Braves Offense Fight But Poor Pitching Plagues In 8-6 Loss

Atlanta Braves offense fought till the end but the Red Sox kept coming back against a bad day for Braves pitching

The Atlanta Braves’ current series against the Red Sox was one of the match-ups to show where the Braves are at and what they need to do to improve. It’s like a big test and tease of what October could be like and it has been a task for the team.

Freddie Freeman hit a 2-out single in the first and that was followed with a high fly off of the Green Monster from Nick Markakis for a double. The Braves however wouldn’t capitalize as Kurt Suzuki struck out to end the inning.

In the 2nd inning, Ender Inciarte drew a walk to lead off. Two outs later, Dansby Swanson smacked a high one over the big wall for a 2-run home run.  This shot almost went out the stadium and gave the Braves the 2-0 lead.

Sean Newcomb ran into some early trouble early in the game. In the 1st, after striking out Mookie Betts. He allowed an infield hit to Andrew Benintendi and eventually two walks to J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts. With two outs and bases loaded, up came Dustin Pedroia in his first at-bat of the season. However, Newcomb got him to pop up to escape the inning.

On the Board

In the 2nd inning Eduardo Nunez and Blake Swihart got on base to start it off.
Johan Camargo threw Christian Vazquez‘s grounder to second for the first out that nearly went into the outfield. Newcomb got Betts to pop up for the second out and then Benintendi hit one to grounder for the third out.

In the third with two outs, Markakis and Suzuki hit back-to-back doubles to add another run. That was Markakis’s 2nd double on the day and Suzuki broke his hitless streak (0 for 12).

The Red Sox got their points in the bottom of the inning when Mitch Moreland hit one deep for a triple and came home after Bogaerts’s single. Bogaerts later advanced to second on a passed ball. Pedroia was walked on four straight pitches before Newcomb struck out Nunez.

However, he gave up consecutive RBI singles to Swihart and Vazquez to tie the game. This all could’ve been avoided when Moreland was batting, because there was one pitch that should’ve been called strike three however it wasn’t and the next pitch was the one that got him the triple.

Tables Turned…And Turned Again

The Braves immediately retaliated with a single from Dansby Swanson and a four-pitch walk to Ozzie Albies. Ronald Acuna‘s single loaded the bases for Freeman, who knocked a run in on a single. A sacrifice fly from Markakis brought in another run to give the Braves a 5-3 lead.

Jesse Biddle took over the pitching duties for Atlanta and had a rocky start of his own. Leading off was Benintendi and he shot a solo home run to center. Biddle managed to settle in a induced a line-out and two ground-outs to end the inning.

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In the 6th inning, Peter Moylan gave up a one-out single to Betts. Moylan actually pitched well the inning prior.

A pitching change brought out Sam Freeman and he was a mess. Freeman hit Bentendi with a pitch. Betts moved to third on a deep fly out by Martinez. Both he and Bentendi came home via double by Moreland to give Boston back the lead.

A wild pitch by Freeman allowed Moreland to go to third and then he walked Bogaerts. Pedroia lined one to far right but luckily Acuna made a nice run down to end the inning.

Dan Winkler came in the 8th and it just continued to get worse for Atlanta. Nunez lead off the inning by getting on base via error by Albies. Winkler got two outs from Swihart and Vazquez but walked Betts. He then gave up a two run triple to Benitendi.

Craig Kimbrel came out in the 9th, non-save situation. The first guy to face him was Acuna and he launched a homer into the Red Sox bullpen. That probably left some fans split in emotions. However, that would be it of the Braves rally. Braves lose 8-6.

Game Notes

Newcomb did not have the day that most expected, getting into trouble from the start and going only three innings. He takes a non-decision as Freeman gets the loss. The offense did its part, getting six runs and 11 hits but it just wasn’t enough to overcome their opponents.

Next: Another Potential Power Bat Available For Braves To Look At

The Braves will look to avoid a sweep tomorrow and to make it even harder, they will go against Chris Sale (5-1, 2.17).