Atlanta Braves: the most runs this franchise has scored
5. TWENTY RUNS. LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY. BOSTON BRAVES, SEP 18, 1915.
At least this club was a bit better overall, finishing in 2nd place with an 83-69 record as they attempted to defend their World Series title from 1914. This game took place in St. Louis as the first of a double-header that no-doubt left the home fans wondering why they bothered, for the visitors also took the second game 6-3.
The game was a rout, but was also better pitched by the Braves over their prior break-out game. Starter Dick Rudolph gave up one lone hit in 3 innings of work; his backup Jesse Barnes was credited with a 6 inning save in yielding 8 hits and one run.
We don’t exactly know what happened to the St. Louis starter (Dan Griner). He was (oddly) credited for the Loss despite his line showing no runs allowed – earned or otherwise. We can see that he was replaced at 1 out in the first while having walked one batter.
Still, the Braves put 4 on the board in the 1st and seven more in the 2nd. Then it was more and more crooked numbers late en route to a 20-1 final and a 19-run margin of victory: the franchise record.
The Braves hit no homers, but there were four triples – two from Sherry Magee. Hall of Famers Rabbit Maranville (3 for 4) and Johnny Evers (1 for 4) contributed well – Evers by scoring 4 times.
It was a 1.327 OPS day for this team, and led to a doubleheader sweep.
4. TWENTY RUNS. CARDS TORCHED AGAIN. BOSTON BEES/BRAVES, AUG 25, 1936.
In another year in which this club had trouble figuring out their identity, the “Bees” were pretty poor in 1936. They finished in 6th place (out of 8 teams) and their attendance was even worse (7th in the league).
But here was another road trip to St. Louis. This was a different club from the one that the Doves dismantled 21 years before: just 3 days earlier, the Cards were in first place.
Then their wheels fell off. Big time.
In their next 6 games, St. Louis lost 17-5, 20-3, 5-4, 10-4, 1-0, and 8-0. The lowly Bees were responsible for the middle 4 games of that disaster.
The Cards never recovered and floundered their way to a second-place finish behind the Giants.
In this game, however, the Bees made their statement early … and often. Before starting pitcher Tiny Chaplin took the mound, he had singled in a run, scored himself, and was 3 batters away from coming to the plate again.
1st inning. 11-0.
It was all singles (15), doubles (10), and walks (5) for the Bees. Okay, there were also a pair of Cardinal errors. But 18 of the runs were earned.
Two different Bees/Braves had 3 doubles (Gene Moore and Rabbit Warstler). Moore and Buck Jordan had five hits apiece and only left fielder Hal Lee failed to collect more than 1 hit.
The team OPS for this contest? 1.199.