Max Fried, Braves Struggle as They Drop Opener to Pirates in 11-1 loss

The Atlanta Braves lose an ugly one to the Pittsburgh Pirates, continuing their struggles as they reach a .500 record. 

After yesterday’s walk-off win against the Miami Marlins, courtesy of a Max Fried bases loaded single, the Atlanta Braves looked to enter a three game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with the momentum on their side… boy, was that wishful thinking?

Fried, who was viewed as the hero in yesterday’s game, entered tonight, looking to pick up his sixth win of the season. Things were pretty smooth for Fried as he looked relatively poised through the first three innings.

Freddie Freeman even managed to give him a bit of early run support in the 1st after a double scored Ronald Acuna Jr. This was a great start to the game, but that’s where all the excitement ended for the Braves.

Fried faced trouble in the 4th, before ultimately allowing a 2-run homerun to Ben Gamel, giving up the 1-0 lead.

In the 6th, Fried found more trouble as the Pirates added 4 more runs. Fried would end up being pulled, ending his day with the line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, allowing 1 HR.

Edgar Santana would relieve Fried in the 6th allowing 2 BB, but collecting 2 SO. But it still seemed as if he didn’t quite have it. Santana ended with 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 SO.

Josh Tomlin came in afterward and, even though the game was practically out of reach, the Pirates managed to tack on another 5 runs and close the door on any chance of a miracle comeback. Tomlin ended with 1.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, allowing 2 HR.

Tyler Matzek would be the last Braves pitcher to end the game and would have the best outing. After taking over for Tomlin, Matzek would strike out his first two batters before getting the third to pop out. Matzek ended with 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 SO.

At the end of the day, this game ended with an 11-1 loss… to the Pirates.

Yes, it is one game, but it seems like that’s been said for a while now this season.

After winning a game in the fashion the Braves won on Sunday to getting absolutely clobbered tonight by a way below average Pirates team.

The Braves continue to be such a disappointment when they get close to that .500 mark and it just seems like they can’t get over the hump.

Tonight was an example of all the Braves problems placed into one game: bad offensive output mixed bad pitching from starters and “relievers” (excluding Matzek).

Over the season, the Braves managed to get in games that had one bad performance from one of the two, but when they run into a game that has bad performances on both sides of the ball… it’s tough to watch. And tonight was the prime example.

Things only got worse as the game progressed and it seemed as if there was never a chance the Braves could have gotten back into it.

There are still two games left in this series and if the Braves are up to it, they can leave Pittsburgh at .500, but that has seemed to be a tough ask up to this point for this team.

Ian Anderson and Drew Smyly take the hill in Games 2 and 3 of this series so it’ll be interesting to see if the Braves can come back and leave with a series win!