Atlanta Braves walk the Nationals off and out of town

After yesterday’s lengthy loss, the Braves needed to bounce back quickly to avoid a seriously disappointing series split.  How did that work out?

As you might guess from the photo we included, things worked out pretty well.  The Atlanta Braves gutted out a third win in 4 tries against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, thus sending their NL East rivals away in 2nd place.

This was an odd game for multiple reasons, but it could be one that hurts the Nationals for quite a while.

In the very first inning, Nats starter Jeremy Hellickson pulled up lame while trying to cover first base on a grounder by Ozzie Albies.  The feed from 1B Mark Reynolds (starting while Matt Adams nurses a bruised foot) was high and Hellickson stepped awkwardly on first base, then immediately grabbed behind his right leg and limped to a stop.

So 2 batters into the game and the Nationals have to go straight to their bullpen.  That sounded like a best-case scenario for the Braves, particularly after yesterday’s 14-inning affair.  However, Washington certainly got a superb effort from their relief crew, led by Jefry Rodriguez, who ended up going through the 5th inning, giving up essentially nothing.

Okay, technically, that’s true:  the Braves did managed to parlay that error on Reynolds into a run via a Nick Markakis single off of Rodriguez – a(n unearned) run charged to Hellickson’s line.

The questions for the Nats will now have to be these going forward:

• How long Hellickson will be out and how they will replace him?
• How their bullpen will recover after 4 of them were used, plus Tanner Roark

Their bullpen?  Actually should be fine – for 2 reasons:  a Monday off-day and their next starter Max Scherzer.  But what about Hellickson?  That didn’t look great.

Anibal Knows Ball

In the meantime, Anibal Sanchez was excellent through 7 full innings Sunday – throwing 94 pitches in the process.

He gave up just two hits on the day, one in the third and one in the fifth.  The latter was a Chris Taylor double to open the inning.  After a groundout and steal, Sanchez managed to get a strikeout and groundout to strand the runner… an important moment in the game.

The other hit was more problematic.  After Dansby Swanson made an errant throw on a Wilmer Difo grounder, Sanchez looked like he’d get out of the inning.  With two outs and two strikes on Trea Turner, he left a 91mph fastball up where the slumping Turner could extend his arms.  The ball’s reach then extended to 425 feet.

Just like that, the Nats led 2-1.

End Game

Then the 7th inning arrived and naturally the Braves’ bats awakened… somewhat.

Dansby Swanson opened the festivities with a 2-0 count homer off of Shawn Kelley.  That got the game tied and opened the door for the relievers that we wanted to see Saturday:  Dan Winkler and Arodys Vizcaino.

WInkler’s 8th inning went 1-2-3 with a strikeout.  Pretty much usual stuff.

Vizcaino immediately put 2 hitters on in the 9th via a walk and single.  But after a line out, strike out, and strikeout… order was restored and the Nationals did not move either runner.

Turning Point?

You could have an argument that the most important play of the game happened in the bottom of the third inning.  Nick Markakis grounded out on a fine throw by SS Trea Turmer, but it was at least close enough to think about using a challenge.

The Braves didn’t opt to do so… at best, the replay seemed to show that it was close, but past experience suggests that an overturn was seriously unlikely.

Now fast-forward to the 9th inning.  Dansby Swanson again…this time he laced a single to left field.  But after feigning a standard round-off at first, he bolted for second.

The call was ‘out’ – which would have made it 2 down with none on, and extra innings looming again.  But Swanson immediately and demonstrably waved at his dugout to urge a review request.

Fortunately, the Braves still had that challenge ticket in their pocket.  The request was made… and the call was overturned.  1 out and runner on second.

The Blast

Then Charlie Culberson strode to the plate in the stead of Vizcaino.  Charlie is still hitting just .239 on the year with an OPS barely above .700.  At least that’s the numbers after today’s walk-off home run… his second in recent days and 4th among his eight career jacks.  Unbelievable.

Did the challenge matter?  Did the selection of Roark matter more?  All unknown, though the braves will not argue with the result.

So that’s a 1-1/2 game lead for the Braves (35-24) on the Nationals (33-25) while the Phillies are already Phading (3 games back) as they are still just starting their June swoon.

The Mets have been swept by the Cubs and are 3 below .500.  Stick a fork in them.

The Braves are now going to head West:  it’s Draft Day and they will play a late game on Monday night against the Padres, winners of 6 of their last 10 games (pending today’s play).

Next: 2nd Career for Smoltzie

That should be a happy plane ride.