Atlanta Braves blow game as old problems keep popping up
By Fred Owens
Bullpen Woes – who knew?
Chris Martin entered to pitch the eighth, then left with an injury while warming up. The reliever coming in had all the time needed to warm up, so Sean Newcomb, Josh Tomlin, and Luke Jackson were all available. Jackson entered (mistake two created by mistake one) and watched his first pitch land deep into the left-field stands cutting the lead to one. Two outs followed by two singles and Walker left in favor of Melancon
Matt Carpenter pinch-hit for the Cardinals. At 33-years old, Carpenter isn’t the feared hitter the Braves faced in 2012, but he remains a dependable bat with a good eye at the plate, much like Nick Markakis provides for the Braves. Carpenter did what we’ve seen Markakis do often, take a pitcher’s pitch the opposite way, dropping a single down the left-field line to tie the game.
Melancon got the third out, but the Braves went quietly aside from an Adam Duvall single in the home half, and the Braves closer went on looking to hold them there and let the Braves bats pick up the pen. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
The Cardinals smelled blood and went for the kill. After a ground out, Melancon gave up back-to-back singles, a walk and a double, putting the Redbirds up 5-3. At this point, Melancon looked done, but the bullpen gate remained shut. The Braves walked Yadier Molina intentionally, but after striking out DeJong, Wong doubled, pushing the lead to 7-3. Sean Newcomb broke free from the pen to get the third out.
Atlanta Braves comeback falls short
Billy Hamilton walked and, as if atoning for his earlier – let’s call it distraction – hit a mammoth two-run shot, bringing the Braves within two. Albies grounded into an out on a bang-bang play at first that the Braves challenged, but lost. I watched the replay from four different angles at the time; the call had to stand because the umpire had the only clear view of Goldschmidt’s foot and bag. Had he seen the foot leave the bag and called Albies safe, that called would likewise have stood. No replay view the public saw provided enough evidence to overturn either call.
Freddie Freeman’s solo homer brought the Braves within one, but that ended the rally. Josh Donaldson with quietly 4-3 and Nick Markakis watched strike-three shot past him on the inside corner.