these runs on Tuesday.

Even Bud Norris got into the hitting party as he stretched out a triple – yes, I said triple!  This hit came while the Braves were down 9-0 and started a rally.  Maybe Snitker will look at Norris when he needs a pinch-hitter late in games.

How about we touch on Mallex Smith’s night.  Two home runs, four RBIs, two runs scored!  His batting average is up to .247 now for the 2016 season and continues to show signs that things are slowing down for him.

“He’s still rough around the edges,” Snitker said of Mallex.  “But the kid is a ballplayer.  His eyes are always wide open, his ears are open and hanging on everything you say.  That finished product and the ceiling is pretty high on that kid.”

The Braves offense continued to hit throughout the game even after trailing by so many.  Atlanta scored six runs in innings five through seven and hit the Pirates bullpen often.

Atlanta falls to 9-29 after the defeat while the Pirates are now 21-17.

“It was really cool to see,” Snitker said after the game.  “But you want to win the game.  It was neat to watch how they just kept throwing up those at-bats and grinding out at-bats.  I liked what I saw.  I liked the energy in the dugout and everybody was into the game.  I wish we would have won the game”