CINCINNATI — The Braves had no management over the accidents that compelled so lots of their stars to overlook important time this yr. However they’ve solely themselves in charge for the various alternatives they’ve squandered whereas shedding every of the previous three video games.
“It’s not essentially us shedding the sport utterly, however different groups doing their job as nicely,” Braves heart fielder Michael Harris II mentioned.
It’s onerous to say what might need been essentially the most disappointing growth in a 6-5 loss to the Reds on Tuesday night time at Nice American Ball Park. This third straight defeat places the Braves two video games behind the Mets and D-backs within the battle for the third and last Nationwide League Wild Card spot.
That is the primary time Atlanta has been multiple sport again within the battle for a postseason spot this yr.
“You possibly can’t take into consideration [the standings],” Braves reliever Pierce Johnson mentioned. “You’ve simply gotta are available in and do your work day by day. [What the Mets do] is one thing we won’t management. So that you simply gotta management what you’ll be able to management.”
It appeared just like the Braves may have higher managed their future on Sunday night time, after they allowed Dodgers starter Walker Buehler to finish six innings after throwing 70 pitches by the primary three innings. Dylan Lee’s two pitch clock violations within the seventh proved important, particularly when Raisel Iglesias proved human after an eighth-inning scoring alternative was wasted.
Situational hitting may not align with the Braves’ DNA. However only a couple high quality at-bats might need altered the result Monday, when Atlanta went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring place and acquired shut out by the Dodgers regardless of having a runner attain third with one out or much less in three of the primary 4 innings.
And the Braves definitely gave the impression to be in management on Tuesday, when Harris hit his second profession leadoff homer and Matt Olson added a two-run shot within the first in opposition to Brandon Williamson, who exited with an harm with one out within the second inning. Six Reds relievers mixed to permit two runs over 7 2/3 innings.
In the meantime, a Gio Urshela misplay led to the Reds scoring two runs off Jesse Chavez within the sixth. And Spencer Steer’s two-run house run off Johnson within the seventh inning proved to be the decisive blow. Johnson has allowed three homers in his previous 7 2/3 innings. He entered this stretch having allowed simply two homers by this season’s first 44 2/3 innings.
“Previously we might simply outslug all the pieces, however we’re completely different proper now,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned.
Accidents have taken Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley out of the lineup and inserted the likes of Whit Merrifield, Ramón Laureano and Urshela, who had been all launched by completely different organizations earlier this yr. They’ve all supplied some worth, however the dropoff has been important.
Urshela has been a sound defender, however regardless of saying he wasn’t distracted by shortstop Orlando Arcia, he dropped a comfortable liner that will have resulted within the third out earlier than Chavez surrendered two runs within the sixth.
The Braves have gone 2-for-21 with runners in scoring place over the previous two days. Their 2-for-9 efficiency on Tuesday included Laureano’s RBI infield single within the second. The opposite hit got here within the seventh, when Urshela superior from second to 3rd on Harris’ single to shallow left.
So, the Braves have scored one run with the 21 at-bats they’ve collected with runners in scoring place over the previous two days.
“Baseball is difficult,” Harris mentioned. “You’re not going to attain runs each time you will have an opportunity.”
Nor are you going to make the postseason with each alternative. The Braves’ one fixed power this yr has been their beginning rotation, which may positively assist them make some noise in the event that they had been to get a playoff spot. However that rotation is at the moment with out Reynaldo López, who’s coping with a sore proper shoulder.
López’s spot was crammed Tuesday by Grant Holmes, who supplied 4 strong innings and exited with a 5-2 lead. The Braves seemed to be in management at that time. However just like the earlier two days, they fumbled alternatives and weakened their playoff bid.
How will Snitker’s gamers react now that their backs are actually in opposition to the wall?
“I’ve by no means seen them let issues like this multiply,” Snitker mentioned. “I believe they’ll come out and be able to go.”
