Reviewing the Marlin Massacre: the Atlanta Braves 29 run game

As this game started, there was no sense of what was coming for the Atlanta Braves.

29-9.  The Atlanta Braves now hold the modern National League record for runs scored in a single game.  But there’s no way you could have seen it coming.  10 or 15 runs?  Sure.  29??  Naw, come on…

I mean, sure: the Dodgers and Braves ended up as the top-scoring offenses in the majors for 2020, separated by a single run (349/348), and ahead of the next team — San Diego — by 23 more.  Only 7 clubs managed to eclipse the 300 run mark (5 runs per game on average).

But 29 runs at once?? The Marlins weren’t a “great” team despite winning a playoff berth, but their starting pitching was doing pretty well for them overall — particularly under the circumstances.

In fact, they would have finished 11th in ERA among starters in the majors… had this game not been played (it raised their team starting ERA from 4.11 to 4.31, dropping them 3 slots).

Moreover, Pablo Lopez was in the midst of a sparkling season.  His ERA for the year — aside from this game — was 2.61.  For comparison purposes, Max Fried ended the year at 2.25.

That said, Lopez’ final ERA for 2020 was exactly a full run higher (3.61), thanks to what happened on that evening of September 9.

He started well:  after walking Ronald Acuna Jr. he got Freddie Freeman to pop out to the shortstop behind third base before striking out Ozuna and d’Arnaud.  4 batters, 20 pitches, no harm done.

Though many will have forgotten this little tidbit, Miami actually took the lead in the top of the second inning off of hapless Braves starter Tommy Milone — the man who couldn’t stand prosperity, it would seem.

But let’s get to the fun parts…