Multiple Atlanta Braves went hitless in the 4-2 loss to the Marlins on Saturday night
The Atlanta Braves had a four home game win streak going that included a sweep of the Chicago Cubs and a series opener win against the Miami Marlins. However, the streak was snapped on Saturday night after the Braves pitchers allowed three homers as the Braves offense never recovered.
The offense switch never really got turned on for Atlanta as the Braves had multiple chances to score big including two separate bases loaded opportunities.
Kyle Wright started out really good until the fifth where he gave up two home runs that tied the game.
Overall, Wright earned at least another start in my opinion; going six innings, walking only one and striking out four along with the two homers allowed.
The Braves scored early when Freddie Freeman blasted a one-out, one-pitch double to deep right to score Ender Inciarte, who led off the inning with a seven pitch walk.
The next time (and last time) the Braves scored was in the fourth inning. Johan Camargo had a lead-off walk, followed by a single from Brian McCann. Next, Dansby Swanson singled to left to score Camargo giving the Braves a 2-0 lead at the time. Wright tried to advance everyone with a bunt but the throw was to third where McCann injured his hamstring sliding in.
McCann: "when I was running to second, when I slid it was a little tight. And then on the bunt, it just kind of grabbed on me. When I was going down to slide, I felt it grab. I was hoping when I got up it wasn't going to take me out of the game" #Braves
— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) April 7, 2019
McCann was eventually replaced by Tyler Flowers who would eventually get hit in the right hand/wrist by a pitch. When he came back out to catch and during later at bats, Flowers wore a wrap around it. It was not a good day for catchers as Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro got nailed hard in the knee by a foul from Freeman.
Snitker says McCann will go to IL. Flowers x-rays came back negative, but they will check again tomorrow. Alex Jackson will be called up in place of McCann. They would ideally like to keep Flowers for emergency-only situations for the next few days. @FOXSportsBraves #Braves
— Kelsey Wingert-Linch (@KelsWingert) April 7, 2019
The Braves bullpen was about half-and-half with Wes Parsons and Luke Jackson (YES REALLY, he’s actually been effective lately) were on point with their stuff but Chad Sobotka and AJ Minter were not so much. Sobotka allowed two walks but managed to escape the inning via 1-out double-play. But unlike Sobotka, Minter didn’t escape clean.
After battling off ten pitches, Starlin Castro singled to left to start off the top of the ninth. That was followed with a home run from Alfaro, giving the Marlins the 4-2 lead.
The Braves even had a bases loaded opportunity in the ninth but still couldn’t get anything, Marlins win.
I’m not saying he’s in a sophomore slump but maybe it’s time manager Brian Snitker move Ronald Acuña Jr. back to leadoff soon to see why the young star is mustering only a .143 BA. On a better note, Dansby Swanson has been killing it, hitting an average of .318 which includes two homers and seven RBIs over seven hits.
The Atlanta Braves take on the Marlins for the series finale on Sunday at 1:20 PM ET. Sean Newcomb will take the mound against Caleb Smith.