The Atlanta Braves recorded the Chicago Cubs in search of a spark after a disappointing series against the Phillies. Spencer Strider has been roughly accompanied by a rough lately, but his last start was solid. The Cubs attack recently had a hard time, so it would be interesting to see how these two teams matched.
De Braves started the attack early. After Profar had dropped out, Olson hit a rocket of the bat that eventually fell for a single. Ronald Acuña Jr. Had a soft line, but then Baldwin ran to put two on it. Ozzie Albies remained hot and hit the line that hit the wall exactly to prevent a double. Olson scored to make the score 1-0. Harris then hit a line drive to center that Pete Crow-Armstrong almost took over and then catching a crazy fall back to prevent more points to end the top of the inning.
Spencer Strider started the game with a bang by putting Busch on four throws. Tucker then had a soft groundout. Sukuki was able to continue with a single and stable when the second base, but Strider kept his calmness and brought Happ to the ground of Albies to end the inning.
In the second inning, Alvarez stood up, but Fraley ran. Fraley has dominated the starter of the Cubs for his career with a 1,571 Ops in twelve barriers before this competition. Unfortunately, Fraley’s attempt was not successful. Allen then did what he does quite often and turned out. Good news for Braves fans, the Braves have picked up their SS for next season in Ha-Song Kim today, he was allowed to pick up his player option.
Spencer Strider has no longer picked up strikeouts in the second, but he seems to have shifted his approach to getting groundouts. He was able to pick up two more and to have a one-two-head inning. The Braves came into hot in the third inning. Profar turned out, but then Olson, Acuña, was hit again by a pitch and Baldwin remained hot and a single to load the bases. Albies hit the catcher in a power, so it started to look as if the Braves would not score. Michael Harris would not be denied. He hit a long single where he seemed to have some luck. There seemed to be some confusion in the outfield and dropped the ball after Tucker hesitated and then missed the ball on a delayed dive. This resulted in two runs for the Braves to make the score 3-0.
Harris was chosen first, but he did his damage.
Strider took the hill in the third and was once again able to produce a land -out. This time to the old friend Dansby Swanson. Shaw ran, but then Busch walked out. Baldwin was unable to stop the runner and Shaw went to second place on a bargain. Fortunately, Strider picked up his fifth groundout of the game and ended the inning.
In the fourth, Alvarez hit a single, but that was the only attack for the Braves. Spencer Strider showed some signs of struggle in the fourth inning. Suzuki fell out, but then Ian Happ took him deep on a no doubt that was 107.8 mph of the bat. Nico Horner, who was an underrated star for the Cubs this season, doubled. Strider then went for the Pickoff movement on Hoerner. Initially he was safely ruled, but after a challenge the piece was destroyed and Strider came out. Strider then walked to Kelly, but let PCA fly away.
Taylor Rogers came in to replace Rea in the fifth. This was probably not the right move for the Cubs because the Braves went to work. Olson and Acuña sat down, but then Baldwin ticked a single, followed by Albies who hit a two -squeeze. Harris decided that he wanted to add his RBI to total and hit a two -squeeze to score two more.
Alvarez then followed that with a double, making the score 6-1. Fraley turned out, but again the Braves caused the damage. Strider struggled a bit in the fifth inning again. Swanson was followed by a straw doubles to score Swanson to make the score 6-2. Strider sat down after a hill visit. Busch stood up for Strider’s sixth groundout of the game. The next two batters fell out with Suzuki who just missed one on which Harris made an exceptional game to end the inning.
Newly added Aaron Civale came in to pitch the sixth inning and was able to calm the attack of the Braves. He all got to land and then threw Olson and Profar out. Strider came out again for the sixth, but immediately gave up. He was wisely replaced. Hunter Stratton’s choice, however, was interesting to say the least. Strider ended his afternoon with 5.0 innings and took three walks to just one strikeout and gave up three earned points on five hits. After a full count, Stratton Horner was able to land in a force. After another full count, Kelly was out. PCA then ticked a single and former Braves fan favorite Dansby Swanson doubled to make the score 6-4. After a hill, Stratton Shaw was able to pop up to finally end the inning.
Civale continued to pitch the seventh in the competition for the Cubs and continued to look sharp. He eliminated Acuña and Baldwin, including Baldwin’s on three throws. Albies was able to fight him to a full count, but then walked in line to VGL.
Dylan Lee came in to pitch the seventh and looked great. Justin Turner Pinch Hit for Busch and grounded. Lee then hit the following two batters. In the eighth it seemed that the Braves might get something in the lead. After a Harris Pop -Up Alvarez was hit by a throw that looked like it might injured him, but he stayed in the game. Fraley was out, but then Nick Allen crashed to put runners on the corners with two out. Profar then fell to the middle to end the top of the inning.
The bottom of the eighth is where the game really started south for the Braves. De Braves brought Pierce Johnson in with a lead of two runs. Happ became a single. Hoerner turned out, but then the Cubs stole their third base of the game when Happ went to second place. Carson Kelly then hit a shot with two runs and tied the game. With one swing, the chance of the Cubs jumped 37.4 percent. Johnson was then able to end the collection on two line -outs.
Brad Keller then came in the match for the Cubs to pitch the top of the ninth. Olson and Acuña sat down, but then Baldwin and Williams walked. Luke Williams ran to Baldwin, which made sense for two reasons. Better Base Runner and Baldwin struggled today to stop stealing. Unfortunately, the early game hero Michael Harris stroked to end half of the inning of the Braves with two runners.
Murphy came in to catch since Williams ran to Baldwin. John Brebbia came in for the Braves in another strange Bullpen -choice. He immediately gave a single and then he stood opposite brand new cub, Carlos Santana who hit Justin Turner. Brebbia could get the strikeout. He then let Tucker and Sukuki fly to close the bottom of the ninth to move the match to extra innings.
The Cubs brought Andrew Kittredge in for the tenth. With Harris while he was running in second place, Alvarez moved him to third place in a SAC Bunt. Jake Fraley turned out. With two out of hit De Braves, Marcell Ozuna squeeze for Nick Allen. Ozuna couldn’t get it done and turned out.
Vidal Bruján came in to play Shortstop since Ozuna struck for all. Brebbia remained in to pitch the tenth. He was able to get one of the most popular batters of the game, Ian Happ, to switch off. Hoerner, who had a double earler, got up to move the runner to the third. Carson Kelly, who already tied the given with his HR, then came to Bat. On the first pitch he saw from Brebbia that he crashed to walk it off.
Spencer Strider and the attack today did most of their work, but some strange bullpen choices and failure of the bullpen in general were the perpetrator today.
The Braves have lost another run game. No other team in MLB played in more one run matches than the Braves. No other team has lost so much.
The Braves will play the Cubs again tomorrow at 7:40 am.
56 Comments
#Bullpen #collapses #Braves #loses #extras