When I wrote the Dane Dunning review I came across this July 31st game against the Reds. Dunning pitched in that game and it didn’t go great. A bit too much BABIP for Dane’s taste and for us fans. This was probably the craziest game of the year. Not that it drove us crazy, that would have been achieved long ago in 2025. Do you remember this game?
If you don’t, I’ll help you remember. The Braves gave up three runs in the early innings, and would put together three runs to tie the game in the sixth inning. Then the Braves kept it going in the eighth, scoring eight without the help of a home run. In the bottom of the inning, the Reds used two home runs to help that eight right back score. The Braves would reach tenth place when two well-placed flyouts brought home the Manfred ghost runner. Raisel Iglesias would hold on in the bottom of the inning. Yes, the Braves won a game in extras by playing small ball and hitting zero home runs while giving up eight runs in the eighth and three home runs overall. Serious. And Eli White made a great baserunning play. No, I’m not kidding. Just sit in that chair over there and I’ll tell you about it.
Okay, where to start here. This game between the Braves and Reds was the first of two games at Great American Ball Park after the trade deadline and before they were scheduled to play in the Speedway Classic in Bristol, TN. So Raisel Iglesias and Marcell Ozuna were still on the team. In fact, they would combine for 0.62 EPS.
The Braves sent Carlos Carrasco to the mound for his first Braves start. The Reds countered with 26-year-old Andrew Abbott, who would have a 2.87/3.66/4.31 line en route to 3.9 WAR in 2025. Guess who gave up more baserunners? It was 9 to 10 in Carrasco’s favor, especially since Abbott gave up 5 walks. Those walks would help the Braves score their three mid-game runs.
The Reds scored on a walk and a double by Tyler Stephenson in the second. They would score two runs on a single and this Elly De La Cruz homered in the third. The Braves needed four successful at bats (single, double, walk, single) to score Marcell Ozuna in the fourth. The score remained 3-1 Reds when Carlos Carrasco faced De La Cruz in the third through the order and was fresh off a home run. I mean, whatever, the season was lost. But previously, the TV crew was adamant that the Braves would compete in every game. Did I mention I watched the rest of the game on the radio?
Anyway, Carlos pulled through. He eliminated Elly with consecutive substitutions, then sent off Austin Hays and Spencer Steer. This game could very easily have gone off the rails here, just like so many miserable losses. But Carrasco stood his ground and the Reds walked away empty-handed.
In the sixth, the Braves chased Abbott with two walks and a single. This brought up Eli White with the bases loaded against Graham Ashcraft. The Reds defense left with Abbott taking a mental break for two at-bats.
Ke’Bryan Hayes just came over from the Pirates, and he smells this bouncer. This thing had some twist, but come on man. This tied the game, and the sparse Reds crowd let him hear about it. Drake Baldwin stepped in to throw a hit, and much grief, Reds. However, Sean Murphy could not advance and Jurickson Profar would end the inning with a double play.
Let’s move on to the eighth inning. Ozzie Albies singled and Sean Murphy hit a 60-foot chopper to Hayes for an infield single. That was all for Graham Ashcraft, replaced by Sam Moll. Then Michael Harris lays down a bunt that Spencer Steer had no idea what to do with. Bases loaded for Eli White, and he scorches the ball past De La Cruz into left field for a 4-3 lead. Now it’s Luke Williams at the plate.
There’s a saying in baseball. If Luke Williams gives you a double play, the horse is out of the barn. Actually there isn’t, but there should be. Jurickson Profar went 0-for-6 in this game, and Sam Moll struck him out for one out. Then it’s time for some sloppier Reds infield defense.
I know we’re focused on this crappy home throw from Moll, but Eli White is playing great here. You can’t really see this on this video, but Eli White stuck his hand under catcher Tyler Stephenson’s cleat to score this run. That is dedication. That was the last pitch for Sam Moll, and it’s time for Lyon Richardson to put out the fire, right? No.
Austin Riley hit a bloop single to right field, making it 8-3 Braves. Marcell Ozuna collected his third walk of the game, tying Sean Murphy. Then Ozzie Albies gets his fourth goal of the match here. This was followed by a mound visit. I mean, it’s 10-3, so why not? I think maybe the infield needed a breather.
Yeah, we’re not done here yet. Sean Murphy hits this double on base for the fifth time here. The odds of winning here would reach 99.9% and the Braves were on cruise control. However, they did not score again in the inning. They just hit single, single, single, single, double, strikeout, fielder’s choice (no out), single, walk, single, double, and then mercifully for Cincinnati, strikeout, flyout. So no problem. They had Pierce Johnson sit down. Dane Dunning came in as pitcher. Problem.
Tyler Stephenson smoked a high pitch to left for a single. Will Benson followed with a single just over Luke Williams at short stop. Then the newly acquired and recently flawed (is that a word, you know what I mean) Ke’Bryan Hayes stepped up to the plate. Oh no.
Suddenly it’s a five-run game and the Braves were laughing and not laughing anymore. Dunning would allow two more singles and make way for Dylan Lee because things are serious now. Lee promptly gives up two more singles, bringing Spencer Steer onto the board.
So Ke’Bryan Hayes, unable to field a precious single, went deep in the eighth inning. Spencer Steer, who tried to field Michael Harris’ bunt as a third baseman instead of a first baseman (which he was that night) and then dropped it, tied the game. The Reds eventually cleaned up their mess. You know who ended the inning on the mound? The man who was warming up for the Braves’ barrage, Pierce Johnson. Because despite their claim that they were serious about finishing the season, the Braves had no choice but to return to their old ways. They probably could have gotten this game done with Johnson instead of messing with Dane Dunning. But this is 2025, where logic is fabricated and losses teach no lessons.
Brent Suter silenced the Braves in the top of the ninth inning. Pierce Johnson silenced the Reds in the bottom half. Yes, the man who sat down got four zeros. Matt Olson was the ghost runner in the tenth and was moved to third on an Austin Riley flyball. That brought walking trader Marcell Ozuna of the Braves to the board. He was almost eliminated when he looked at the 2-2 field. But for this he stayed alive.
No, we’re not done yet. Ghost runner Elly De La Cruz tried to walk home even though the grounder rolled ten yards in front of him to Luke Williams. Luke throws to Riley and De La Cruz is out on the bases. Yay, more chicanes from the Reds, this time on the attack. Raisel Iglesias pinned Spencer Steer and caused Gavin Lux to foul to end the match.
Well, that was certainly over 1400 words during a random game in July. It was certainly a fun game, but only because the Braves won. It would have been a nightmare if they had lost. But at that point in the season, you could have just tossed it in the pile with the other hair-pulling losses.
#remember #July #31st #game #Reds